Written questions by Owen.

What steps his Department is taking to support earlier diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy among healthcare professionals.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department plans to publish an impact assessment on the removal of the statutory requirement for councils of governors in NHS foundation trusts, particularly for those from marginalised communities.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS Trust community engagement following the removal of the statutory requirement for Councils of Governors in the Ten Year Health Plan.

Awaiting answer.

What funding his Department has allocated to research into Multiple System Atrophy.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he plans to take where an NHS foundation trust is found to have ineffective arrangements in place for local engagement.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of adequacy of the 18 month period for bereavement support payment.

Bereavement Support Payment aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments with a higher amount paid for those with children. Longer-term financial support is ...

What progress his Department has made on the feasibility study into estimating the prevalence of forced marriage and FGM.

In 2023, the Home Office commissioned the University of Birmingham to conduct a study on the feasibility of producing a prevalence estimate of forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).Building on this, “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-...

What assessment he has made of the level of value for money of current arrangements with private providers delivering NHS diagnostic services.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What estimate he has made of average waiting times between GP referral for suspected musculoskeletal conditions and receipt of MRI scans in Luton.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What steps he is taking to reduce delays in access to diagnostic imaging for patients experiencing severe pain and inability to work while awaiting MRI scans.

The Government recognises the impact that delays in diagnostic imaging can have on patients, particularly those in severe pain or unable to work.We are taking a range of steps to improve access to imaging, including expanding capacity through community di...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of communications blackouts in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the diaspora in the UK.

The UK is concerned by developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including reports of loss of life of both security personnel and civilians. We recognise that restricted internet and mobile data services in the region will be causing concern for dias...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the safety of British nationals in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The UK is concerned by developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including reports of loss of life of both security personnel and civilians. We recognise that restricted internet and mobile data services in the region will be causing concern for dias...

What steps her Department is taking to ensure safety of all staff in bus companies, including engineers.

The Department is working across government and with partners in industry and Local Transport Authorities, to ensure that everyone, including staff in bus companies such as engineers, feel and are safe.The Department works closely with industry, trade uni...

What monitoring her Department is doing on rates of sexual harassment and assault in (a) bus companies and (b) bus services.

Where people report incidents of sexual harassment and assault to the police, under the Home Office Crime Recording Rules, all reports of incidents will, unless immediately recorded as a crime, result in the registration of an auditable incident report by...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the use of multi-material, non-recyclable flexible packaging and plastic sachets.

The Government has introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme which charges fees to businesses that produce and/or supply household packaging. This incentivises packaging producers to reduce their material footprint and us...

What assessment he has made of the level of his Department's role in SEND provision, especially for children with a) disabilities and life limiting-illnesses and b) children who need regular medication throughout the school day.

The Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving, and the consultation on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms have now been published, as of 23 February. The White Paper and the consultation are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thrivinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first-html-versionThese documents set out our ambitions to transform outcomes for children, young people, and their families who have been let down for far too long. The Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England have worked closely with the Department for Education on the reforms, and continued close partnership between health, social care, and education will be needed to realise the opportunity created by these crucial reforms.The Government is currently consulting on proposed updates to the statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions at school, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-on-support-for-pupils-with-medical-conditions-at-schoolThe Government will publish non-statutory guidance to clarify the roles and responsibilities of health and education in supporting pupils with medical conditions in education settings. Schools are responsible for managing their resources and budgets. They must comply with their statutory duties, including those under the Equality Act and the duty under section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions.Integrated care boards (ICBs) have various statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 to work with local authorities, including on: identifying and notifying where a child or young person has potential SEND; joint commissioning; participating in education, health and care assessments and plans; and securing health provision. Reform proposals include the creation of New Specialist Provision Packages for children and young people with complex needs, which set out exactly what support and resources are required for specific needs. These will be developed and reviewed by an Independent Expert Panel with education and health co-chairs, and shaped through testing with parents. For children under five years old with complex needs, we will introduce a fast track for a Specialist Provision Package and Education, Health and Care Plan.The NHS Medium Term Planning Framework for 2026/27 to 2028/29, published October 2025, included, for the first time, a clear requirement for ICBs and providers to meet their statutory SEND duties and support the Government’s SEND reform plans. The framework is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29.pdfEach ICB is also required to have an executive lead for children and young people with SEND. ICBs will need to work alongside local authorities to develop Local SEND Reform Plans, which will set out each local area’s approach to implementing SEND reforms, tailored to local context and need. These plans will lay the foundation for long-term reform, set how partners will work together, and enable ongoing monitoring of progress, including introduction of the new Experts at Hand service.

