Written questions by Prinsley.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a mandated upper temperature limit in the work place, including those working outside.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the Trauma and Orthopaedic waiting lists are improved in line with elective reform targets.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people with arthritis are signposted to holistic support at the point of diagnosis.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to help address variation in remission rates for inflammatory arthritis.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate he has made of the number of additional men expected to be eligible for prostate cancer screening each year under the UK National Screening Committee’s recommended criteria, when taki

Awaiting answer.

When he expects the Department’s analysis of the costs associated with identifying additional BRCA variant carriers to be completed.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that police forces maintain specialist rural crime capability under proposed policing reforms.

This Government is introducing comprehensive policing reforms to strengthen neighbourhood policing and ensure forces have the capability to respond to the crimes that matter most to their communities, including in rural areas.Through the Neighbourhood Pol...

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the National Rural Crime Unit on organised criminal networks involved in rural crime.

This Government is introducing comprehensive policing reforms to strengthen neighbourhood policing and ensure forces have the capability to respond to the crimes that matter most to their communities, including in rural areas.Through the Neighbourhood Pol...

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of regulations aimed at tackling hateful and abusive content towards LGBTQ+ people online; and whether she plans to introduce further measur

Online abuse and harassment has no place in our society. Under the Online Safety Act, services must have proportionate systems and processes in place to prevent users from encountering illegal content including online harassment and to protect children fr...

What research has his Department undertaken to understand the clinical and cost effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implantation.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that produces evidence-based guidance for the health and care system. NICE develops its recommendations with clinical and technical experts, drawing on a thorough assessm...

What steps has his Department taken to help ensure that ICBs have policies in place to ensure that patients get access to cochlear implants in line with revisions made to NICE guidance in March 201

The Department does not hold data on the number of children and adults who were fitted with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants in each of the last eight years.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the reasonable...

What data does his Department hold on the number of (a) children and (b) adults who were fitted with (i) unilateral and (ii) bilateral cochlear implants in each of the last eight years for which fi

The Department does not hold data on the number of children and adults who were fitted with unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants in each of the last eight years.Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to meet the reasonable...

When he plans to introduce self/preferential e-rostering for doctors.

We want to move the National Health Service toward a culture where flexible working opportunities are much more widely available, and where employees feel supported to discuss their working patterns and options with their line manager.Our 10 Year Workforc...

What assessment he has made of how the National Cancer Plan will improve outcomes across all rare and less common cancers, in particular asbestos-related mesothelioma; whether he plans to engage wi

The National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February, sets out several actions and commitments on rare cancers, including mesothelioma, to be delivered within the next ten years.These include appointing a national lead for rare cancers, prioritising access t...

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of rapid alcohol delivery services on the level of alcohol dependency and alcohol-related harm; and whether she plans to review existing licensing

The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol. The Government recognises that consumer purchasing habits have evolved in recent years, particularly with a notable growth in alcohol sales made via online platforms and rapid delivery servi...

What discussions her Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the adequacy of online identity verification checks used by motor insurance providers to prevent fraudulent policies being issued using

The government takes the issue of fraud extremely seriously. The FCA is an independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA expects firms to have robust systems and controls to detect and prevent financi...

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the creation of a sovereign database to facilitate inter-government working.

The Department keeps under review how data can be shared more effectively and securely across government to support the delivery of public services and policy‑making.The Government’s current approach is to enable responsible and proportionate data sharing through clear legal gateways, strong governance, and common standards, rather than through the creation of a single centralised database. This approach helps departments to retain appropriate accountability for the data they hold, while enabling interoperability where it delivers clear public benefit.In considering any proposals that would involve greater centralisation of data, the Government would assess potential benefits alongside issues of data protection, security, value for money, and public trust, including compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the Digital Economy Act and wider information governance requirements.The Department will continue to work with partners across government to improve cross‑government data sharing and interoperability in line with these principles.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of Training Interface Group (TIG) fellowships on the provision of specialist cleft surgery training; and what steps he is taking to help ensure the continued development of cross-specialty expertise across ENT, maxillofacial and plastic surgery.

NHS England made the decision in 2025 to discontinue central funding of the salary support component of the Training Interface Group programme, and to target financial resources more effectively to address regional workforce priorities. Regions or provider organisations that wish to continue developing these skills are still able to recruit, fund, and train staff using the curriculum set by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training. NHS England is also working to understand where they can enhance and support smaller, highly specialised areas of practice. NHS England has initiated a plan, working with clinical subject matter experts, to define the demand and future supply needed for the training of cleft lip and palate surgeons and to shape the future training and workforce investment needed in this area.

What steps his Department is taking to recognise clinical academic training undertaken during specialty training by doctors in England towards consultant salary seniority.

Clinical academic training undertaken during medical specialty training does not currently count towards consultant salary seniority. However, salary seniority may be negotiated locally at the start of a consultant post. Universities have separate pay scales for clinical academics which would take academic experience into account.Clinical academic trainees can have academic time counted towards their Certificate of Completion of Training. Trainees undertaking a higher academic qualification, such as a PhD, during their training may qualify for an academic pay premium. This is a taxable, non-pensionable allowance for trainees in England who have completed an approved higher degree and returned to clinical training. It is paid annually until the completion of clinical training and is aimed at incentivising academic careers.

Whether his Department has considered introducing an online system for Personal Independence Payment claimants to report a change in circumstances, in line with other Government departments that offer digital self-service options; and if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of such a system for accessibility, efficiency, and user experience.

The Health Transformation Programme is transforming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) service to improve efficiency, accessibility, and user experience, build trust in our decisions, and support people to enter or remain in work. Customers can access an online service to submit their health information after calling us to start their claim and this is already available to over 90% of new PIP customers. This is benefiting customers by removing postage times and increasing accessibility.