Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the differing compensation payments for deceased infected blood scandal victims based on whether they contracted HIV or Hepatitis C.

The impact of a Hepatitis infection can range from very mild to very severe, including liver failure and death as a direct result of the infection. In its second interim report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme should reflect the different impacts of infection by developing severity bandings. The Expert Group provided the Government with clinical advice on the distinctions between these impacts. This meant the Government could set severity bands for Hepatitis infections based on clear clinical markers. As set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, where someone’s experience of Hepatitis, whether it is historic or in the present day, has been more severe, they will receive more compensation. In its Additional Report, published 9 July, the Inquiry stated that “that tiers are relevant to Hepatitis in a way in which they are not in cases of HIV.”

Whether targets to improve early diagnosis of myeloma will form part of the national cancer plan.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers such as myeloma, as well as other unstageable cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, in order to improve outcomes.To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

If she will (a) limit and (b) regulate the (i) number and (I) frequency of (A) pleasure and (B) display flights by small aircraft above residential areas.

Currently there are no plans to formally limit the number of small aircraft over residential areas. However, all airspace users must follow The Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 which set out minimum heights for flight above built-up areas.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting infected blood scandal compensation payments from Inheritance Tax when such payments are transferred to the next of kin of deceased victims.

Infected Blood compensation payments are relieved from inheritance tax under Schedule 15 of the Finance Act 2020. This is applied to the estate of the recipient of the compensation payment. Where these payments are subsequently inherited, they become part of the beneficiary’s estate and are subject to standard inheritance tax rules, in line with normal practice for compensation schemes. This ensures victims receive full compensation without tax burdens whilst maintaining fairness in the tax system and protecting the public finances.

What steps he is taking to (a) help ensure that patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome have access to ongoing specialist care following diagnosis and (b) allocate funding for research into (i) Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and (ii) other persistent pain conditions.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases through the UK Rare Diseases Framework.Much of the routine care that people with chronic pain, such as some people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), receive will be provided by local primary, community and a secondary care service commissioned via local integrated care boards (ICBs). The commissioning of these services is a local matter. In some cases, patients may receive care at Specialist Pain Centres. Details on commissioning of those services are available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/adult-highly-specialist-pain-management-services/.The fourth priority of the Framework is improved access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. In February 2025, the England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2025 was published, including progress made under this priority:- Meeting to discuss the effectiveness of early access pathways for rare disease therapies;- Launching a review of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence highly specialised technology programme for evaluating rare disease treatments; and- Introducing two new actions on reforming clinical trial regulations; and developing an operational framework for individualised therapies in the National Health Service.Pioneering research is an underpinning theme of the Framework. The Department for Health and Social Care funds and supports research into rare diseases such as CRPS through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including rare diseases. The usual practice of the NIHR and other research funders is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics.The 2025 England Rare Disease Action Plan includes information on research for rare diseases through significant investments to support rare disease research. This includes the Rare Disease Research UK Platform (RDR UK), a £14 million investment over 5 years from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and NIHR, announced in 2023, which is now established and positioned well within the rare disease research landscape. In December 2024, the MRC launched the first 2 MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), both studying gene therapies, and each worth up to £50 million over 14 years.

Whether he plans to review the (a) scope, (b) eligibility, (c) criteria and (d) compensation level of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

I would like to reiterate my profound sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.Ministers continue to consider options for reforming the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS).In parallel, the Department continues to work with the NHS Business Services Authority, the administrators of the VDPS, to take further steps to improve the scheme, including through processing claims at a faster rate.

What steps he is taking to support (a) people injured by vaccination and (b) families affected by vaccine-related deaths.

