Every parliamentary written question tabled by Manuela Perteghella this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 441 · this parliament
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changing Feed-in Tariffs scheme indexation from RPI to CPI on (a) domestic, (b) community energy and (c) commercial installations.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth (Jayne Kirkham) on 18 December 2025 to Question 100172. Updated analysis has since been published alongside the Government Response.
What consideration he has given to protections for existing Feed-in Tariffs scheme participants in any change to indexation.
The Government recognises the importance of regulatory stability for maintaining an attractive investment environment. The Government also considers that it is appropriate to periodically review schemes to ensure they continue to represent value for money for the households and businesses that bear the costs of this support. As the scheme is now closed, these changes will apply to existing Feed-in Tariffs generators. However, generators will continue to receive inflation-indexed payments for the full lifetime of their support.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on employment levels in (a) the voluntary sector, (b) charities and (c) heritage organisations.
The Government recognises the important role charities play in our society and has made it a priority to reset the relationship with civil society by developing the Civil Society Covenant. A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions. The TIIN set out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), which set out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances.
What steps she is taking to deliver well designed, well lit and safe cycling infrastructure in Stratford-on-Avon.
Active Travel England (ATE) recognises that high‑quality active travel routes must be well-designed, well-lit and safe to support walking, wheeling and cycling. On 10 December, the Department announced £626 million of multi-year capability funding to support active travel across England. As part of this allocation, Warwickshire County Council, of which Stratford‑on‑Avon is a part, will receive £9,840,039 for the period 2026/27 to 2029/30. Local authorities may use this funding to plan and deliver well‑designed route layouts, appropriate and inclusive lighting, and safety improvements such as segregated cycle lanes and safer junction treatments. ATE also provides technical support and guidance to ensure local authorities deliver high‑quality schemes. National guidance, including Local Transport Note 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design, Manual for Streets, and Inclusive Mobility, sets clear expectations for the design of safe and accessible cycling infrastructure.
How many specialist Parkinson’s nurses are currently employed within the NHS in (a) England and (b) Coventry and Warwickshire.
The Department does not hold a central count of the number of specialist Parkinson’s nurses employed across the National Health Service, either in England as a whole or in Coventry and Warwickshire specifically.Specialist Parkinson’s nurses play a vital role in supporting people with Parkinson’s disease through personalised care, medicines management, and advice on self‑management. However, these posts are not recorded as a discrete workforce category in national workforce datasets. Workforce planning, including decisions about the number and type of specialist nurses needed locally, is the responsibility of individual employers and their integrated care boards (ICBs), which are best placed to assess the needs of their populations.The Department does not hold data on the number of neurologists with specialist training in Parkinson’s disease, either nationally in England or within Coventry and Warwickshire. National workforce datasets do not record condition‑specific sub‑specialisms within neurology, and responsibility for determining local specialist workforce configurations rests with individual employers and ICBs.As of October 2025, there are 51 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology within the Coventry and Warwickshire ICB area. This is a decrease of one, or 2.2%, compared to last year and an increase of 23, or 79.3%, compared to five years ago. This includes 21 FTE consultants. This is an increase of two, or 9.9%, compared to last year and six, or 41.5%, compared to five years ago.
How many neurologists working in the NHS have specialist training in Parkinson’s disease in (a) England and (b) Coventry and Warwickshire.
The Department does not hold a central count of the number of specialist Parkinson’s nurses employed across the National Health Service, either in England as a whole or in Coventry and Warwickshire specifically.Specialist Parkinson’s nurses play a vital role in supporting people with Parkinson’s disease through personalised care, medicines management, and advice on self‑management. However, these posts are not recorded as a discrete workforce category in national workforce datasets. Workforce planning, including decisions about the number and type of specialist nurses needed locally, is the responsibility of individual employers and their integrated care boards (ICBs), which are best placed to assess the needs of their populations.The Department does not hold data on the number of neurologists with specialist training in Parkinson’s disease, either nationally in England or within Coventry and Warwickshire. National workforce datasets do not record condition‑specific sub‑specialisms within neurology, and responsibility for determining local specialist workforce configurations rests with individual employers and ICBs.As of October 2025, there are 51 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology within the Coventry and Warwickshire ICB area. This is a decrease of one, or 2.2%, compared to last year and an increase of 23, or 79.3%, compared to five years ago. This includes 21 FTE consultants. This is an increase of two, or 9.9%, compared to last year and six, or 41.5%, compared to five years ago.
