Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lisa Smart this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 321–340 of 544 · this parliament
Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the correspondence from Jilly Julian of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council of 4 February 2025 on the administration of the Flood Recovery Framework.
The department has no record of having received this correspondence.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46010 on Speed limits, what her planned (a) timetable and (b) scope is for the forthcoming road safety strategy.
I would like to make clear that improving road safety is one of my key priorities. 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. That is why we are developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.At the Transport Select Committee in April 2025, the Secretary of State set out that we hope to publish the Strategy later this year.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of investing in mental health services to help tackle substance abuse.
The Government recognises the need for evidenced-based, high-quality drug and alcohol services, and will ensure that anyone with a substance use problem can access the help and support they need. To achieve this, we also recognise the vital need for high-quality integrated care for those with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.Local authorities are responsible for assessing the local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, and for commissioning services to meet these needs, whilst most mental health services in England are funded and commissioned by integrated care boards. There are currently no plans to change this arrangement, but we are working to promote more cohesive and joined up care between mental health and substance use services. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26, the Department is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol services and recovery support, which includes housing and employment. Alongside this, for 2025/26, mental health spending is forecast to amount to £15.6 billion. This represents a significant uplift in real terms spending on mental health compared to the previous financial year. Integrated care boards are forecast to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard over the 2025/26 financial year, meaning that local health services will invest a greater share of their budgets into frontline mental health services.In addition to continued investment, we intend to soon publish the Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Action Plan, which has been co-produced between the Department and NHS England. The action plan provides national commitments and calls to the sector on how the health system can improve delivery of joined-up, person-centred care across drug and alcohol treatment and mental health services.Furthermore, the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities has published a Commissioning Quality Standard in 2022 which provides guidance for drug and alcohol treatment commissioners on improving services for people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol or drug conditions. This standard sets out that local services need to work together so that people can access the help they need for both their mental health and their alcohol or drug use.
What discussions she has had with refugee charities on the potential merits of creating greater flexibility for the collection of biometric information for people seeking refugee family reunion.
The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing greater flexibility for the collection of biometric information for people seeking refugee family reunion.
The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
If she will take steps with (a) Stockport Council and (b) the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide Metrolink services to Stockport.
This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities. The Greater Manchester CRSTS programme includes a number of schemes which will transform public transport and active travel in Stockport, including initiatives focused on bus priority.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of lifting the ban on people in the National Referral Mechanism working if they have been waiting for a decision for over three months.
An individual’s right to work depends on their immigration status in the UK. Many victims of modern slavery already have the legal right to work owing to being British or due to having pre-existing leave to remain for another reason.Victims with a right to work in the UK can do so while continuing to receive support through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
What steps her Department is taking to clear the backlog in the National Referral Mechanism.
We have committed to clearing the backlog of Conclusive Grounds decisions by December 2026, improving decision timeliness for all potential victims of slavery and trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).We have recruited new staff to the Single Competent Authority and are seeing significantly increased number of Conclusive Grounds decisions as a result of these new staff becoming operational. Decision-making times have reduced in the most recent quarter and the backlog is now half the size it was at its peak.In addition, we are continuing to explore ways to improve the First Responder Form used by First Responder Organisations to refer potential victims of modern slavery and trafficking into the NRM, to improve the quality of referrals into the NRM system, so that decisions can be taken as early as possible.Statutory guidance outlines that a minimum period of 30 days must pass between a Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decision, and that such a decision can only be made once all relevant information has been gathered or received.Statistics about NRM referrals and decisions are published quarterly on gov.uk.
Whether her Department has conducted feasibility studies on extending (a) Metrolink and (b) tram-train services to (i) towns and (ii) villages in Hazel Grove constituency.
This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to conduct feasibility studies for extending Metrolink and tram-train services to towns and villages in the Hazel Grove constituency, rest with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities.
Whether she plans to set a target for decision waiting times in the National Referral Mechanism.
We have committed to clearing the backlog of Conclusive Grounds decisions by December 2026, improving decision timeliness for all potential victims of slavery and trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).We have recruited new staff to the Single Competent Authority and are seeing significantly increased number of Conclusive Grounds decisions as a result of these new staff becoming operational. Decision-making times have reduced in the most recent quarter and the backlog is now half the size it was at its peak.In addition, we are continuing to explore ways to improve the First Responder Form used by First Responder Organisations to refer potential victims of modern slavery and trafficking into the NRM, to improve the quality of referrals into the NRM system, so that decisions can be taken as early as possible.Statutory guidance outlines that a minimum period of 30 days must pass between a Reasonable Grounds and Conclusive Grounds decision, and that such a decision can only be made once all relevant information has been gathered or received.Statistics about NRM referrals and decisions are published quarterly on gov.uk.
What steps her Department is taking to improve public transport services to industrial estates.
Good local bus services, including to industrial estates, are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been allocated £66.3 million of this funding.Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.
What steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dental care for (a) pregnant women and (b) women in the postnatal period.
We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist and we want to make sure that everyone who needs a National Health Service dentist can get one, including pregnant women and new mothers. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.Pregnant women and women who have had a baby in the last 12 months are eligible for free NHS dental treatment. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/get-help-with-dental-costs/The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Hazel Grove constituency, this is NHS Greater Manchester ICB.
