Written questions by Hamilton.

Further to the Answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 8929, if his Department will consult with civil society organisations with expertise relating to rare and less survivable cancers when developing t

Awaiting answer.

What data his Department holds on the fresh freezing and storage of brain tumour tissue, including data collected through NHS England’s gap analysis of freezer capacity; and if he will provide the

Awaiting answer.

Whether training on (a) race, (b) consent, and (c) safeguarding in relation to (i) children’s hair, (ii) Afro hair and (iii) bodily autonomy forms part of (A) early years and (B) teacher training requirements;

The department is committed to ensuring that all children receive a high-quality and inclusive education, supported by well-trained early years practitioners and teachers.To achieve qualified teacher status and early years teacher status, trainees must me...

What guidance her Department provides on preventing unwanted touching of (a) Black and (b) mixed-heritage children’s Afro-textured hair in (i) early years and (ii) school settings; how this issue is addressed w

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Birmingham Erdington to the answer of 10 June 2026 to Question 6581.

What assessment her Department has made of the equalities impact of (a) not routinely including Afro-textured hair within hairdressing qualifications and (b) individuals having been denied access to hairdressin

We are committed to improving the quality of hair and beauty qualifications and have plans in place to reform all qualifications for 16 to 19 learners. Content for any new hair and beauty qualifications, including new Level 2 Occupational Certificates and...

What consideration she has given to updating equality legislation to help tackle hair-based discrimination.

The government wants to ensure that whoever you are, wherever you come from, Britain is a country that will respect your contribution and give you a fair chance to get on in life. The Equality Act 2010 uses a very broad definition of race, so that it prot...

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of hair-based discrimination on women’s employment outcomes, particularly for Black and mixed-heritage women; and whether she plans to tackle that issue in

I refer the Hon Member to the answer on 12 June 2026 (PQ UIN 6577).

What role the British Council plays in delivering the UK’s International Education Strategy in Commonwealth countries.

The ambitions in the UK’s International Education Strategy will be delivered in close collaboration between government, the sector, the UK’s International Education Champion and key partners including the British Council. The reformed Education Sector Act...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of UK-funded international programmes in the Caribbean include objectives relating to gender equality.

As the Foreign Secretary announced on 19 March, we have committed to ensure that at least 90 per cent of programmes funded worldwide through UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be in part designed to protect and promote the rights, safety and em...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking, in partnership with organisations such as the British Council, to help promote women’s leadership and economic participation in the Carib

As the Foreign Secretary announced on 19 March, we have committed to ensure that at least 90 per cent of programmes funded worldwide through UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be in part designed to protect and promote the rights, safety and em...

What steps he is taking to help support the sustainability of NHS pharmacies operating on PFI sites.

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to future reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS services. Pharmacies also receive private, non-NHS, income, which contributes to business expenses such as rent.Health Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are not held by the Department, they are held between the local NHS trust and their respective Private Finance Company. The operational Health PFI contracts included the design, build and maintenance of the building, including facilities management and lifecycle, over the life of the contract. Any arrangements in respect of letting specific areas of a PFI Hospital to third party occupants, including a pharmacy, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis at a local level.

If he will consider NHS funding adjustments for pharmacies to offset increases in National Minimum Wage and employer National Insurance.

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to future reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS services. Pharmacies also receive private, non-NHS, income, which contributes to business expenses such as rent.Health Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are not held by the Department, they are held between the local NHS trust and their respective Private Finance Company. The operational Health PFI contracts included the design, build and maintenance of the building, including facilities management and lifecycle, over the life of the contract. Any arrangements in respect of letting specific areas of a PFI Hospital to third party occupants, including a pharmacy, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis at a local level.

If he will conduct a review of local planning and healthcare infrastructure for villages and local hub–type plans, including PFI estates.

Planning regulation and approval is a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The National Health Service operates in accordance with published planning guidance.However, we recognise delivering high-quality NHS healthcare services requires the right infrastructure in the right places. Integrated care boards have developed infrastructure strategies to create a long-term plan for future healthcare estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs.These strategies help take the existing and future general practice and primary care estate into account when considering how best to deliver local services, including the development of a Neighbourhood Health Service.

