Written questions by Campbell.

How many cases of Hansen's Disease have been diagnosed in the last ten years; and what steps his Department is taking to support people infected by this disease.

Hansen's Disease, or leprosy, is a statutorily notifiable disease in England and Wales. Data supplied by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is available at the following link:https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/number-of-new-leprosy-cases.There were 56 cases of Hansen's Disease diagnosed between 2015 and 2024 in the United Kingdom. Annual case numbers ranged from two to 12 cases per year. UK Data for 2025 is due to be published on the WHO website in the coming months. There has been no documented transmission of leprosy in the UK in the last 10 years.Direct patient care is provided by the National Health Service, by specialist clinical leprosy advisors based in London, Liverpool, and Birmingham, and this is in line with UKHSA's Leprosy Memorandum, which covers diagnosis, treatment with multi-drug therapy, and long-term support for those living with disability caused by the disease. The memorandum is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leprosy-memorandum/memorandum-on-leprosy-2023#introduction

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help end the spread of Hansen's disease.

The UK supports the World Health Organization's (WHO) Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap 2021-2030, which includes targets to interrupt Hansen's disease (leprosy) transmission, prevent disability and address stigma and discrimination, including through our £248 million contribution to WHO in support of its 2025-2028 programme of work. Our wider support to global health also helps countries to strengthen their health systems and indirectly supports efforts to combat Hansen's disease.

How many Respiratory registrars and Consultants are currently working in the NHS, and what steps his Department is taking to increase their number.

NHS England publishes monthly information on the composition of the workforce employed by National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards in England.  This includes information on doctors grouped by their grade and the specialty area they are working in. The information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statisticsThe relevant data can be found in worksheet 4 of the file NHS HCHS Workforce Statistics, Trusts and core organisations – data tables, in the link above.We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.The Government is committed to training the staff we need, including doctors, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

What steps his Department is taking to support patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT).

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT) is a rare inherited condition which can affect the lungs and liver. The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, including work to improve diagnosis and the use of genomics in rare disease care. NHS England’s National Genomic Test Directory includes testing for A1AT, where clinically appropriate. The Government also supports patients with A1AT through wider action to improve care for people living with rare conditions and long-term respiratory disease. NHS England’s respiratory disease programme is focused on earlier and more accurate diagnosis, reducing inequalities, and improving treatment and support. This includes support for diagnostic testing such as spirometry, expansion of pulmonary rehabilitation, and improvements in medicines optimisation and personalised care. NHS England has also published commissioning standards for spirometry, and community diagnostic centres are providing respiratory diagnostic tests to improve access closer to home.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that police forces are able to communicate effectively with Deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL).

Policing is operationally independent, and it is for Chief Constables to ensure that their forces are able to communicate effectively with all members of the public, including those who use British Sign Language.The National Police Language Services (NPLS) team oversees the procurement and provision of language and interpretation services for police forces across the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to address the increase in missed deliveries against targets by the Royal Mail.

Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, monitors and assesses Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service. It can investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.I met Royal Mail’s CEO, Alistair Cochrane, on 3 February to press him on the action Royal Mail is taking to make demonstrable improvements to service levels as a matter of urgency. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if the company’s quality of service does not improve.Royal Mail has publicly committed to publishing a detailed deployment and quality of service improvement plan as soon as possible following the conclusion of its discussions with the Communication Workers Union.

How many and what proportion of GP practices are partner-run in (a) Broxtowe constituency, (b) the East Midlands and (c) England.

NHS England has advised that, within the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire clustered Integrated Care Board (ICB) boundary, 65 out of 81 practices, or 81%, in Lincoln are general practice (GP) partnership model practices. 115 out of 126 of practices, or 91%, in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are GP partnership model practices.Within the NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB boundary, 115 out of 126 practices, or 90%, are GP partnership model practices. Within the Northamptonshire ICB boundary, 64 out of 65 practices, or 98%, are GP partnership model practices.Within the NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB boundary, 99 out of 109 practices, or 89%, are traditional GP partnerships. The other 10, or 11%, are partner-run, but not in the traditional way. Of these:- four are managed by Royal Primary Care, Chesterfield;- four are managed by Derbyshire Community Health Services; and- two are managed by Derbyshire Healthcare United.In the Broxtowe constituency, 11 out of 11 practices are GP partnership model practices. The Department does not hold national-level data, however, we expect that a large majority of practices in England operate as traditional GP partnerships.

