Written questions by Evans.

If she will consider developing a national workforce plan to support councils and other bodies to determine resources for future SEND provision needs.

Awaiting answer.

What recent discussions she has had with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the impact of the levels of the High Needs Block grant on the ability of local Councils to respond to incre

Awaiting answer.

What categories of compassionate or expanded access scheme medicines are currently within the scope of VAT.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair if a business has reclaimed VAT on costs. Whether VAT applies to medicines or tre...

How long the current pause in applying VAT to compassionate medicines programmes will remain in place.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair if a business has reclaimed VAT on costs. Whether VAT applies to medicines or tre...

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of VAT policy on compassionate medicines access.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair if a business has reclaimed VAT on costs. Whether VAT applies to medicines or tre...

What estimate her Department has made of how much money it would expect to gain through the application of VAT to compassionate medicine programmes.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair if a business has reclaimed VAT on costs. Whether VAT applies to medicines or tre...

What recent discussions her Department has held on the alteration of VAT to palliative care medicines supplied free of charge for children.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair if a business has reclaimed VAT on costs. Whether VAT applies to medicines or tre...

What engagement she has undertaken with families, clinicians and charities to discuss the impact of VAT on compassionate access programme medicines.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair if a business has reclaimed VAT on costs. Whether VAT applies to medicines or tre...

What recent steps she has taken to support newly qualified teachers to gain SEND specialisms to support children with Special Educational Needs.

We have taken steps to ensure newly qualified teachers are well prepared to support all pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and the Early Career Framework (ECF) are evidence-based, developed with S...

What recent assessment she has made of the extent to which mainstream schooling in (a) East Midlands and (b) Leicestershire has the capacity, expertise and resources to support children with Special Educational

The department is investing in all mainstream settings to ensure they have the capacity, expertise and resources to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).This includes a new training package, backed by £200 million, to en...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 286 on Pets: EU Countries, if she will have discussions with Improve International to consider opportunities to increase the number of

There are currently no plans to hold any discussions with Improve International on the number of Official Veterinarians who can issue Animal Health Certificates. Defra is aware of the numerous challenges facing the veterinary sector, including recruitment...

What recent assessment she has made of the role of central government in sharing best practice amongst councils in respect of responding to increased demands for SEND provision.

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform plans have been commissioned from local area partnerships, setting out how they are strengthening their systems to drive effective long-term outcomes. Where exemplary practice is identified, we will...

What steps he is taking to prevent the smuggling of anabolic steroids and image and performance enhancing drugs into prisons.

Prisons in England and Wales have a range of specialist staff and equipment to tackle the smuggling of contraband into prisons, including drugs. We have invested over £40 million into new physical security measures to clamp down on the contraband that fue...

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of (a) anabolic steroid and (b) image and performance enhancing drugs use in prisons.

Prisons in England and Wales have a range of specialist staff and equipment to tackle the smuggling of contraband into prisons, including drugs. We have invested over £40 million into new physical security measures to clamp down on the contraband that fue...

Whether steps have been taken to ensure neighbourhood health delivers effective suicide prevention support for middle aged men.

The Government recognises the importance of effective suicide prevention support for middle-aged men, who remain disproportionately affected by suicide.The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious reforms to shift healthcare from hospital to co...

What progress has been made on implementing the Men’s Health Strategy.

Since the launch of the Men’s Health Strategy, significant work and focus has been on implementing the commitments set out in the strategy. For example, on 27 March 2026 the Men’s Health Community Fund, a £6.3 million programme, was launched in partnershi...

What steps his Department is taking to ensure GPs are adequately trained and equipped to identify and respond to men at risk of suicide.

Our first ever Men’s Health Strategy, launched on 19 November 2025, announced the Suicide Prevention Support Pathfinders programme which will invest up to £3.6 million over three years in areas of England where middle-aged men face the greatest risk of su...

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that primary care services identify and support men at risk of suicide.

Our first ever Men’s Health Strategy, launched on 19 November 2025, announced the Suicide Prevention Support Pathfinders programme which will invest up to £3.6 million over three years in areas of England where middle-aged men face the greatest risk of su...

What conversations she is having with the DVSA about the pressures faced by the DVSA booking system to manage new and repeated attempts to pass the ADI Part 3 test.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has seen unprecedented numbers of applications from people wishing to become approved driving instructors (ADI) - a 152% increase since 2018-19. Alongside this, the pass rate for the part 3 test has declined,...

What conversations she is having with the DVSA to support the recruitment of additional examiners in the Advanced Driving Instructor team.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has seen unprecedented numbers of applications from people wishing to become approved driving instructors (ADI) - a 152% increase since 2018-19. Alongside this, the pass rate for the part 3 test has declined,...