Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce protections for (a) whistleblowing patients and (b) patient safety advocates.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to bring forward legislation to strengthen protections for patients who raise concerns and patient safety advocates.
National Health Service patients should not experience negative consequences if they raise concerns. The NHS Constitution pledges that patient complaints will not adversely impact future treatment. Patients can raise concerns or provide feedback through channels such as the NHS complaints process, Patient Advice and Liaison Service, and the Friends and Family Test, and can also share experiences of care with the Care Quality Commission. Independent advice and support are available for them from the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service.
Through implementation of the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, we will reform the NHS complaints process and strengthen the patient voice by setting clear standards for the quality of responses to complaints and ensure the NHS listens carefully and compassionately, taking forward learnings to ensure high quality care.
Patient safety advocates in the NHS may include Patient Safety Specialists and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians who as workers in the NHS are protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA). They may also include Patient Safety Partners (PSPs) who are usually lay people and include patients, carers, or members of the public who work with NHS organisations to improve patient safety by contributing directly to governance, decision making, and safety improvement activity. As lay people, PSPs are not covered by PIDA.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's documents entitled House of Lords Appointments Commission - Independent Member (up to 2), opening date 3 January 2025, and the Governance Code on Public Appointments, updated on 30 October 2025, if he will state who was the independent panel member.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As published on the GOV.UK Public Appointments webpage when the campaign was first advertised, the Independent Panel Member for the House of Lords Appointments Commission - Independent Member (up to 2) was initially Lord Adebowale.
Althea Loderick (Southwark Council CEO) took on the role in July 2025, when Lord Adebolwale became unavailable in the latter stages. The Public Appointments webpage was updated accordingly.
Asked by: Jack Rankin (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much their Department has spent on X and xAI since July 2024.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paid advertising on X was suspended in April 2023 following a SAFE Framework assessment. X is currently used only for organic (non-paid) content to communicate policies and public services. No expenditure has been made by the Cabinet Office with X since July 2024.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to 16 December 2025 to Question 96684 on Tim Allan, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the shareholding in Strand Partners to be (a) sold and (b) moved into a blind trust.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 16 December 2025, Official Report, PQ 96684.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 92610, on Special Advisers, what were the topics of the presentations.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
This was an internal meeting, and the topics of discussion are not a matter of public record.
Asked by: Andrew Griffith (Conservative - Arundel and South Downs)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was for the production of the Growth Gateway Masterclass on Fundraising in Africa.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Two masterclasses have been delivered using a catalytic model to build local capability, provide targeted expertise, mobilise investment, and support inclusive and sustainable growth. The training cost approximately £18,500 and has already delivered strong results, with one participating business securing £2.5 million in investment and others in ongoing discussions with investors.
Supporting economic prosperity, resilience, and partnerships for growth is particularly important in the context of reductions in Official Development Assistance. Africa is the world's fastest growing continent, and as the UK continues to move towards a trade and investment focused partnership, there are clear mutual benefits. Initiatives such as this masterclass support high growth African firms to scale, attract investment, and build lasting commercial links with the UK.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90744, on Government Departments: Social Media, which influencers have been used by his Department through the two agencies since July 2024.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As digital and social media become central to how people consume information, the government is adapting its communications approach to meet audiences where they are.
The government recognises content creators as an important way to reach and engage audiences online.
Please note, some data has been withheld due to commercial and wider sensitivities.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Q341 of the oral evidence session of the Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Committee, on Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, if he will make it Government policy that Parliamentary select committees can question direct ministerial appointments in an oral evidence session.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The government recently published guidance on making Direct Ministerial Appointments, which sets out the principles for this route into government. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-ministerial-appointments
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households returned to the benefit cap because of the loss of an exempting benefit other than PIP during (a) the quarter to August 2025, (b) the quarter to May 2025, (c) the quarter to February 2025 and (d) the quarter to November 2024.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households returned to the benefit cap because of the loss of PIP during (a) the quarter to August 2025, b) the quarter to May 2025, (c) the quarter to February 2025 and (d) the quarter to November 2024.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.