Whether he plans to expand dental training programmes.
To reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions.A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
What steps his Department is taking to support to (a) local authorities and (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to identify new sites for the (i) expansion and (ii) development of existing hospital facilities.
The Government recognises that delivering high quality National Health Service healthcare requires the right infrastructure in the right places.Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning as well as managing the operational capital for their respective local areas. This includes expanding and developing hospital facilities. The Department is supporting local NHS organisations to better manage their estates, and systems have developed infrastructure strategies which will inform their decision making and estate management.In this context, the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and other local authorities are encouraged to engage with their local integrated care board (ICB), the Greater Manchester ICB, to discuss opportunities for developing hospital infrastructure.
What steps her Department is taking to increase the (a) frequency and (b) reliability of rail services on the Rose Hill to Manchester Piccadilly line.
The department expects operators to match capacity and frequency of their services to demand, which can mean increased service frequency where that is the right response - although these must also be operationally sustainable and deliver value for taxpayers. Ministers have made very clear to Northern’s management that its current performance, including between Rose Hill and Manchester, is not acceptable, and that is why the Rail North Partnership, through which the Department and Transport for the North jointly manage Northern’s contract, issued it with a notice of breach of contract. This required Northern to produce a detailed plan to improve its services.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of irregular rail timetables on (a) employment and (b) education access in Greater Manchester.
The department requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to respond to expected passenger demand, which includes understanding local demand factors such as access to employment and education. These timetables should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. Timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.
What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of not including Stepping Hill Hospital in the New Hospital Programme on (a) patient and staff safety, (b) quality of care and (c) the condition and adequacy of the infrastructure at that hospital.
The Stockport Foundation NHS Trust submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to join the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in 2021, alongside other National Health Service trusts. The Department worked with NHS England on a joint prioritisation exercise assessing the EOIs in detail.All EOIs were scored against a series of indicators from four categories: deliverability; better and smarter use of NHS infrastructure; fairer allocation of investment and efficient use of public resources; and stronger and greener NHS buildings. This assessment was conducted in conjunction with an analysis of metrics covering estates, finance, and quality from existing national datasets. An assessment of these EOIs against regional strategic priorities was also conducted.In May 2023, the Government confirmed that five hospitals constructed primarily using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) would be brought into the NHP, following a structural assessment by NHS England and the Department, which found that these hospitals would be unsafe to operate beyond 2030. Due to the size, complexity, and costs involved in rebuilding RAAC hospitals, it was not possible to invite other schemes to join.We are supporting the Stockport Foundation NHS Trust to improve the condition of the infrastructure at Stepping Hill Hospital, with up to £11.5 million from the critical infrastructure risk fund confirmed in 2024/25 to support the replacement of outpatient capacity and to deliver much needed improvements to patient and staff safety.
What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the maintenance and repairs backlog at Stepping Hill Hospital on the quality of patient care.
The Government recognises that delivering high-quality National Health Service healthcare requires safe and effective infrastructure.Integrated care systems (ICSs) are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning for their respective areas and were recently commissioned by NHS England to develop 10-year infrastructure strategies. As part of these strategies, systems assessed how the estate, digital, equipment, and workforce models contribute to the delivery of the overarching system strategy, related clinical pathways, and national priorities for delivering care. The strategies included consideration of the condition of the estate.In 2025/26, the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB), responsible for Stepping Hill Hospital, has been provisionally allocated £187 million for operational capital, over £36 million for estates safety, and over £30 million to support constitutional standards recovery. The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is encouraged to discuss options with the Greater Manchester ICB to allocate some of their operational capital and national programme allocations towards tackling the backlog of maintenance and ensuring that infrastructure supports quality care at Stepping Hill Hospital.We are pleased that despite challenging infrastructure, the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has made progress towards reducing its waiting list. As of February 2025, there were 35,824 patient pathways waiting for a procedure. Of these, 54.3% of pathways were waiting within 18 weeks for a procedure. This compares to 50.3% of pathways waiting within 18 weeks for a procedure in February 2024.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing incentive schemes to encourage NHS dentists to practice in areas that are experiencing a shortage of NHS dental professionals.
We are determined to rebuild National Health Service dentistry, but it will take time and there are no quick fixes. Strengthening the workforce is key to our ambitions.Integrated care boards have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
What steps his Department is taking to improve access to cognitive behavioural therapy for autistic adults with (a) a gambling addiction and (b) other forms of addiction.
National Health Service treatment for those experiencing gambling-related harms is currently offered through 15 specialist clinics, representing every region of England. These clinics provide access to expert clinicians who are able to offer relevant psychological and psychiatric support, including cognitive behavioural therapy. The Department is also continuing to invest in local drug and alcohol treatment services.In addition, people, including autistic people, who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression as a result of an addiction can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies.Operational guidance for autism assessment services, published by NHS England in April 2023, sets out the expectation that primary and secondary mental health and psychological therapies services should make reasonable adjustments to routine care, so that it is more accessible for autistic people. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/autism-diagnosis-and-operational-guidance/NHS England has also published guidance for NHS systems on how to improve the quality and accessibility of care and support for autistic adults to meet their mental health needs, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/meeting-the-needs-of-autistic-adults-in-mental-health-services/