In the very rare event where someone may have suffered a severe adverse reaction to a vaccine, care and treatment will be best met and managed by local National Health Service specialist services, augmented as appropriate by national specialist advice. Individuals will be treated and managed through existing healthcare services, with treatment dependent on the individual’s clinical needs.Individuals can also apply to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) which provides a one-off, tax-free payment of £120,000 to claimants who have been found, on the balance of probabilities, to have been severely disabled as a result of vaccinations against certain diseases listed in the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.Outside of the VDPS, other government support remains available for those with a disability or long-term health condition, including Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Personal Independence Payments. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/disability

What steps his Department is taking to help improve (a) rates of early diagnosis, (b) access to treatment and (c) specialist care for people with rare diseases.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. These include helping patients get a final diagnosis faster, increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals, better coordination of care and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We published the annual England Rare Diseases Action Plan in February, where we report on the steps we have taken to advance these priorities in the preceding year. The Government will be working with the devolved nations this year to review what comes next following the expiry of the UK Rare Diseases Framework in 2026.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of HMRC developing Making Tax Digital software without using third-party providers.

HMRC has always maintained that it would not offer its own software products for Making Tax Digital. This helps to ensure a competitive market which will better support taxpayers with a flexible and tailored range of software that integrates with other business management tools. This includes free and low-cost options, which would be undermined by an HMRC produced solution. Third party developers are also well placed to build the necessary help and support within their products that is particularly important for unrepresented customers or those who do not already use digital tools to manage their affairs.

What the provision is for manual lymphatic drainage on the NHS for patients following breast cancer treatment; and whether such treatment is routinely available.

Manual lymphatic drainage following breast cancer treatment-related lymphoedema is available through the National Health Service via referral from the healthcare team to a lymphoedema specialist or physiotherapist. Decisions regarding patient treatments are typically made by clinicians, considering all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in processing times for deputyship applications by the Court of Protection.

HMCTS is working to increase overall system capacity to decrease processing times across all types of applications. Measures taken include a targeted action plan to allocate additional administrative resources in response to higher demand, as well as training and upskilling new staff. Additional judicial sitting days have been added to support performance improvement. HMCTS has also adopted new digital systems, including an updated case management system, to help reduce overall end-to-end processing times.

What steps her Department is taking to improve standards of road safety among delivery (a) riders and (b) drivers; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the right of provisional licence holders to work in this industry.

Everyone who rides or drives, including delivery couriers, has a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and to follow the rules set out in The Highway Code. I have no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the right of provisional licence holders to ride while working. The Department worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to update the joint DfT/HSE guidance on work related road safety. The revised guidance, published in September 2021 and called Driving and riding safely for work, clearly sets out what commercial organisations and their employees must do to manage work related road safety and what their obligations are under law. Improving road safety is one of my highest priorities. Dangerous or unsafe behaviour by anyone on our roads is unacceptable. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. My department is developing the Government’s Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

What comparative assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of ultrasound in primary care in (a) the UK, (b) Germany and (c) the Nordic nations; and what steps his Department is taking to expand access to diagnostic ultrasound in UK primary care (i) for gynaecological conditions and (ii) in general.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services.Our 10-Year Health Plan commits to shifting care from hospital to community, including diagnostic tests, and to ensuring care is more integrated across primary and secondary care.Diagnostic tests, such as ultrasounds, should be more easily accessible and located in the community and directly referred from primary care where possible, which is more convenient for patients than going to hospital. We have committed to build upon the current 169 Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) that are open across the country by expanding a number of these and by building up to five new CDCs, as well as expanding the number of CDCs that are open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.We are also working to improve access for GP services to diagnostic tests, for example in CDCs. The GP Direct Access Programme has published guidance on the use of urgent direct access referrals to specific diagnostic tests. This includes, for example, ultrasounds for abdomen and pelvis for suspected different intra-abdominal cancers including those of the pancreas, colon, urological tract or lymphoma. Guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/urgent-gp-direct-access-to-diagnostic-services-for-people-with-symptoms-not-meeting-the-threshold-for-an-urgent-suspected-cancer-referral/.The Department of Health and Social Care has not currently made a comparative assessment of the adequacy of the availability of ultrasound in primary care in, the UK, Germany and the Nordic nations. NHS England monitors the age and distribution of imaging assets including ultrasound scanners (for non-obstetric use) across the country via its annual National Imaging Data Collection, which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/national-imaging-data-collection/.In March 2024, there were 3,468 ultrasound scanners assets in England, an increase of 467 compared to 3,001 in March 2023.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the Crown Prosecution Service to assess the need for Criminal Behaviour Orders for defendants sentenced at their first appearance at court following a remand in police custody.