What assessment his Department has made of how NHS services support people with coeliac disease who are facing financial difficulties.
We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living and the increased costs incurred by people with coeliac disease because they have to buy gluten-free options, which are often more expensive than their non-gluten-free equivalents.The Department carried out an analysis of this issue as part of its Equalities Impact Assessment which was published as part of the consultation on the Availability of gluten-free foods on prescription in primary care. A copy of the assessment following this consultation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/availability-of-gluten-free-foods-on-nhs-prescriptionWe looked at the equality impact assessment and the consultation responses and, as a result, made the decision to retain gluten-free bread and mixes on National Health Service prescription. This will help enable people with coeliac disease to obtain their basic food needs and mitigate the risk that those on lower incomes are not able to purchase their own gluten-free foods from retail outlets.The national prescribing position in England remains that gluten-free bread and mixes can be provided to all eligible coeliac patients on an NHS prescription, and a wide range of these items continue to be listed in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. This means that prescribers can issue NHS prescriptions, based on a shared decision between prescriber and patient, while also being mindful of local and national guidance.
If he will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Our deepest sympathies are with those who have experienced harm following vaccination and with their families. Ministers recognise that concerns have been raised with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) and continue to consider potential reforms to the scheme.In parallel, the Department has been working with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA), the administrators of the VDPS, to process claims at a faster rate. The time it takes to process a claim depends on the complexity of the case and the length of time healthcare providers take to supply the requested medical records. The NHS BSA is engaging with healthcare providers to improve the return rate of these records, which is essential to assessing claims, including though submitting subject access requests.Information on COVID-19 claims to the VDPS is published on a quarterly basis by the NHS BSA. Further information is available at the following link:https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19
What discussions he has had with (a) Ofcom, (b) network operators and (c) energy suppliers on improving signal coverage in areas where smart meters are unable to maintain a reliable connection.
The Data Communications Company (DCC) - the licensed body that is responsible for the provision of communication and data services for smart metering in GB - is obligated under the conditions of its licence to provide smart meter network coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain, and to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage. The Government is working closely with the DCC and energy suppliers to ensure smart meter connectivity can be extended to currently unserved properties as soon as reasonably possible. One such solution, due to be trialled shortly, would involve with their consent, using customers’ broadband connections, to carry smart metering communications.
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the processing time for claims made under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Our deepest sympathies are with those who have experienced harm following vaccination and with their families. Ministers recognise that concerns have been raised with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) and continue to consider potential reforms to the scheme.In parallel, the Department has been working with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA), the administrators of the VDPS, to process claims at a faster rate. The time it takes to process a claim depends on the complexity of the case and the length of time healthcare providers take to supply the requested medical records. The NHS BSA is engaging with healthcare providers to improve the return rate of these records, which is essential to assessing claims, including though submitting subject access requests.Information on COVID-19 claims to the VDPS is published on a quarterly basis by the NHS BSA. Further information is available at the following link:https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19
Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on ensuring that temporary accommodation includes access to basic (a) cooking and (b) washing facilities.
The government does not collect data on the furniture and appliances provided in temporary accommodation. Local authorities can use the Household Support Fund up until March 31, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as furniture and household appliances. Chapter 17 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance includes information on the suitability of accommodation and makes clear that accommodation which may lack or require sharing of important amenities, such as cooking and laundry facilities, should be avoided wherever possible. You can access the Code of Guidance on gov.uk here.
What steps he is taking to help address Creon shortages in the NHS.
The Department is aware of ongoing intermittent supply issues with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), including Creon capsules. Supplies of Creon and other licensed alternatives have improved in the past year, and specialist importers have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market. We continue to work closely with the manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to medicines.We have widely disseminated comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals about these supply issues, which provide advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. This includes serious shortage protocols to limit prescriptions to one month’s supply to ensure equitable distribution of available supplies and that Creon remains available for those patients who need it. The Department has issued additional management advice to healthcare professionals which directs clinicians to consider the unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable and includes actions for integrated care boards to have local mitigation plans in place and implemented to ensure that no patient is left without PERT.The Department also routinely engages with the affected patient advocacy groups and charities, clinicians, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure they are kept informed on the latest supply picture and any communications issued.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which temporary accommodation provided by local authorities includes access to essential (a) furniture and (b) household appliances.