If he will review financial relief for pharmacies on PFI estates, including rent-subsidy schemes and a statutory cap on PFI rents for NHS pharmacy contractors.

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. As is custom and practice, the Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to future reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors.Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS services. Pharmacies also receive private, non-NHS, income, which contributes to business expenses such as rent.Health Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts are not held by the Department, they are held between the local NHS trust and their respective Private Finance Company. The operational Health PFI contracts included the design, build and maintenance of the building, including facilities management and lifecycle, over the life of the contract. Any arrangements in respect of letting specific areas of a PFI Hospital to third party occupants, including a pharmacy, will be agreed on a case-by-case basis at a local level.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to assess the potential impact of climate-related risks to (a) health, (b) infrastructure and (c) the economy on the Government's (i) policies and (ii) spending plans.

It is the Government’s statutory duty to assess climate risks to the UK every five years under the Climate Change Act, a process known as the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA), followed by a National Adaptation Programme (NAP), setting out actions to address the risks identified in the CCRA. The Government published CCRA3 in January 2022, identifying 61 climate risks and opportunities, including infrastructure, health and the wider economy. NAP 3 brings together policies and actions to address these uncertainties. Government spending is subject to clear requirements through the Green Book to consider climate change impacts. At SR 2025 HMT set a requirement for capital bids to be assessed according to their climate and environmental impact, including their resilience to the effects of climate change. The forthcoming publication of the Government’s response to the CCC’s latest adaptation progress report will set out the Government’s approach to managing climate risks. CCRA4 is due to be laid in Parliament by the UK Government in January 2027. The CCC are coordinating the Independent Assessment (CCRA4-IA) that will be published in 2026 and will form the basis of CCRA4.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that new buildings include (a) insulation, (b) green roofs, (c) passive cooling and (d) other climate-related features through his Department's (i) planning policies and (ii) building regulations.

Through the Building Regulations, the Department sets minimum performance standards for new homes and buildings. In 2021, these standards were strengthened to ensure new homes and buildings are highly energy-efficient, with high-quality insulation and effective ventilation. These changes came into force in June 2022. A new overheating requirement was also introduced, requiring residential buildings to be designed to mitigate overheating, with passive cooling encouraged. We intend to introduce further changes to the Building Regulations through the Future Homes and Buildings Standards in the next few months. These new standards will ensure new homes and buildings are extremely energy-efficient and use low-carbon heating, such as heat pumps.The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the planning system should take full account of all climate impacts and help to shape places in a way that minimises vulnerability and improves resilience to the effects of climate change through suitable adaptation measures, including through incorporating green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems. It is also clear that opportunities to improve biodiversity in and around developments should be integrated as part of their design. The National Design Guide and National Model Design Code highlight the importance of conserving natural resources and measures that support energy efficiency and integrating green infrastructure into development incorporating features such as green roofs.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations of the report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care entitled Inquiry into the financial impact of a terminal diagnosis, published on 9 September 2025.

The Department supports people nearing the end of life through the Special Rules for End of Life. These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods, and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. The Universal Credit Act 2025, ensures that all Special Rules for End of Life claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim. The Department values the insights and perspectives provided by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care and has noted the recommendations made in the report.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the effectiveness of the Special Rules for End of Life fast-tracking benefits system.

The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. The system is kept under review to ensure it is meeting its objectives. The Government is committed to ensuring that the fast-tracked access to benefits via SREL is maintained, while actively exploring how we can continue to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of the current system.

What steps he is taking to help improve the financial security of people at the end of life.

This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who have 12 months or less to live to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods and, in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit.

If he will take steps to expand the scope of the terms of reference for the Pensions Commission to enable it to consider the potential merits of allowing people of working age with a terminal illness to access the State Pension.

The Terms of Reference for the Pensions Commission, which set out the scope for the Commission, were published on the 21st July. As set out in their Terms of Reference, the Commissioners will consider what is required in the long term to deliver financial security in retirement through a pensions framework that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable. The Commissioners will engage with a wide range of issues relevant to their terms of reference and will publish their findings in due course.