Written questions by Morrison.

Whether he has considered the potential merits of conducting a review into the law of causation in clinical negligence, with a focus on increasing support and protection for families with late family members who were misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all.

As announced in the 10 Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. David Lock KC has not been specifically asked to conduct a review into the law of causation in clinical negligence as part of his work, but he is able to consider all aspects of the way clinical negligence law operates as part of his review.

What assessment they have made of variations in access to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) across Integrated Care Boards; and what steps they are taking to ensure consistency in prescribing for eligible patients.

Tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are legally required to fund NICE-recommended medicines, including obesity treatments, within three months of final approval. NICE granted a phased rollout of tirzepatide for obesity to manage National Health Service resources and establish new care pathways. ICBs have been legally required to fund tirzepatide for obesity so that prescribers can offer the treatment to eligible patients in specialist weight management services since March 2025 and in primary care from 23 June 2025. NHS England is providing support for ICBs, including providing:- additional funding to support the delivery of services within primary care and the cost of obesity medicines in line with interim commissioning guidance; and- a centrally funded wraparound care service ‘Healthier You: Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing’ for primary care to refer patients to. We do not hold information on whether each ICB provides access to specific medicines in its locality. ICBs are responsible for ensuring they meet their legal duties, including making funding for NICE-recommended medicines available.

Communities and Local Government, whether guidance is issued to local authorities on exercising discretion in parking enforcement cases involving unpaid carers attending emergency or time-critical caring responsibilities.

Municipal parking provision and enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is best for their own area. Many councils offer parking concessions or schemes for carers, such as a personal carers parking permit. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils’ website for further details of any local schemes. Furthermore, the Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities in England on Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions allows local authorities a discretionary power to cancel a Penalty Charge Notice at any point throughout the process. It can do this even when an undoubted contravention has occurred if the authority deems it to be appropriate in the circumstances of the case. Currently, there are no plans to amend this guidance. Unpaid carers are entitled to a range of benefits and financial support, including the new statutory right to 5 days of unpaid leave per year for caring introduced in April 2024. The government continually keeps under review ways to provide additional support to unpaid carers.

Whether her Department operates any concession or discretionary process for partner visa holders whose entry to the UK was delayed due to government-mandated COVID-19 travel restrictions and red-list hotel quarantine.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the department considered the impact on people qualifying for settlement and, as a result, concessions were put in place, including where discretion will be exercised regarding the qualifying period for settlement. These are set out in the Family Life guidance: Family life and exceptional circumstances: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK

Whether her Department has assessed the impact of COVID-19 border restrictions on the ability of spouse visa holders to meet the five-year qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the department considered the impact on people qualifying for settlement and, as a result, concessions were put in place, including where discretion will be exercised regarding the qualifying period for settlement. These are set out in the Family Life guidance: Family life and exceptional circumstances: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that applicants whose visa cases take longer than service standards are provided with timely updates.

UKVI are currently processing applications on the overwhelming majority of its visa routes within their published customer service standards. Visa processing times are published on the UKVI website at Visa processing times: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UKIt may take longer to process an application if:the information in the application is not accurate or needs more considerationfurther evidence needs to be provided, for example evidence of fundssupporting documents need to be verifiedan interview is requiredwe need more information on personal circumstances (for example if there is a criminal conviction)Customers are informed if their application will take longer to process.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable regional access to NICE-recommended digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, including Sleepio.

It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy or digital solutions such as Sleepio should be offered to their local populations as a treatment for insomnia.NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offer low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies. People can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the Every Mind Matters website at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/

How many applications submitted under the Super-Priority Visa Service have exceeded the 24-hour decision standard in the last 12 months; and what the longest waiting time has been.

While the Home Office does not produce stand along statistics to fully answer this question, some of the information requested can be found here: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

Whether transitional arrangements will be introduced for refugees approaching the five-year residency point for Indefinite Leave to Remain, in the context of the Government’s proposed changes to settlement pathways.

This Government has never operated a policy of automatic settlement for refugees granted limited permission to remain. We will carefully manage the transition into the new system, with the details remaining subject to ongoing policy development.All settlement applications will continue to be carefully considered on their individual merits and this includes assessing whether there have been significant changes in country conditions or personal circumstances, which means that an individual no longer needs our protection.We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear or persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

What steps the Department is taking to ensure that families who cannot afford private dyslexia assessments have access to timely diagnosis and support.

Effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with dyslexia.The department is supporting settings to identify needs early by strengthening the evidence base of what works. Recently published evidence reviews from University College London will help to drive inclusive practices, as they highlight the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for teachers and other relevant staff in mainstream settings to identify and support children and young people with different types of needs.We also recently announced new government-backed research into special educational needs identification, which will be delivered by UK Research Innovation in partnership with the department. This will aim to develop and test trusted and effective approaches to help the early identification of children needing targeted educational support.

Communities and Local Government, whether the plans to encourage councils to introduce exemptions or enhanced discretion for registered carers facing civil enforcement penalties while undertaking caring duties.

