Written questions by Maguire.

What his Department’s timeline is for deciding on the second wave of Modern Service Frameworks; and whether respiratory conditions will be considered.

Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia.The Government will consider other long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks, including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

With reference to the National Cancer Plan, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that there will be enough pathologists to support the Plan’s delivery.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will strengthen the cancer workforce, including for diagnostics, such as pathology. The plan sets out sustainable workforce growth, focused not on simply expanding numbers but on ensuring staff are properly trained, supported, and able to work at the top of their skills.The plan sets out how we will support pathologists to work more efficiently through a £604 million investment in digital diagnostics, including digital pathology, and £96 million in the automation of histopathology, as well as further investment in digital technology and artificial intelligence. Expansion of advanced clinical practice for scientists will also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the pathology workforce as a whole.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will be published in spring, setting out further action to create a workforce able to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain criteria on the number of staff in the social care sector.

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As part of this consultation, we are seeking views on the potential impact of the proposed changes on different groups, including those working in sectors such as social care. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following the consultation.The final proposals will also be subject to full economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of including social care roles within any public service concession.

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As part of this consultation, we are seeking views on the potential impact of the proposed changes on different groups, including those working in sectors such as social care. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following the consultation.The final proposals will also be subject to full economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What comparative assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of (a) respiratory disease and (b) the number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in (i) Epsom and Ewell constituency and (ii) nationally; and what steps he is taking to ensure respiratory health is prioritised nationally, including through the introduction of a Modern Service Framework for respiratory care.

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs), including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.Provisional data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the number of emergency FAEs with a primary diagnosis of respiratory conditions for Epsom and Ewell and for England, for activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and 2025/26:Westminster Parliamentary Constituency of Residence2024/25 (August 2024 to March 2025)2025/26 (April 2025 to November 2025)Epsom and Ewell670530England608,449423,588Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s Fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Surrey can be found at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/15/ati/502/are/E10000030/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1The Government has committed to delivering three big shifts that our NHS needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving respiratory health in all parts of the country.Through our community diagnostic centres, we are building capacity for respiratory testing and enabling people to get diagnosed closer to home. 101 community diagnostic centres across the country now offer out of hours services, 12 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning patients can access vital diagnostic tests around busy working lives. This is alongside action being taken to expand capacity and improve the quality of pulmonary rehabilitation services to support patients living with respiratory conditions.

What steps his Department is taking to help improve digital infrastructure and IT connectivity for community care in primary care settings.

In 2026/27, and as per the Medium Term Planning Framework – delivering change together 2026/27 to 2028/29, all integrated care boards and community health services providers must identify and act on productivity opportunities, including ensuring teams have the digital tools and equipment they need to connect remotely to health systems and patients, and expanding point-of-care testing in the community.Through the Community Health Services Data Plan (2024/25-2026/27), work is underway to improve the quality, relevance, and timeliness of community health service data and, in turn, improve the patient experience in community health services.In addition, our 10-Year Health Plan will help put services at the heart of the community and expand digital tools to manage health, including through the Single Patient Record. It will give patients real control over a single, secure, and authoritative account of their data and enable more coordinated, personalised, and predictive care. It will improve clinical outcomes, make decision-making more informed, and speed up the delivery of care.

With reference to the publication of the National Cancer Plan, if he will present the Plan's annual summary of progress to the House.

A reformed National Cancer Board, jointly chaired by the Department and an independent representative, will track progress and provide regular updates to ministers.Across the life of the plan, ministers will publish an annual summary of progress, along with a more in-depth report after three years to assess where the plan may need updating and refreshing.The annual summary will be available publicly and I will update the House when it is published.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she and Cabinet colleagues have had with their Chinese counterpart on the expansion of China's nuclear weapons.

We engage in regular dialogue with China on security matters at both official and ministerial levels. These exchanges include discussions on nuclear weapons, conducted bilaterally as well as through the P5 process, which brings together the five nuclear weapon states recognised by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to discuss their obligations under it. We also hold an annual Counter‑Proliferation and Arms Control Dialogue with China, which covers nuclear issues. During his recent visit to Beijing, the Prime Minister raised broader issues of global stability with President Xi.