What steps his Department is taking to support GPs who are the subject of a complaint arising from a specialist denying a person a face-to-face appointment.

As independent businesses who hold contracts with the National Health Service, general practices (GPs) are responsible for managing patient complaints relating to services delivered by their GP and the wider health system. In cases where specialist advice has been used, such as Advice and Guidance, and the outcome of the advice was that care management in GPs is clinically appropriate, the GP may still subsequently refer their patient again at any point if they have concerns. NHS England has published guidance for both primary care referrers and specialists to support effective use of Advice and Guidance.For patients who have been under a specialist’s care, clinical governance procedures for the relevant provider will apply.

What data his Department holds on the number of GPs who are (a) unemployed and looking for work and (b) under-employed and looking for additional work in (i) Broxtowe constituency, (ii) the East Midlands and (iii) England.

The data requested is not held centrally. Thanks to actions taken by the Government, we have the highest number of fully qualified general practitioners (GPs) since 2015, and steps are being taken to grow the GP workforce further.We are investing £485 million in GPs in 2026/27, bringing the total spend on the GP Contract to over £13.8 billion. This builds on the £1.1 billion boost in investment in 2025/26. As part of the 2026/27 GP Contract, we are increasing flexibility of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) by removing the restriction that ARRS funding can only be used for recently qualified GPs, increasing the maximum reimbursement amount for GP roles to reflect experience, and enabling primary care networks to recruit a broader range of ARRS roles, where agreed with the commissioner.Patient satisfaction is already rising after a decade of decline; in July 2024, only 61% of patients found it easy to access their GP. Currently, it is almost 77%.Following feedback from the 2026/27 GP Contract consultation, we are introducing a practice-level GP reimbursement scheme which ring-fences and repurposes £292 million of funding from the current Capacity and Access Payment. This funding will be available to practices to hire additional GPs or fund additional sessions with existing GPs to improve access in GPs. This aims to strengthen capacity, access, and improve patient satisfaction, whilst also addressing GP unemployment and underemployment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what engagement has the Government had with Mexican Authorities on the safety of UK football fans attending World Cup matches in Guadalajara.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working across Government and with sporting bodies to support UK fans travelling to matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Our Embassy in Mexico remains in regular contact with the Mexican Federal and State Governments. We are closely monitoring the situation and keep travel advice under regular review to ensure it reflects the latest assessment of risk to British nationals. We encourage those travelling to Mexico to consult our Mexico (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/entry-requirements) and World Cup (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/world-cup-2026) travel advice pages before making travel arrangements.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce delays and (b) improve (i) flow and (ii) efficiency in NHS Surgical Theatres.

As set out in the Elective Reform Plan, we are committed to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, which includes those waiting for surgical procedures.The productivity and modernisation efforts needed to meet that standard includes the expansion of the number of elective surgical hubs. Hubs, which are protected from urgent and emergency care, improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital pressures by reducing cancellations and improving efficiency. They focus on high-volume, low-complexity procedures, support day-case surgery, and align with the standards of the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, including a national target of 85% theatre utilisation. NHS England, in partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, runs a surgical hub accreditation programme to ensure hubs meet best practice standards, including theatre utilisation. Currently, 125 hubs are operational, with 63 accredited. Theatre utilisation across all specialties reached 81% in August 2025, up from 79% the previous year.To support these improvements, the National Theatre Programme, led by GIRFT since 2021, provides national guidance as well as targeted support for trusts to improve theatre productivity. To drive forward further progress, one of the areas of focus for 2025/26 is the establishment of ‘high flow theatre’ lists becoming regular practice across the country. Further national actions include earlier and more robust pre-operative risk-assessment to support earlier identification of patients suitable for treatment at hubs, productivity initiatives focussing on flow, scheduling, utilisation and workforce, and the deployment of data analytics and digital scheduling tools to improve real-time theatre management.

