Written questions by McMurdock.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to equipment to allow NHS staff to carry out their duties effectively.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure that NHS organisations have access to the necessary equipment to deliver effective care.

Awaiting answer.

What recent discussions he has had with Alzheimer's Research UK on priorities for dementia research funding.

Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. The Government is investing in dementia research across all areas, from causes, diagnosis, and prevention, to treatment, care, and support, including for carers.Between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25, through the NIHR, the Department spent £183.1 million for new research projects and supporting infrastructure into dementia. This includes spending £53 million in financial year 2024/25 alone.Officials meet regularly with a range of partners, including Alzheimer's Research UK to discuss research and to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives. My Rt Hon. Friend, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not held discussions with Alzheimer's Research UK.Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the funding allocated for research into dementia, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of line management within the NHS in supporting staff to identify and resolve workplace issues.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of a) minor injuries and b) urgent care services in South Essex; and what plans he has to expand the range of these services at Orsett Hospital.

Responsibility for commissioning urgent care services, including minor injury services, sits with local National Health Service integrated care boards (ICBs), which assess and respond to the needs of their populations. In South Essex, NHS Essex ICB is working with local partners to assess current provision and future needs.There are no current plans to expand urgent care services at Orsett Hospital. In the wider area, a new community diagnostic centre (CDC) is now providing diagnostic services in Thurrock, and is located near the Orsett site. The impact of the new CDC on patient flow is being assessed with further data expected over summer 2026. This will inform any next steps to improve access and services.In parallel, the ICB is evaluating the potential for a neighbourhood health centre near the CDC, while Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is reviewing activity at Orsett Hospital to ensure services continue to be delivered closer to patients’ homes.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of Government support for dementia research.

Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. The Government is investing in dementia research across all areas, from causes, diagnosis, and prevention, to treatment, care, and support, including for carers.Between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25, through the NIHR, the Department spent £183.1 million for new research projects and supporting infrastructure into dementia. This includes spending £53 million in financial year 2024/25 alone.Officials meet regularly with a range of partners, including Alzheimer's Research UK to discuss research and to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives. My Rt Hon. Friend, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not held discussions with Alzheimer's Research UK.Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the funding allocated for research into dementia, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

What steps he is taking to reduce levels of work-related stress across the NHS workforce.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the long-term financial sustainability of freight flows supported by the scheme once grant funding ends.

The Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme assists companies with the operating costs associated with running rail or inland water freight transport operations instead of using road transport operations, where rail or inland waterway transport is more expensive. The department does not assess the long-term financial sustainability of freight flows through the scheme. The department is currently evaluating the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme, with a view to determining how best to support freight and logistics businesses in shifting freight between transport modes once the scheme expires on 31 March 2027. Financial sustainability will be considered when determining this support.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to consult on the future use of carbon dioxide gas as a method of slaughtering pigs.

Awaiting answer.

What recent assessment he has made of the level of NHS staff confidence that concerns raised by patients are acted on within NHS organisations.

Awaiting answer.

What recent funding his Department has allocated to improve dementia diagnosis and care services in Essex.

Awaiting answer.

What plans she has to include specialists with expertise in Development Language Disorder in the development of specialist provision frameworks.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to help improve coordination between police forces and local authorities to tackle criminal enterprises operating through high street businesses.

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskforce to develop a strategic policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets. This effort is underpinned by £10 million per year for three years, as announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. This funding will be used to enhance support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers, and enhancements to Trading Standards. As part of this uplift the Taskforce is considering how to enhance police and local authority coordination.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on standardising miscarriage care pathways across England.

No discussions on this issue have taken place to date between NHS England and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. However, we remain committed to driving improvement in the care received by women and families through the pending national action plan, overseen by the Government’s maternity and neonatal taskforce.We welcome the report from Tommy’s Miscarriage Centre at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital on the effectiveness of their graded model of sporadic or recurrent miscarriage care pilot. In the Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to carefully considering their findings, working closely with our partners.

What steps he is taking to improve (a) public and (b) clinical awareness of development language disorder.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of (a) staffing and (b) resources of Early Pregnancy Units to deliver improved miscarriage care.

Awaiting answer.

What plans his Department has to review NHS guidance on the provision of miscarriage care following a (a) first and (b) second pregnancy loss.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the extent to which treatable medical conditions linked to miscarriage are being identified at an early stage under existing NHS miscarriage care pathways.

Awaiting answer.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of patient satisfaction levels with miscarriage care services provided by the NHS.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of police resources dedicated to tackling organised crime operating through small retail businesses.

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskforce to develop a strategic policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets. This effort is underpinned by £10 million per year for three years, as announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. This funding will be used to enhance support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers, and enhancements to Trading Standards. As part of this uplift the Taskforce is considering how to enhance police and local authority coordination.