When her proposed timetable is for publishing her Department's white paper related to Schools and SEND.

On 23 February, we published two major documents: the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ Schools White Paper and the SEND Consultation Document. Together, these set out our plans to build an education system that will ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the right support at every stage of their education.We are consulting on the reforms in the publication, and you can access the consultation here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of implementing a public awareness campaign to promote the new Highway Code rules.

Improving road safety is one of my Department’s highest priorities. Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. That is why on 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Following updates to the Highway Code in 2022, the department ran large-scale THINK! advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the changes. Via the THINK! campaign, we are also running year-round radio filler adverts encouraging compliance with the guidance to improve safety for those walking, cycling and horse riding. We will also continue to promote the changes via THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations. However, as set out in the strategy, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course. As our road environment and technologies evolve, providing education for all road users throughout their lifetime is vital to improving road safety. As announced in the strategy to support a Lifelong Learning approach in the UK, the government will publish for the first time national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Alongside this, the government will publish a manual to support the implementation of a Lifelong Learning approach for road safety.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that businesses switching to digital services, such as BT’s transition to Digital Voice, communicate these changes appropriately with customers.

The Government is committed to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.Government secured safeguards for customers through the PSTN Charter in December 2023 and the Non‑Voluntary Migrations Checklist in November 2024. Major communication providers committed to a number of measures to protect customers, including signing data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify telecare customers, timely and repeated communications, a free engineer visit, and a battery back-up solution, if needed.In addition to existing safeguards, any vulnerable customers (including the elderly) can self-identify to receive additional support from their provider as set out in the GOV.UK Supported Journeys Guidance when their landline is upgraded.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and the Home Secretary on the Child Protection Authority consultation.

Ministers meet regularly through the Keeping Children Safe Ministerial Board and the Inter-Ministerial Group on Child Sexual Abuse, where the Child Protection Authority (CPA) is regularly discussed. Both of these groups will continue to monitor progress on the delivery of the CPA.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that businesses undertaking a transition to digital services, such as BT’s transition to Digital Voice, have considered the potential impact of this action on vulnerable and elderly individuals.

The Government is committed to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.Government secured safeguards for customers through the PSTN Charter in December 2023 and the Non‑Voluntary Migrations Checklist in November 2024. Major communication providers committed to a number of measures to protect customers, including signing data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify telecare customers, timely and repeated communications, a free engineer visit, and a battery back-up solution, if needed.In addition to existing safeguards, any vulnerable customers (including the elderly) can self-identify to receive additional support from their provider as set out in the GOV.UK Supported Journeys Guidance when their landline is upgraded.

What steps she is taking to support school’s in administering statutory suicide prevention training from September 2026.

The updated 'relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education' statutory guidance, published on 15 July 2025, will be implemented in schools from September 2026. The guidance strengthens content on mental health and wellbeing and requires that all secondary schools should also consider how to safely address suicide prevention.The department has been clear that schools should consult mental health professionals and put in place high quality, evidence-based staff training before addressing suicide directly with secondary aged pupils, to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to do it safely.

When her Department plans to publish its review of safeguarding requirements in childcare nurseries.

The safety of our youngest children is our utmost priority, and we continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept safe.In September 2025 the department implemented changes to the early year’s foundation stage statutory framework to strengthen safeguarding requirements across early years settings, including enhanced expectations on safer recruitment, child absences, safer eating, safeguarding training and whistleblowing. We also introduced a new safeguarding training annex setting out what safeguarding training must cover. To support the sector, we are developing a safeguarding training package in collaboration with the NSPCC aligned to the new criteria, which will be free to access online.The department is appointing an expert panel to inform the development of guidance for the early years sector on digital devices and CCTV within safeguarding. This guidance will consider whether CCTV should be mandated and will set out best practice, technical advice and clear expectations.In additional from April, we are funding Ofsted to improve inspection quality and consistency through stronger quality assurance and targeted inspector training. We are also funding Ofsted to inspect all new early years providers within 18 months of opening and to move towards inspecting all providers at least once every four years, compared to the current six year window.As announced in the ‘Best Start in Life’ publication, the department is working collaboratively with Ofsted to introduce reporting on nursery chain groups to address issues spanning across groups of providers. The publication can be found here: https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/.