What steps his Department is taking to help improve GP Practice premises to increase the number of (a) consulting rooms to allow practices to train more medical students, (b) GP Registrars and (c) hire more GPs in (i) Broxtowe Constituency, (ii) the East Midlands and (iii) England.

In May 2025, we announced schemes which were prioritised by integrated care boards (ICBs) to benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF). This fund is to deliver upgrades to more than a thousand general practice (GP) surgeries across England this financial year. These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care.Building on this, the Government has committed £426 million of Utilisation and Modernisation funding over the next four years to continue upgrading the GP estate. This funding will also support refurbishing the existing estate to deliver neighbourhood health centres over this Parliament, as part of the 10-Year Health Plan commitment.Through the PCUMF, the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB has committed £1.9 million to creating space for 250,000 new appointments for 2025/26. For the Broxtowe constituency this was an allocation of £335,000, which creates space for 52,500 appointments across two schemes in Beeston, and one each in Chilwell and Newthorpe. All clinical rooms are flexible in design so can be used for face-to-face clinical consultations with patients, used by GP Registrars, and/or to increase training capacity.The Department does not hold East Midlands-level data. The Government has taken steps to grow the GP workforce. We currently have the highest number of fully qualified GPs since 2015, and we want to go further. Following feedback from the 2026/27 GP Contract consultation, we are introducing a practice-level GP reimbursement scheme using £292 million of repurposed funding from the current Capacity and Access Payment. This funding will be available to practices to hire additional GPs or fund additional sessions with existing GPs to improve access in GPs. We are also increasing the flexibility of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme enabling primary care networks to recruit more experienced GPs.We are also committed to training thousands more GPs. We have expanded GP training places by 250, taking the total number of available places to 4,250 for 2025/26, and we plan to expand this again for 2026/27. Current and future expansions to post-graduate training, including foundation training and GP specialty training, have been planned on the basis of relative need, balanced with ability of locations to support trainees.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the humanitarian impact of recent Israeli strikes in the Bekaa Valley and what steps is the Government taking to de-escalate tensions in the region.

We are concerned about the military escalation in Lebanon, especially the impact on civilians, and we are coordinating closely with the Government of Lebanon and humanitarian partners to provide support. On 3 March, I discussed the situation with Lebanese Foreign Minister Rajji, and we will continue to press for de-escalation in our other talks with international partners.

What steps his Department is taking to support the availability of Peer Supported Open Dialogue in the NHS.

There is no national policy specifically focused on implementing Peer Supported Open Dialogue.The National Health Service follows evidence when implementing any approach at scale and will respond to any future changes in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. A research trial evaluating the impact of open dialogue in the NHS is due to report soon, at the following link:https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/pals/research/clinical-educational-and-health-psychology/research-groups/oddessi/oddessi-trialNationally, we are committed to working with local NHS mental health providers to develop a new approach for mental health in 2026, including through the upcoming modern service framework for severe mental illness.The Department is also supporting the development of the evidence base on mental health care through research and evaluation, including studies funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to inform future decisions on effective models of care.

Whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the number of hospitals and departments that doctors rotate through as part of Internal Medical Training.

The Government recognises the importance of continuity in postgraduate medical training for both doctors and patients. Following the 2024 Resident Doctors Agreement, the Department, working in partnership with NHS England and the British Medical Association, established a review of rotational training. This review drew on some 13,000 responses to surveys and found that rotations can provide valuable breadth of experience, but that in some cases frequent moves can disrupt learning, wellbeing, team integration, and patient care NHS England has developed pilots within the Rotations Review programme, and these are being recruited to with start dates in August of this year. As set out in the 10-Point Plan to Improve Resident Doctors’ Working Lives, these test longer placements, smaller geographic footprints, and more flexible arrangements for less-than-full-time trainees. The future work will become part of the Medical Education and Training Review. One of these pilots has focussed on Internal Medicine Training programmes being based at a single provider for the entire three years. The evaluation of these pilots will inform future policy decisions on placement length and continuity benefits.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the high streets of the Broxtowe towns of (i) Beeston, (ii) Stapleford, and (iii) Eastwood.