Ancillary orders, including Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), play an important work in delivering justice, especially for victims of crime.When submitting a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in cases where it is appropriate to seek a CBO, the police are required to provide information to justify the making of a CBO. As with other ancillary orders, prosecutors apply for CBOs where the law enables them to do so, considering all the facts and circumstances in a case.In the Government’s response to the Independent Sentencing Review, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to expand ancillary orders and to explore wider powers for judges to enable them to use these orders more effectively and punish offenders. The CPS is working with the Ministry of Justice to provide prosecutorial insight in support of this work.

Whether her Department plans to review Business Rates.

The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.At Autumn Budget 2024, we took the first step with the announcement of permanently lower tax rates for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties that make up the backbone of our high streets, from 2026-27. The Budget announcements reflected the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We wanted to go further to modernise the system, and so, we published a Discussion Paper, setting out priority areas for reform and inviting industry to co-design a fairer system. The Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of people on NHS waiting lists in Chichester constituency.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission. We have now exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having now delivered 4.9 million more appointments. This marks a vital first step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the National Health Service constitutional standard, by March 2029. Our Reforming elective care for patients plan, published in January, sets out how the NHS will reform elective care services and deliver on our ambitions.We are transforming diagnostics to cut long waits through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). Patients in the Chichester constituency are likely to be referred to either Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital CDC, which has been delivering diagnostic activity since November 2021, or the University of Chichester Bognor Regis CDC, which has been delivering diagnostic activity since March.Dedicated and protected surgical hubs are transforming the way that NHS provides elective care by focusing on high-volume low-complexity surgeries. As of September, there are currently 120 operational surgical hubs across England. In Sussex, there is currently one operational surgical hub, at the Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre, which opened in 2012. These surgical hubs help separate elective care facilities from urgent and emergency care, improving outcomes for patients and reducing pressures on hospitals. The Department is committed to ramping up the number of hubs over the next three years so that more operations can be carried out.

If a refreshed mathematics curriculum designed to ensure that as many learners as possible can achieve positive outcomes will form part of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

High and rising standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances.A high-quality curriculum and assessment system is key to ensuring that every child receives an excellent education, which includes providing a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative mathematics curriculum.The Review is specifically considering how to remove existing blocks to progress and ensure good outcomes for children and young people, including those who are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who have a special educational need or disability.During its ongoing work, the Review Group are seeking to address the challenges in particular subjects, including the mathematics curriculum, enabling all students to master high-quality content.The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of recognising Artificial Intelligence tools as eligible assistive software under the Access to Work scheme.

Access to Work has not been substantially changed since its introduction in 1994. There is a strong case for updating the role it plays in making work accessible for disabled people. In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of the Access to Work scheme. We also considered the role of employers in creating accessible and inclusive workplaces as well as how we can shape the market for aids, appliances and assistive technology, to reduce their cost and spread their adoption. We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation has closed. We are continuing to work closely with stakeholders, and in particular disabled people and their representatives, on all aspects of our proposals.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating additional funding for (a) dyslexia screening and (b) dyslexia-specific teacher training in Chichester constituency.

​​I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 1 August 2025 to Question 61402.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of full-time psychiatrists in the NHS (a) nationally and (b) in Chichester constituency.

Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.However, we know that the NHS has been facing workforce shortages for a number of years. While there has been growth in the mental health workforce over recent years, more is needed. That is why, as part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers, including psychiatrists, by the end of this Parliament. We are more than halfway towards this target, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services.