Written questions by Mohamed.

If his Department will publish the legal direction under Section 254 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 that disapplies patient opt-outs for the NHS Federated Data Platform.

All directions made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, under section 254 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 are published at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/corporate-information-and-documents/directions-and-data-provision-notices/secretary-of-state-directions/secretary-of-state-directions-a-z The National Data Opt-Out does not currently apply to the NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP). This is not because of a direction but because there are currently no products within the NHS FDP which are required to apply the National Data Opt-Out. If the purpose of processing means that the National Data Opt-Out should apply, then the data controller must apply the opt-out. This is covered in the NHS FDP Information Governance Framework, which can be found at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/federated-data-platform-information-governance-framework/ Further information on where the National Data Opt-Out does not apply is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/where-your-choice-does-not-apply/

What guidance his Department issues to local authorities on consultation with families before moving adults with learning disabilities to supported living or residential placements.

Decisions about care placements are made locally, based on individual assessments of need and personal circumstances. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets and commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people, and that offer quality and value for money.There is no single national assessment of the impact of out‑of‑area placements on disabled adults and their families. However, local authorities should engage with people who draw on care and support, and their families and carers, to inform commissioning decisions and to consider the outcomes which matter to them. This is reflected in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, which supports local authorities to fulfil their Care Act duties, including expectations around involvement and co‑production with people who draw on care and support and their families.

What guidance his Department issues to local authorities on consulting with families before moving adults with learning disabilities to supported living and residential placements.

Decisions about care placements are made locally, based on individual assessments of need and personal circumstances. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets and commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people, and that offer quality and value for money.There is no single national assessment of the impact of out‑of‑area placements on disabled adults and their families. However, local authorities should engage with people who draw on care and support, and their families and carers, to inform commissioning decisions and to consider the outcomes which matter to them. This is reflected in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, which supports local authorities to fulfil their Care Act duties, including expectations around involvement and co‑production with people who draw on care and support and their families.

What steps the Government is taking to strengthen safeguarding protections for adults with learning disabilities receiving local authority care services.

When a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect an adult in the local authority’s area has care and support needs, is at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, and cannot protect themselves because of those needs, it must carry out a safeguarding enquiry.Local authorities must work with their partners under section 6(7) of the Care Act 2014, and those partners must also work with the authority to carry out their care, support, and adult protection duties.Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out to tackle health inequalities and offer people with disabilities more holistic, on-going support in the community.Action is underway to improve access and support for people with a learning disability through mandatory training for health and care staff, continued uptake of annual health checks and health action plans, and the Mental Health Act reforms.

What mechanisms exist for investigating allegations of abuse of adults with learning disabilities in social care settings.

When a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect an adult in the local authority’s area has care and support needs, is at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, and cannot protect themselves because of those needs, it must carry out a safeguarding enquiry.Local authorities must work with their partners under section 6(7) of the Care Act 2014, and those partners must also work with the authority to carry out their care, support, and adult protection duties.Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out to tackle health inequalities and offer people with disabilities more holistic, on-going support in the community.Action is underway to improve access and support for people with a learning disability through mandatory training for health and care staff, continued uptake of annual health checks and health action plans, and the Mental Health Act reforms.

What guidance his Department provides to local authorities on accepting complaints relating to the treatment of vulnerable adults raised by (a) relatives, (b) carers, (c) friends and (d) other third parties.

Anyone who is concerned that an adult with care and support needs is at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, can contact the safeguarding adults team at the relevant local authority to raise a safeguarding enquiry.Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in the local authority’s area has needs for care and support, whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs, and appears to be at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect themselves as a result of those needs, the local authority must carry out a safeguarding enquiry.Under section 68 of the Care Act 2014, local authorities must provide an independent advocate for adults involved in safeguarding enquiries when they would otherwise struggle to understand, retain, use, or weigh information, or to communicate their views.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of local authority complaints policies in meeting the needs of adults with severe learning disabilities.

The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 require local authorities that provide adult social care services to have complaints procedures that follow a certain process. They should work with the person raising the complaint to try and resolve it.If someone is not satisfied with the outcome of their complaint to the local authority, then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) can investigate individual concerns. The LGSCO is the independent complaints lead for adult social care and investigates complaints from those receiving social care. Details of how to complain to the LGSCO can be found at the following link:https://www.lgo.org.uk/make-a-complaintThere is also a help and advice line available via telephone on 0300 061 0614, or one can write to The Local Government Ombudsman, PO Box 4771, Coventry, CV4 0EH.

What local authority adult safeguarding procedures are required to accept concerns raised by individuals acting on behalf of adults who lack the capacity or ability to complain themselves.

Anyone who is concerned that an adult with care and support needs is at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, can contact the safeguarding adults team at the relevant local authority to raise a safeguarding enquiry.Where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in the local authority’s area has needs for care and support, whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs, and appears to be at risk of, or experiencing abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect themselves as a result of those needs, the local authority must carry out a safeguarding enquiry.Under section 68 of the Care Act 2014, local authorities must provide an independent advocate for adults involved in safeguarding enquiries when they would otherwise struggle to understand, retain, use, or weigh information, or to communicate their views.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact on disabled adults and their families when placements are made far from their home communities.