The government does not collect data on the furniture and appliances provided in temporary accommodation. Local authorities can use the Household Support Fund up until March 31, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as furniture and household appliances. Chapter 17 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance includes information on the suitability of accommodation and makes clear that accommodation which may lack or require sharing of important amenities, such as cooking and laundry facilities, should be avoided wherever possible. You can access the Code of Guidance on gov.uk here.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing NHS provision of scleral contact lenses for patients with complex corneal conditions.
Scleral contact lenses can be funded by the National Health Service for hospital eye service patients if there is a clinical need.
What assessment has he made of the potential implications for his policies of regional variation in access to cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) across England.
No such assessment has been made. It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia 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/
What steps schools are expected to take to help ensure that pupils and families experiencing (a) furniture or (b) appliance poverty are directed to sources of support.
The government’s Child Poverty Strategy, ‘Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty’, was published on 5 December 2025. It sets out the steps this government will take to reduce child poverty in the short term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to create long-term change. The measures set out in the strategy will lift 550,000 children out of poverty, the largest expected reduction in child poverty over any parliamentary session since comparable records began.The government is investing in the future of our children and putting money into families' pockets, enabling them to afford the essentials that are necessary to give children what they need to learn and grow by introducing key measures such as removing the two-child limit in Universal Credit.Furthermore, government is helping families who need support to access essential household items through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, a £1 billion fund to ensure families have a safety net when they need it, and Pride in Place Programme, which will deliver up to £5 billion in funding to 244 in-need neighbourhoods across the country. This will give communities the option to invest in measures that support families with the cost of living, which could include establishing new community shops with access to discounted food and school uniforms or directly supporting families with essential household items, such as beds and white goods.
What steps her Department is taking to help reduce child bed poverty and it's potential impact on education.
The government’s Child Poverty Strategy, ‘Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty’, was published on 5 December 2025. It sets out the steps this government will take to reduce child poverty in the short term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to create long-term change. The measures set out in the strategy will lift 550,000 children out of poverty, the largest expected reduction in child poverty over any parliamentary session since comparable records began.The government is investing in the future of our children and putting money into families' pockets, enabling them to afford the essentials that are necessary to give children what they need to learn and grow by introducing key measures such as removing the two-child limit in Universal Credit.Furthermore, government is helping families who need support to access essential household items through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, a £1 billion fund to ensure families have a safety net when they need it, and Pride in Place Programme, which will deliver up to £5 billion in funding to 244 in-need neighbourhoods across the country. This will give communities the option to invest in measures that support families with the cost of living, which could include establishing new community shops with access to discounted food and school uniforms or directly supporting families with essential household items, such as beds and white goods.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of furniture poverty on health outcomes.
The links between material deprivation and poorer mental and physical health are well recognised. As highlighted by the campaign ‘End Furniture Poverty’, furniture can be one of the most expensive items people can purchase, and living without essential items can have an impact on health.We know everyday life poses greater health risks to the most disadvantaged in society, and that the current model of healthcare works least well for those who already experience disadvantage and are far more likely to have complex needs. This is why the 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health Service in England sets out a reimagined service designed to tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes.The Department of Health and Social Care is also working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on housing quality and homelessness issues, including the new Decent Homes Standard and implementation of Awaab’s Law to improve the quality of rented homes.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has invested in the Household Support Fund to enable local authorities in England to provide discretionary support to vulnerable households in the most need with the cost of essentials. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the Household Support Fund and other services available locally.
What steps he plans to take to ensure that planned guidance on fiduciary duties for the trust-based private pensions sector provides effective clarity to trustees.
I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 22 January 2026 to PQ 106678.
With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the Report Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill on 3 December 2025, whether the guidance on fiduciary duties will cover the (a) ability to consider system-level risks, (b) ability to consider the impacts of investments and the organisations in which schemes invest, including on members' standard of living, (c) ability to consider members' views and (d) duty to cover matters when they are financially material.
The Government is committed to ensuring that private pension trustees have a clear, range of guidance, with the objective of supporting consideration of wider factors within their existing legal obligations. This will include clarification and practical support on their ability to take account of system level risks, such as climate related risks, and the impacts of investments where these affect members’ long-term outcomes, including their standard of living. The guidance will also explore how trustees may consider members’ views, provided this remains consistent with investing in members’ best interests, and will reaffirm that trustees should take account of all financially material matters, where appropriate in their investment decision making. Our objective is for guidance to be delivered in partnership with the pension sector and other interested parties. Work will commence shortly beginning with an industry roundtable to gather views and technical expertise to ensure the guidance meets the identified need.