Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support community pharmacies to improve accessibility for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or living with dual sensory loss; and whether he is taking steps to support the provision of reasonable adjustments, including hearing loops, to ensure patients can safely access advice and treatment.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring community pharmacy services are safe and accessible to all patients, including those with sensory impairments.

In addition to legal requirements under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998, pharmacy businesses have a duty to comply with the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) standards for registered pharmacy premises. This requires pharmacies to provide an environment that is safe and accessible for all, taking reasonable steps to remove barriers for patients with disabilities. These standards emphasise the need for pharmacies to make adjustments to facilities and services, such as providing accessible entrances, hearing loops, and assistance for individuals with mobility or sensory challenges.

To support community pharmacies in meeting their legal duties, the GPhC has issued equality guidance for pharmacies, which outlines best practices for supporting patients with a range of needs. NHS England is also rolling out a Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag which enables the recording of key information about a disabled patient and the reasonable adjustments to care and treatment that they need, to ensure support can be tailored appropriately and equitably. This is being rolled out nationally across all healthcare settings and will help community pharmacies spot when a patient may need extra support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out the contractual requirements that apply to independent sector providers delivering NHS-funded cataract surgery, including whether they are required to accept an appropriate case mix rather than lower-complexity patients.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Independent sector providers are commissioned and managed by integrated care boards (ICBs) under the terms of the NHS Standard Contract which applies the same standards of oversight and regulation as are applied to National Health Service providers.

In the 10-Year Health Plan for England, we set out we would not tolerate ‘gaming’ the national payment tariff to cherry pick the simplest, most profitable cases. ICBs are expected to monitor this, and act decisively where they identify problems as part of a wider duty to safeguard and ensure value for taxpayer money.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken to help stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 deaths in this country following her meeting action with a group of the bereaved families on 19 January 2026.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums.

Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fully addressed, it will consider using all of the powers available to it, including, in most serious cases of non-compliance, imposing business disruption measures.

One of the first things the Secretary of State did in the job was to make self-harm a priority offence under the Online Safet Act, triggering the strongest possible legal protections. She has been clear she will not hesitate to go further if needed and regularly talks to Ofcom about ensuring enforcement is strong.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of Ofcom's sufficient powers and resources to tackle a specific website linked to over 135 UK deaths and to prevent future sites with the same nature.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums.

Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fully addressed, it will consider using all of the powers available to it, including, in most serious cases of non-compliance, imposing business disruption measures.

One of the first things the Secretary of State did in the job was to make self-harm a priority offence under the Online Safet Act, triggering the strongest possible legal protections. She has been clear she will not hesitate to go further if needed and regularly talks to Ofcom about ensuring enforcement is strong.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of its powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 to tackle a suicide forum linked to over 135 UK deaths.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums.

Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fully addressed, it will consider using all of the powers available to it, including, in most serious cases of non-compliance, imposing business disruption measures.

One of the first things the Secretary of State did in the job was to make self-harm a priority offence under the Online Safet Act, triggering the strongest possible legal protections. She has been clear she will not hesitate to go further if needed and regularly talks to Ofcom about ensuring enforcement is strong.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of the pace of its ongoing investigation of a suicide forum that grooms users to die by suicide.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums.

Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fully addressed, it will consider using all of the powers available to it, including, in most serious cases of non-compliance, imposing business disruption measures.

One of the first things the Secretary of State did in the job was to make self-harm a priority offence under the Online Safet Act, triggering the strongest possible legal protections. She has been clear she will not hesitate to go further if needed and regularly talks to Ofcom about ensuring enforcement is strong.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that pay for police contact centre staff reflects regional variations in the cost of living, including in Surrey.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.

However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police staff. Their commitment to public service is exemplary, and the Government remains focused on ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need to carry out their vital roles.

Every member of the police workforce is valuable in keeping the public safe. Police officers and staff work in partnership, and their combined skills are essential to delivering better outcomes for the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of pay levels on morale among police contact centre staff.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.

However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police staff. Their commitment to public service is exemplary, and the Government remains focused on ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need to carry out their vital roles.

Every member of the police workforce is valuable in keeping the public safe. Police officers and staff work in partnership, and their combined skills are essential to delivering better outcomes for the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of whether pay for police contact centre staff is sufficient to support recruitment and retention in high-cost areas such as Surrey.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.

However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police staff. Their commitment to public service is exemplary, and the Government remains focused on ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need to carry out their vital roles.

Every member of the police workforce is valuable in keeping the public safe. Police officers and staff work in partnership, and their combined skills are essential to delivering better outcomes for the public.

Proportional representation for general elections

Water sector reform