4 Dec 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 86345 on Whitchurch Station: Access, when she plans to announce her Department’s decision regarding the stations selected for Access for All funding.
ReplyWe are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since 2006 the Access for All programme has installed accessible, step free routes at over 270 stations plus a range of smaller scale access improvements at around 1500 stations. In May 2024, the previous government published a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work. Network Rail have now completed all 50 feasibility studies and we will shortly be announcing which of those stations will progress.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 86345 on Whitchurch Station: Access, if she will announce the timeline for completion of Access for All construction at Whitchurch Railway Station.
ReplyWe are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since 2006 the Access for All programme has installed accessible, step free routes at over 270 stations plus a range of smaller scale access improvements at around 1500 stations. In May 2024, the previous government published a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work, which included Whitchurch railway station.Network Rail have now completed all 50 feasibility studies and we will shortly be announcing which of those stations will progress.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Virgin Media’s PSTN switchover on the safety of vulnerable and telecare-reliant customers.
ReplyVirgin Media has been fined £23.8m following the conclusion of Ofcom’s investigation started in 2023 into Virgin Media’s breach of their General Conditions.We take people’s safety during this switchover very seriously. In November 2024, the Government secured further commitments from the telecoms industry, including Virgin Media, to protect vulnerable customers via the non-voluntary migrations checklist. This includes telecare-reliant customers.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, how many consignments of pork meat and associated products originating from Spain have been seized at UK borders since 28 November 2025.
ReplyThe seizure data for detained consignments associated with a specific disease outbreak is recorded locally by Port Health Authorities. Defra does not record this information centrally.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the number of vulnerable customers impacted by ongoing PSTN switchover programmes.
ReplyThere are an estimated 2 million telecare users in the UK, and many customers may be identified as vulnerable for other reasons, such as landline-dependency. The government does not hold data on the specific number affected by the industry led PSTN migration.The Government is committed to keeping vulnerable people safe during the PSTN migration. In November 2024, the Government secured further commitments from the telecoms industry to protect vulnerable customers via the non-voluntary migrations checklist.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk of African Swine Fever entering the UK.
ReplyDefra’s latest assessment for African Swine Fever (ASF) dated 1 December 2025, considers that the risk of the virus entering the UK remains at medium. We have strict measures in place to mitigate this risk. These include the listing of countries and regions eligible to export pigs and porcine products to Great Britain commercially, prohibitions on importing pigs, fresh pig meat, porcine semen and untreated porcine meat products from areas with ASF, veterinary health certification, and import checks at the border. Personal imports of pork and pork products are not permitted. It is also illegal to feed catering waste to livestock.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what biosecurity procedures are in place for (a) detained and (b) uncollected meat consignments at UK border control posts to prevent the transmission of African Swine Fever.
ReplyAll consignments of pork and pork products are checked at bio-secure border control posts to ensure that they have been effectively treated to mitigate the risk of African Swine Fever or they originate from a region declared free of the disease. Border Force with the support of Port Health Authorities carry out checks at the border to identify, seize and destroy illegally smuggled meat.
4 Dec 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, how many seizures of illegal pork imports have been recorded at UK ports and airports in the last 12 months.
ReplyDefra does not record this information. Border Force, supported by port health and local authorities, is responsible for seizing illegal imports of pork at UK ports and airports.
3 Dec 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow many Single Living Accommodation units in each UK local authority area have recorded Legionella, in each year since 2018.
ReplyInformation on the number of cases of Legionella recorded in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) in each year since 2018 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Further to my response to the hon Member's Question 91487 answered on 25 November 2025, following further review of the information, the answer provided gave the quantity of Legionella tests undertaken and not confirmed cases of Legionella. The Ministry of Defence’s contractor VIVO took over responsibility for maintaining SLA within the Future Defence Infrastructure Services, Southwest contract in February 2022, data prior to this date is not held. The below table shows that there have been no Legionella positive samples within SLA in Shropshire and North Shropshire between February 2022 to date: YearLegionella Positive Samples20220202302024020250 The remaining data provided for Question 91487 remains unchanged.
3 Dec 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedOn how many occasions Single Living Accommodation units in each UK local authority area have experienced loss of (a) heating and (b) hot water for over 24 hours in each year since 2018.
ReplyInformation on the number of occasions Single Living Accommodation (SLA) units in each UK local authority area that have experienced a loss of heating and hot water for over 24 hours in each year since 2018 can only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Enhancing the standard of accommodation, including SLA is essential to the morale and retention of Service personnel and is a priority within the Defence infrastructure portfolio. Defence is committed under the Strategic Defence Review to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation. Delivery of new, modernised SLA is already underway, with further detail on the investment in new and refurbished SLA to be set out in due course.
3 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedHow many and what proportion of Neighbourhood Health Centre sites have prioritised neurology within their (a) initial service plans and (b) delivery models.
ReplyIn August 2025, NHS England updated its service specification for specialised adult neurology services. It outlines how specialised neurology services should support integrated and responsive care for individuals with long-term neurological conditions through collaboration between hospital and community providers. Service specifications define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme.We have announced our commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme, with 120 delivered by 2030, and with rollout starting in areas with the greatest need where healthy life expectancy is lowestWe expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in different places across the country. We will be publishing further guidance to support local areas to develop neighbourhood health plans in due course. This will set out how the National Health Service, local authorities, and partners should work together under the leadership of Health and Wellbeing Boards to develop and implement plans.
