Written questions by Griffith.

When he plans to respond to the letters of 7 May 2026 and 10 June 2025 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

Awaiting answer.

What plans he has to ensure reliable and affordable supplies of Helium for MRI scanners in the NHS estate.

The Department is closely monitoring the impacts of the Middle East conflict on the medical supply chain, including on the supply of helium. We have engaged with industry and received assurance on the stability of continued helium supply through contingen...

What (a) meetings and (b) correspondence he has had with Donna Ockenden on the leadership of the independent review into maternity services at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

The Department has received correspondence from Sussex families regarding the appointment of Donna Ockenden and will respond shortly. The Department is currently considering options in terms of case numbers and chair appointment. Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published on the GOV.UK website on a quarterly basis in arrears.

How many NHS England staff who (a) have long term health conditions and (b) are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 have raised concerns about not having a suitable substantive role in the past 12 months.

NHS England has no records of any staff who have long term health conditions and are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 having raised concerns about not having a suitable substantive role in the past 12 months.

How many NHS England staff have raised complaints on not having a suitable role following their raising concerns through (a) formal and (b) informal processes in each year for which information is available.

NHS England has no records of any staff raising complaints about not having a suitable role after having raised concerns through formal and informal processes.

When he plans to respond to correspondence of (a) 2 April, (b) 6 May and (c) 12 June 2025 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

I replied to the Hon. Member on 6 June 2025. The Department sent a further copy of this reply to the Hon. Member on 10 July 2025.

When he plans to respond to letters from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health dated (a) 5 February, (b) 25 February, (c) 14 March, (d) 24 March, (e) 1 April and (f) 8 April 2025.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health replied to the Hon. Member’s correspondence on 10 April 2025.

What steps he is taking to improve access to fertility treatments.

The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues on joint advice from the Department and NHS England about the offer around NHS-funded fertility services. Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England. NICE are currently reviewing these guidelines.

Pursuant the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22722 on Fertility: Medical Treatments, whether he will make it his policy to collect these data centrally.

There are no current plans to collect these data.

Pursuant the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 22721 on Fertility, whether he will make it his policy to collect these data centrally.

There are no current plans to collect these data.

With reference to his Department's press notice of 2 September 2023 entitled Consultation launched into unregulated cosmetic procedures, if he will publish the response to the consultation.

The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector, and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach at the earliest opportunity.

With reference to section 180 of the Health and Social Care Act 2022, whether he plans to create a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector, and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach at the earliest opportunity.

Whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.

Paternity leave is offered from the first working day for employees. Those who have been employed for less than 26 weeks are entitled to one week, and those employed for more than 26 weeks continuously are entitled to two weeks. Those who have worked for another Government Department prior to their arrival at the Department may be eligible for two weeks paternity leave from their first working day.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

How many (a) male and (b) female patients who have received a diagnosis of infertility are waiting for fertility treatment.

This information is not collected centrally.

How many (a) males and (b) females have an infertility diagnosis.

This information is not collected centrally.

When he plans to respond to the letter of 20 November 2024 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

The Department endeavours to meet the cross-Government standard of 20 working days for MP responses.

What metrics his Department plans to use to monitor the UK's progress on (a) developing and (b) supporting clinical trials.

The Department publishes a UK Clinical Research Delivery Performance Indicators Report monthly, which is available at the following link:https://sites.google.com/nihr.ac.uk/thefutureofukclinicalresearch/home/news-updates/performance-indicators-report?erca=1The metrics of the report include, but are not limited to:- the proportion of all studies receiving combined regulatory review achieved within 60 days, measured from submission to combined regulatory decision;- the proportion of commercial contract studies open to recruitment within 60 days of the Health Research Authority’s approval letter, or equivalent process used by the devolved administrations;- the proportion of commercial contract studies recruiting their first participant within 30 days of the sites opening to recruitment, except where this is not expected in the study milestone plan, for example rare disease studies;- the proportion of all open studies on track, delivering on time and target; and- the recruitment to all studies, including all commercial studies.By monitoring these key performance indicators, the Department is committed to improving clinical trial performance in the United Kingdom.