What work is being done with the Secretary of State for Education to address the additional workload of teaching assistants that are providing medical attention for disabled and severely ill children in SEND schools.

The Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving, and the consultation on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms have now been published, as of 23 February. The White Paper and the consultation are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thrivinghttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first-html-versionThese documents set out our ambitions to transform outcomes for children, young people, and their families who have been let down for far too long. The Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England have worked closely with the Department for Education on the reforms, and continued close partnership between health, social care, and education will be needed to realise the opportunity created by these crucial reforms.The Government is currently consulting on proposed updates to the statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions at school, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-on-support-for-pupils-with-medical-conditions-at-schoolThe Government will publish non-statutory guidance to clarify the roles and responsibilities of health and education in supporting pupils with medical conditions in education settings. Schools are responsible for managing their resources and budgets. They must comply with their statutory duties, including those under the Equality Act and the duty under section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions.Integrated care boards (ICBs) have various statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 to work with local authorities, including on: identifying and notifying where a child or young person has potential SEND; joint commissioning; participating in education, health and care assessments and plans; and securing health provision. Reform proposals include the creation of New Specialist Provision Packages for children and young people with complex needs, which set out exactly what support and resources are required for specific needs. These will be developed and reviewed by an Independent Expert Panel with education and health co-chairs, and shaped through testing with parents. For children under five years old with complex needs, we will introduce a fast track for a Specialist Provision Package and Education, Health and Care Plan.The NHS Medium Term Planning Framework for 2026/27 to 2028/29, published October 2025, included, for the first time, a clear requirement for ICBs and providers to meet their statutory SEND duties and support the Government’s SEND reform plans. The framework is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29.pdfEach ICB is also required to have an executive lead for children and young people with SEND. ICBs will need to work alongside local authorities to develop Local SEND Reform Plans, which will set out each local area’s approach to implementing SEND reforms, tailored to local context and need. These plans will lay the foundation for long-term reform, set how partners will work together, and enable ongoing monitoring of progress, including introduction of the new Experts at Hand service.

Communities and Local Government, what process will be followed in determining the location of the headquarters for a new Strategic Mayoral Combined Authority that would include Luton.

Any decision regarding the headquarters of a strategic authority would be the responsibility of that strategic authority, and not central Government.

With reference to the Government response to the Women and Equalities Committee report on Tackling HIV transmission, HC 1663, what the basis is for the estimate that Cabotegravir injectable PrEP will impact 2,000 people; whether that figure is a cap on availability; and what steps his Department will take to ensure equitable access to injectable PrEP.

Cabotegravir pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a clinically and cost-effective use for people who cannot have oral PrEP on 5 November 2025.NICE estimated that up to 1,000 people would be eligible to receive cabotegravir injectable as PrEP but there is no cap on the number of people who may be eligible and therefore require and receive cabotegravir PrEP.The new HIV Action Plan, published on 1 December 2025, sets out how the Government will enable every level of the healthcare system to work together to engage everyone in prevention, testing and treatment, tackling stigma, and reaching our ambition to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.The Government will work with local authorities to expand alternative and digital delivery routes for injectable PrEP and audit current HIV technologies to identify gaps in provision. The UK Health Security Agency will publish local PrEP indicators to support action to reduce inequalities.

Whether she will integrate Special Grant funding into the core settlement provided to Bedfordshire Police.

The 2026-27 Final Police Funding Settlement confirmed £49.6m for Special Grant in the coming financial year. Funding for Bedfordshire Police will be up to £175.8m, an increase of up to £7.5m from 2025-26. Special Grant awards will be confirmed in due course.The government has set out an ambitious programme of police reform in the Police Reform White Paper, and has committed to reform of the police funding model.