3 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat guidance his Department has provided to Neighbourhood Health Centre sites on integrating specialist neurology services with neighbourhood-based care teams.
ReplyIn August 2025, NHS England updated its service specification for specialised adult neurology services. It outlines how specialised neurology services should support integrated and responsive care for individuals with long-term neurological conditions through collaboration between hospital and community providers. Service specifications define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme.We have announced our commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme, with 120 delivered by 2030, and with rollout starting in areas with the greatest need where healthy life expectancy is lowestWe expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in different places across the country. We will be publishing further guidance to support local areas to develop neighbourhood health plans in due course. This will set out how the National Health Service, local authorities, and partners should work together under the leadership of Health and Wellbeing Boards to develop and implement plans.
3 Dec 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow many complaints regarding (a) gas, (b) electrical and (c) water issues have been recorded in Single Living Accommodation in each UK local authority area in each year since 2018.
ReplyInformation on how many complaints regarding gas, electrical and water issues have been recorded in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) in each UK local authority area in each year since 2018 is not held centrally and can only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Enhancing the standard of accommodation, including SLA is essential to the morale and retention of Service personnel and is a priority within the Defence infrastructure portfolio. Defence is committed under the Strategic Defence Review to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation. Delivery of new, modernised SLA is already underway, with further detail on the investment in new and refurbished SLA to be set out in due course.
3 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has conducted an assessment of the potential impact of the UK-USA pharmaceutical deal on frontline NHS services.
ReplyEvery patient deserves access to the best possible treatment. This deal is a vital investment that builds on the strength of our National Health Service and world leading life sciences sector.Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more life improving and lifesaving medicines. Total costs over the Spending Review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. But the final costs will clearly depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake of these. This is not something that we can pre-empt at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market, and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly. At the Spending Review we delivered record real terms increase for day-to-day spending for the NHS in England up to April 2029. This deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where front line services will remain protected through the record funding secured. Future year funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.
3 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat assessments his department has made of the predicted total cost of UK-US pharmaceutical deal on the NHS budget.
ReplyEvery patient deserves access to the best possible treatment. This deal is a vital investment that builds on the strength of our National Health Service and world leading life sciences sector.Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more life improving and lifesaving medicines. Total costs over the Spending Review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. But the final costs will clearly depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake of these. This is not something that we can pre-empt at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market, and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly. At the Spending Review we delivered record real terms increase for day-to-day spending for the NHS in England up to April 2029. This deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where front line services will remain protected through the record funding secured. Future year funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.
3 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedHow he plans to fund the UK-US pharmaceutical deal.
ReplyEvery patient deserves access to the best possible treatment. This deal is a vital investment that builds on the strength of our National Health Service and world leading life sciences sector.Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more life improving and lifesaving medicines. Total costs over the Spending Review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. But the final costs will clearly depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake of these. This is not something that we can pre-empt at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market, and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly. At the Spending Review we delivered record real terms increase for day-to-day spending for the NHS in England up to April 2029. This deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where front line services will remain protected through the record funding secured. Future year funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.
2 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedIf his Department will provide guidance, resources, and risk assessment tools to general practitioners to support discussions with patients eligible for targeted prostate cancer screening.
ReplyMy Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will consider the final recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) on screening for prostate cancer when it is received. At that point, he will make a decision on implementation, including any resources that may be required for general practitioners and other healthcare professionals to support his decision.It is anticipated that the final recommendation will be provided in early 2026 after the conclusion of a 12 week consultation which opened on 28 November 2025. This seeks views on an evidence review and a draft recommendation to:offer a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme to men with confirmed BRCA1/2 gene variants every two years, from 45 years old to 61 years old;not recommend population screening;not recommend targeted screening of black men;not recommend targeted screening of men with family history; andcollaborate with the Transform trial team to answer outstanding questions on screening effectiveness for black men and men with a family history as soon as the trial data becomes available, and to await the results of the study to develop and trial a more accurate test than the prostate specific antigen test alone, to improve the balance of benefit and harm of screening.
2 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedIf he will make it his policy to expand BRCA testing to men, including those with male relatives of confirmed BRCA carriers.
ReplyMy Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will consider the final recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) on screening for prostate cancer when it is received. He will make a decision on implementation, including any changes to BRCA testing eligibility, at that point.It is anticipated that the final recommendation will be provided in early 2026 after the conclusion of a 12 week consultation which opened on 28 November 2025. This seeks views on an evidence review and a draft recommendation to:- offer a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme to men with confirmed BRCA1/2 gene variants every two years, from 45 years old to 61 years old;- not recommend population screening;- not recommend targeted screening of black men;- not recommend targeted screening of men with family history; and- collaborate with the Transform trial team to answer outstanding questions on screening effectiveness for black men and men with a family history as soon as the trial data becomes available, and to await the results of the study to develop and trial a more accurate test than the prostate specific antigen test alone, to improve the balance of benefit and harm of screening.
1 Dec 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
AskedIf she will take steps with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure income generated from speed enforcement is spent on roads maintenance and roads policing.
ReplyThe Department for Transport currently has no plans to bring forward proposals that would allow income generated from speed enforcement to fund specific road maintenance or road policing measures. Money from fines and penalty receipts, including those for speeding, is paid to the Treasury and goes into the Consolidated Fund. The Consolidated Fund supports general expenditure on public services, which includes services that benefit motorists, such as policing, local government grants, and transport.
1 Dec 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhen he plans to answer Question 90914 on NHS: Software.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 December 2025 to Question 90914.