If she will hold a consultation on the mandatory use of CCTV in childcare nurseries.

The early years foundation stage statutory framework requires providers to have safeguarding policies that address the use of mobile phones, cameras, and other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities. Decisions about installing and using CCTV are for individual providers, subject to safeguarding and data protection requirements. While CCTV can support safeguarding, it is most effective when combined with strong safeguarding cultures, supported by training, supervision and effective oversight.As part of the department’s ongoing review of safeguarding requirements, an expert advisory panel is being established to inform sector guidance on the safe and effective use of CCTV and digital devices within safeguarding. This guidance will consider whether CCTV should be mandated and will set out best practice, technical advice and clear expectations.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has sent invites to experts and groups identified as best placed to ensure that the guidance is high quality and evidence informed. The first meeting will take place in early March.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99038 on Armed Conflict: Civilians, if he will publish the conclusions of the external review.

In 2025, the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Human Security Policy Unit commissioned an external, independent review of the MOD’s current civilian harm mitigation and response policy; the report also considers the impact of gender and age of civilians. The metrics used were developed in consultation with civil society organisations and included compliance with applicable domestic and international law, as well as the United States of America Department of Defense Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (2022). Due to the classification of the content, there is no intention to publish the detailed findings and recommendations of the external review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99038 on Armed Conflict: Civilians, to list what metrics were used during the external review to measure the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence's approach to (a) mitigate and (b) respond to civilian harm.

In 2025, the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Human Security Policy Unit commissioned an external, independent review of the MOD’s current civilian harm mitigation and response policy; the report also considers the impact of gender and age of civilians. The metrics used were developed in consultation with civil society organisations and included compliance with applicable domestic and international law, as well as the United States of America Department of Defense Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (2022). Due to the classification of the content, there is no intention to publish the detailed findings and recommendations of the external review.

What steps his Department is taking to decrease treatment wait times for patients with metastatic ocular melanoma.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that cancer patients, including those with metastatic ocular melanoma, have timely access to treatment and tailored medical support. The Government supports Scott Arthur’s Private Members Bill on rare cancers which will make it easier for clinical trials into rare cancers to take place in England by ensuring the patient population can be easily contacted by researchers. This will ensure that the National Health Service will remain at the forefront of medical innovation and is able to provide patients with the newest, most effective treatment options, and ultimately boost survival rates.The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for patients with cancer, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates. This will benefit all cancer patients, including metastatic ocular melanoma patients.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing the exceptionality requirement for Individual Funding Requires for Chemosaturation therapy and comparable intervention for people whose lives are at risk.

The Department and the National Health Service in England are committed to ensuring that cancer patients have timely access to treatment and tailored medical support. In 2016, NHS England concluded that there was insufficient evidence to make chemosaturation treatment available to patients on the NHS. NHS England is currently in the early stages of policy development for chemosaturation to treat metastatic uveal melanoma where surgery to remove or destroy affected cells and tissue in the liver is not feasible.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends that chemosaturation can be used for patients with secondary liver metastases resulting from a primary ocular melanoma, provided special arrangements are in place. A special arrangements recommendation states that clinicians using the procedure should inform the clinical governance lead in their trust, tell the patient about the uncertainties regarding the safety and efficacy of the procedure, and collect further data by means of audit or research. NICE is in the process of updating its guidance, with final guidance expected on 15 October 2026. The first committee meeting, to discuss the evidence, is expected to take place on 16 April 2026. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ipg10448