Written questions by Thomas.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of appointing a senior lead for wheelchair services in (a) his Department and (b) integrated care boards.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increased collaboration between health and social care agencies to administer care and support plans, including the provision of walking aids and equipment and the availability of a single service for users.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of longer, block contracts for providing Wheelchair Services for NHS patients on waiting times for delivering equipment.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he plans to increase the NHS’s annual budget for Wheelchair Services.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of Discord when considering the proposed social media restrictions for young people; and whether she has considered including Discord within the scope of those restrictions as a social media platform.

Awaiting answer.

What recent progress he has made on the implementation of £34 million for criminal advocates.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions her Department have had on the scope, conduct or progress of its review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act with the Law Commission.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure court proceedings are not delayed by the late arrival of prisoners.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reclassification of certain offences to summary only on reducing the backlog in the Crown Courts.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate she has made of the number of properties placed in Family Protection Trusts.

The Treasury has not made any estimate of the number of properties placed in Family Protection Trusts. Since 1 September 2022 most types of UK express trusts have been required to register with HMRC through the Trust Registration Service (TRS). However, t...

How many orthapaedic surgical operations have been undertaken on NHS patients in England and Wales using a) equipment and b) equipment and facilities belonging to Stryker Corporation.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the performance of surgical operations using Stryker Corporation facilities.

Awaiting answer.

What information his Department holds on the number of a) complaints and b) further corrective procedures following the use of the MAKO robotic system, Stryker Triathalon PS implants, medical equipment.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the Health and Care Professions Council meets the Professional Standards Authority Standard 15 on the time taken to conclude cases.

The Government takes the performance of the health and care professional regulators, including the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), very seriously. On 27 June 2025, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) published its 2024/25 performance review of the HCPC. The HCPC met 17 out of 18 of the PSA’s standards of good regulation but failed to meet standard 15. On 29 October 2025, I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of the HCPC to discuss the PSA’s performance review of the HCPC. I expect the HCPC to improve its performance against standard 15. During this parliamentary term, the Government will reform the HCPC’s legislative framework, which will allow it to operate a more efficient fitness to practise process.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of information to (a) patients and (b) family members of deceased patients about making a formal complaint in the event of (i) injury and (ii) death following medical treatment.

There are a wide range of sources of information for patients and family members about making a complaint about any aspect of National Health Service care, treatment, or services.Under the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009, NHS organisations must make information available on their arrangements for handling complaints, and those arrangements should ensure complainants receive assistance to enable them to understand the complaints procedure.Patient Advice and Liaison Services is a free, confidential service, available in most NHS hospitals, that provides information, advice, and support to resolve issues affecting NHS patients, including how to make a formal complaint. Other sources of independent advocacy are available to support those thinking about making a complaint about NHS services, including the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service, which local authorities have a legal duty to provide.

What recent discussions he has had with the Professional Standards Authority regarding the extent to which Duty of Candour principles are embedded in the conduct of i) General Medical Council ii) Health and Care Professions Council.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) oversees the 10 statutory bodies that regulate healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom and social workers in England. This includes the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It scrutinises the work of the regulatory bodies by monitoring and reporting on their performance against its Standards of Good Regulation, auditing decisions made during investigations into complaints about registrants’ practise, and making referrals or appeals to the relevant court if it considers that a final fitness to practise decision is insufficient to protect the public. In its 2024/25 performance review assessments, the PSA reported that the HCPC had met 17 out of 18 Standards of Good Regulation and the GMC had met all 18 standards. Professional regulators are not subject to the statutory Duty of Candour, which applies to health and social care providers, nor to the professional Duty of Candour, which applies to individual registrants. However, the PSA expects regulators to operate in ways that reflect the principles underpinning the Duty of Candour, including openness, transparency, and accountability. In line with the Ministerial Code, details of all ministerial meetings, including those with the PSA, are published quarterly on the GOV.UK website, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings In January, I met with the PSA to discuss how it carries out its oversight role and the PSA’s new Standards for regulators and Accredited registers. The updated standards will strengthen requirements on regulators and Accredited Registers with regards to public protection, learning, and improvement. The new standards will also strengthen expectations that regulators’ governing bodies and senior leaders promote openness, transparency, and learning, including how organisations respond when things go wrong and how they maintain public confidence through clear accountability and reporting. Officials from the Department hold regular meetings with the PSA to discuss all aspects of its work.