Decisions about care placements are made locally, based on individual assessments of need and personal circumstances. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets and commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a variety of different providers and specialist services that provide genuine choice to meet the needs of local people, and that offer quality and value for money.There is no single national assessment of the impact of out‑of‑area placements on disabled adults and their families. However, local authorities should engage with people who draw on care and support, and their families and carers, to inform commissioning decisions and to consider the outcomes which matter to them. This is reflected in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, which supports local authorities to fulfil their Care Act duties, including expectations around involvement and co‑production with people who draw on care and support and their families.

Whether his Department collects data on the number of adults with learning disabilities placed outside their local area by local authorities.

The Department does not collect data specifically on the number of adults with learning disabilities who are placed outside their local authority area. However, national statistics on adults with learning disabilities receiving long-term support are published annually in the Adult Social Care Activity Report. Where out-of-area placements are made, local authorities have a duty under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that, among other things, decisions are based on a consideration of each individual's needs and preferences.

What steps he is taking to ensure that individuals found responsible for abusive conduct towards vulnerable adults cannot work in publicly funded social care services.

The intention of Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 19 Fit and proper persons employed of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is to make sure providers only employ 'fit and proper' staff who are able to provide care and treatment appropriate to their role and to enable them to provide the regulated activity.To meet this regulation, providers must operate robust recruitment procedures, including undertaking any relevant checks. They must have a procedure for ongoing monitoring of staff to make sure they remain able to meet the requirements, and they must have appropriate arrangements in place to deal with staff who are no longer fit to carry out the duties required of them.In addition, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check must be undertaken prior to the recruitment of all care workers. If an individual has been barred, then they will be added to the Adults’ Barred List. If they knowingly engage, or seek to engage, in regulated activity with a vulnerable group from which they are barred then they would be committing a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. The same is true for employers who knowingly employ somebody who is on the barred list.

What vetting procedures apply to individuals employed in adult social care roles involving contact with vulnerable adults.

The intention of Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 19 Fit and proper persons employed of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is to make sure providers only employ 'fit and proper' staff who are able to provide care and treatment appropriate to their role and to enable them to provide the regulated activity.To meet this regulation, providers must operate robust recruitment procedures, including undertaking any relevant checks. They must have a procedure for ongoing monitoring of staff to make sure they remain able to meet the requirements, and they must have appropriate arrangements in place to deal with staff who are no longer fit to carry out the duties required of them.The CQC can assess compliance with these regulations through assessment and monitoring activity. Where a breach of regulation or non-compliance is identified, The CQC can take regulatory action.An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check must be undertaken prior to the recruitment of all care workers. In line with the CQC guidance for DBS checks, staff working with vulnerable adults can only start work before a DBS certificate is received if they have had a DBS Adult First Check, are appropriately supervised, and do not escort people away from the premises unless accompanied by someone with a DBS check.

Whether Local Authorities have the right to move adults with disabilities to residential care away from their families and against the wishes of the individual and/or their families.

Under section 9(5) of the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to involve the adult concerned and, where appropriate, their carers, family members, or others with an interest in their welfare, when carrying out a needs assessment and considering how care and support needs should be met.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are also tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care.Local authorities should engage with people who draw on care and support, and their families and carers, to inform commissioning decisions and to consider the outcomes which matter to them. This is reflected in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, which supports local authorities to fulfil their Care Act duties, including expectations around involvement and co‑production with people who draw on care and support and their families.Under the Health and Care Act 2022, the Care Quality Commission has a statutory duty to assess how well local authorities are delivering their adult social care duties.

What steps he is taking to help deliver more glaucoma services in communities.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Battersea on 18 March 2026 to Question 119439.

What estimate he has made of (a) the number of people waiting for glaucoma follow-up appointments and (b) the length of time they are waiting for such appointments.

The Department does not hold data on either the number of people waiting for a glaucoma follow-up appointment or the length of waiting time for any such glaucoma follow-up appointment. Therefore, no current estimate has been made.Data is published on ophthalmology waiting times from referral to treatment, but this is not broken down by condition and does not cover follow up appointments that occur after a patient’s first definitive treatment.As of January 2026, the waiting list for ophthalmology stands at 602,163, with 69.8% of those having waited less than 18 weeks from referral to treatment.

What steps he is taking to improve the provision of NHS audiology services in Dewsbury and Batley constituency.

NHS England is supporting provider organisations and integrated care boards who are the commissioners of audiology services to improve performance and reduce waiting lists for appointments and assessments for hearing services. This includes capital investment to upgrade audiology facilities in National Health Service trusts, expanding audiology testing capacity via community diagnostic centres, and direct support through a national audiology improvement collaborative.Data is also published on community health services waiting lists, which includes waiting times for community audiology services. This is published at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/community-health-services-waiting-lists/

What discussions he has held with a) Pharmaceutical companies, b) Pharmaceutical industry groups and c) patient groups and charities on the US-UK Pharmaceuticals deal.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

Whether his Department plans to publish an impact assessment for the US-UK Pharmaceuticals deal.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

Whether he plans to provide extra resource to the NHS to offset changes to drug prices under US-UK trade agreements.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of US-UK trade agreements on (a) drug prices and (b) levels of excess deaths in the NHS.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.