This Government is committed to supporting high streets across the country, including those in Beeston, Stapleford and Eastwood. The Department is working closely with Broxtowe Borough Council as an early adopter of High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) by providing direct support and funding to bring long‑term vacant properties back into use to boost local trade and growth. Government will bring forward a High Streets Strategy this year to support high streets.

How many dental students have undertaken training in (a) Nottingham, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) the East Midlands and (d) England in each of the last 15 years.

There are currently no dental schools in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, or the East Midlands. Consequently, no dental students have undertaken undergraduate training in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, or the East Midlands. The following table shows the number of entrants to undergraduate dentistry courses in England from 2012 to 2025:Year of EntryEntrants20128752013875201480020157802016800201780520188102019810202089520219802022815202381520248302025815Source: Office for Students Medical and Dental Students Survey.Note: data for 2025 is provisional as entrants are based on initial figures and may change.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using the Multi‑Specialty Recruitment Assessment.

The UK National Recruitment Board, which oversees specialty training recruitment on behalf of the four United Kingdom health departments, has governance processes which determine whether the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is used by a specialty in their selection processes, and how. Any new specialties considering using the MSRA undergo modelling before a decision is made.NHS England will take forward reform measures to consider the future shape and delivery model for selection assessments beyond 2027. These will provide a decision point for NHS England on replacing the current MSRA with an updated assessment fit for purpose to be adopted by a broader group of specialties.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support community cohesion and interfaith in (i) the constituency of Broxtowe, (ii) Nottingham, (iii) the East Midlands, (iv) and England as a whole.

MHCLG's Community Cohesion Unit works to support and promote cohesion and interfaith relations across England, through working closely with local authorities, voluntary and community sector and faith organisations, and other government departments. Several places in the East Midlands have received continued support after the summer disorder of 2024. Specific projects to help develop cohesive communities have been supported, including the ‘Vista Collective’ in Derby - bringing together diverse community groups for dialogue and engagement and empowering residents to tackle issues affecting community cohesion. In Leicester three projects have been funded aimed at connecting and integrating separate communities, whilst in Nottingham the ‘More In Common’ partnership has been developed. The partnership has; awarded grants to local projects, provided community cohesion outreach vehicle for partnership use, arranged conversations with the public (over hate crime, flags, and wider issues of tension), distributed leaflets on hate crime, myth busting and the Prevent process (in a variety of languages) and arranged hate crime workshops, for staff and partners, delivered by Nottinghamshire Police. Additionally, areas have been awarded funding under the recently announced Pride in Place Programme. £20 million, over a ten-year period, will be spent on projects within each of the following areas; Clifton, Worksop, Chesterfield, Mansfield, Newark-on-Trent, North East Derbyshire (Grassmoor & Holmewood), Derby (Chaddesden West), and Leicester (Eyres Monsell, Braunstone Park West, Thurnby Lodge). This long-term preventative investment will help sustain local cohesion capability. Furthermore, MHCLG is co-ordinating cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with local government, communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address the deep-seated issues. At a national level, the government supports strong interfaith relations which are vital for cohesive communities. The Government funded Inter Faith Week 2025 as an important national platform for fostering positive interfaith relations. Alongside this, MHCLG funds grassroots programmes across England such as Near Neighbours and Schools Linking which promote dialogue and understanding across different faiths and beliefs.

What steps his Department is taking to support medical students' (a) wellbeing and (b) welfare in (i) Nottingham, (ii) Nottinghamshire, (iii) the East Midlands and (iv) England.

The professional regulator the General Medical Council sets guidance for all university medical schools and placement providers, who have a responsibility to routinely monitor and support the health, safety, and wellbeing of students whilst studying and on placement.