Municipal parking provision and enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities, and it is for them to determine what is best for their own area. Many councils offer parking concessions or schemes for carers, such as a personal carers parking permit. Those interested in local parking concessions can check their local councils’ website for further details of any local schemes. Furthermore, the Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities in England on Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions allows local authorities a discretionary power to cancel a Penalty Charge Notice at any point throughout the process. It can do this even when an undoubted contravention has occurred if the authority deems it to be appropriate in the circumstances of the case. Currently, there are no plans to amend this guidance. Unpaid carers are entitled to a range of benefits and financial support, including the new statutory right to 5 days of unpaid leave per year for caring introduced in April 2024. The government continually keeps under review ways to provide additional support to unpaid carers.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken to obtain national passports on the access by refugees to regulated professions; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that refugees with the right to work can access roles for which they are qualified.

Refugees do not automatically hold British nationality. Instead, they are typically granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, which allows them to live and work in the UK but does not confer British citizenship.Refugees are not required to hold a British passport in order to work in the UK. Identity checks, including those for regulated professions, can be satisfied using alternative documentation such as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).Where international travel is required for work purposes, refugees may apply for a Refugee Travel Document rather than a national passport.

What steps her Department plans to take to ensure that refugees who cannot return to their home country are not left without a viable long-term immigration route as a result of changes to settlement policy.

This Government has never operated a policy of automatic settlement for refugees granted limited permission to remain. We will carefully manage the transition into the new system, with the details remaining subject to ongoing policy development.All settlement applications will continue to be carefully considered on their individual merits and this includes assessing whether there have been significant changes in country conditions or personal circumstances, which means that an individual no longer needs our protection.We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear or persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

Whether any lung or respiratory conditions linked to exposure to jute or textile fibres are currently prescribed diseases for the purposes of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

The Department keeps the list of prescribed diseases under review for the purposes of entitlement to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. There are several prescribed diseases that may apply to lung or respiratory conditions depending on individual circumstances and the nature of occupational exposure, including work involving certain textile fibres. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis in line with the relevant regulations.

Whether the Winter Fuel Allowance reforms include any safeguards for pensioners who have recently been widowed and whose household income has significantly reduced.

Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme which provides a payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, as a contribution towards heating costs in winter - and around 9 million pensioners will benefit this winter. Pensioners who experience a significant reduction in their household income may become eligible for much more significant financial support such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.

What steps the Department is taking to address potential unintended consequences of the new Winter Fuel Allowance criteria that result in single pensioners with lower incomes being excluded from support given to higher-income couples.

Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme to provide a payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, as a contribution to heating costs in winter. The personal tax system operates on an individual basis and, as such, any individual with an income of more than £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment recovered. This means that the vast majority of pensioners will now benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment.

What evidence is required for a former textile worker to demonstrate eligibility for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit where (a) exposure occurred several decades ago and (b) the employer has since ceased trading.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) may be payable to individuals who become disabled because of an accident at work or develop an illness because of their job. Accidents and diseases arising from self-employment are excluded.There are several prescribed diseases that may apply to former textile workers depending on individual circumstances.Eligibility is assessed in line with relevant legislation and requires:evidence of employment as an employed earnerdetails of exposure to a relevant occupational hazard, andevidence of a loss of faculty persisting past the 90th dayThe Department may arrange a medical assessment, where necessary, to establish the extent of disablement.Where exposure occurred many years ago, evidence may include historical employment records, National Insurance records, HMRC employment data, personal statements describing the nature of the work, and corroborative evidence from former colleagues or industry sources.The fact that an employer has ceased trading does not affect eligibility for IIDB, as the benefit is paid by the Department rather than an employer.

What processes are in place for families to seek remedial action against GPs who fail to correctly diagnose patients who shortly afterwards pass away.

If a family wishes to make a formal complaint about services provided by a general practice, they should write to the practice manager. If the family is not comfortable raising a complaint directly, they can instead raise their concerns with their local National Health Service integrated care board, with NHS England or with their local Healthwatch, the independent consumer champion for health and social care. Further information about the NHS complaints procedure and Healthwatch can be found, respectively, at the following two links:www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-complain-to-the-nhswww.healthwatch.co.uk

What procedures are in place to ensure that savings thresholds in relation to care costs are communicated to the public at both local and national level.

The Department undertakes an annual review of the capital limits and the social care allowances within the adult social care charging system.The capital limits determine eligibility for means-tested local authority support with care costs, and the social care allowance rates set the statutory minimum income that individuals must retain after charging.To communicate the rates for the upcoming financial year, 2026/27, the Department will publish a Local Authority Circular on the GOV.UK website, in early 2026. Local authorities should reflect these updates in their publicly available charging policies, ensuring consistent communication at both a local and national level.

Whether he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of extending the Civility Saves Lives initiative to other public-facing services, including Jobcentre Plus and local authority housing departments.

The Civility Saves Lives initiative highlights the importance of behaviours in the workplace and the impact that rudeness can have on performance, wellbeing, and patient safety. It is a movement created by healthcare professionals, rather than a national initiative developed and rolled out by the Department or NHS England.There are currently no plans to discuss the initiative with colleagues in other Government departments.