If he will consider standardising the disciplinary sanctions available to healthcare regulators at the closure of cases.

The Government is committed to modernising the regulation of all healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom. As a first step, on 24 March 2026, we published our Reforming the General Medical Council legislative framework consultation, which sets out proposals to modernise the General Medical Council’s regulatory framework. The consultation runs until 23 June 2026. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-the-general-medical-council-legislative-framework/reforming-the-general-medical-council-legislative-framework-consultation-documentThe draft General Medical Council Order 2026 includes a modernised fitness to practise process, including standardising the final registration measures that should be available to case examiners and fitness to practise panels at the end of fitness to practise proceedings.Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the parliamentary process, the Government plans to roll out this fitness to practise process to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council during this UK parliamentary term, and to all regulators in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing the recommendation for the creation of a single assurance body proposed by the Professional Standards Authority in its report Regulation Rethought.

The Government has no plans to implement the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care’s proposal to create a single assurance body for all healthcare professionals, as set out in its 2016 Regulation Rethought report.The Government is committed to reforming the regulation of healthcare professionals across the United Kingdom, and on 24 March published its Reforming the General Medical Council legislative framework consultation, which sets out proposals to modernise the General Medical Council’s regulatory framework. The consultation runs until 23 June 2026, and further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-the-general-medical-council-legislative-framework/reforming-the-general-medical-council-legislative-framework-consultation-documentWe also plan to deliver legislative reform for the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council during this UK parliamentary term.

What recent discussions he has had with the Professional Standards Authority regarding the effectiveness of the i) General Medical Council ii) Health and Care Professions Council to protect patient safety.

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) oversees the 10 statutory bodies that regulate healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom and social workers in England. This includes the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It scrutinises the work of the regulatory bodies by monitoring and reporting on their performance against its Standards of Good Regulation, auditing decisions made during investigations into complaints about registrants’ practise, and making referrals or appeals to the relevant court if it considers that a final fitness to practise decision is insufficient to protect the public. In its 2024/25 performance review assessments, the PSA reported that the HCPC had met 17 out of 18 Standards of Good Regulation and the GMC had met all 18 standards. Professional regulators are not subject to the statutory Duty of Candour, which applies to health and social care providers, nor to the professional Duty of Candour, which applies to individual registrants. However, the PSA expects regulators to operate in ways that reflect the principles underpinning the Duty of Candour, including openness, transparency, and accountability. In line with the Ministerial Code, details of all ministerial meetings, including those with the PSA, are published quarterly on the GOV.UK website, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings In January, I met with the PSA to discuss how it carries out its oversight role and the PSA’s new Standards for regulators and Accredited registers. The updated standards will strengthen requirements on regulators and Accredited Registers with regards to public protection, learning, and improvement. The new standards will also strengthen expectations that regulators’ governing bodies and senior leaders promote openness, transparency, and learning, including how organisations respond when things go wrong and how they maintain public confidence through clear accountability and reporting. Officials from the Department hold regular meetings with the PSA to discuss all aspects of its work.

What assessment he has made of the provision for i) patients ii) family members of deceased patients to contribute to Fitness to Practice proceedings overseen by i) General Medical Council ii) Health and Care Professions Council.

The regulators of registered healthcare professionals, including the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), are independent of the Government, as they are directly accountable to Parliament and responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of their statutory duties. The United Kingdom’s model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.Anyone can raise concerns directly with the relevant regulator and contribute information or evidence as part of Fitness to Practise proceedings. This includes patients, family members, and third parties. Both the GMC and HCPC publish guidance and provide support for such witnesses who are involved in these proceedings.While the Department regularly engages with the GMC and HCPC on a range of issues, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not made a separate assessment of these provisions, which sit within the regulators’ statutory responsibilities.