Every parliamentary written question tabled by Simon Opher this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 333 · this parliament
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of method of production labelling on (a) the economy and (b) farm incomes.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, on 20 October 2025, PQ UIN 78472.
If he will ensure that (a) universal lay terminology is used in the NHS app and (b) there is signposting to Lab Tests Online UK to enable patients to interpret their diagnostic results correctly.
The NHS App aims to use clear, universal lay terminology that is easy for the general public to understand. The content follows the National Health Service content style guide, which mandates writing in plain English to a reading age of nine to 11 years old. As part of the delivery of the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS App will provide an improved and personalised experience for users, empowering them to access key elements of their health conditions like test results, and providing patients with advice and guidance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, that will help them to understand their health and make informed choices about what to do next.We regularly test our content with patients to ensure it is clear and effective. This includes working with users who have access needs, low digital literacy, or are from seldom-heard groups.This work builds on the current test results feature in the NHS App that is successfully used by millions of people each month to access the results of tests they have conducted with their general practitioner.There is signposting to Lab Tests Online-UK (LTO-UK) to help patients interpret their diagnostic results, though this may depend on how the patient's general practice (GP) has configured its systems. We currently provide links to LTO-UK for approximately 70 of the most common test types. While the NHS App itself primarily displays results along with any accompanying doctor’s comments or actions, GP systems can have embedded links to LTO-UK alongside the test results, providing a direct route for patients to access reliable information at the point of care.
If he will increase funding for (a) the pathology (i) workforce, (ii) estates and (iii) IT infrastructure and (b) pathology disciplines involved in the pathways for cancer patients.
The 2025 Spending Review prioritised health, with record investment in the health and social care system. The Spending Review announced that annual National Health Service day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms, a £53 billion cash increase, by 2028/29 compared to 2023/24.To provide stability and ensure public services and industries have certainty in their funding, the Government has committed to holding a Spending Review every two years. The 2025 Spending Review sets departmental budgets for day-to-day spending up to 2028/29 and for capital for five years, to 2029/30. The envelope for the next Spending Review, due to be held in 2027, will be set in due course.We will also publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.As part of the £600 million in capital for diagnostics in 2025/26, announced as part of the Spending Review, the NHS is investing in histopathology automation technology, which will speed up pathology test reporting across England, helping to ensure that patients get their diagnoses faster and supporting reductions in elective waiting lists.We are funding all pathology networks to increase digital capabilities by March 2026. This will reduce unnecessary waits and repeat tests to ensure that patients receive their blood test results sooner. These actions will help improve patient pathways, including for cancer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82020 on Energy: Buildings, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, (b) Warm Homes: Local Grant and (c) Boiler Upgrade Scheme on (i) energy bills, (ii) carbon emissions (A) to date and (B) in each of the next three years and (iii) the nationally determined contributions target for 2030.
For Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) the Government publishes Official Statistics including WH:SHF Waves 1 and 2 measures installed, homes treated, carbon and bill savings. Statistics on WH:SHF Wave 3 and Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), summary business cases covering both schemes 2025/26-2027/28 and evaluation findings, will be published in due course. There is a robust evaluation approach in place for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). The Government will publish an Impact Assessment covering the BUS from 2025/26 through to 2029/30. An Impact Assessment for period 2022/23 to 2024/25 is already published. The Government publishes Official Statistics including BUS deployment volumes to date (Table 1.1) and Energy and Emissions Projections (EEP) containing the estimated emission savings generated by BUS installations.
When his Department will publish the data on the number of patients treated in (a) corridors and (b) other inappropriate spaces.
The Government is committed to tackling the unacceptable practice of corridor care in our National Health Service. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, set out the steps that we are taking, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care.NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. This information will be published following a review of data quality, and we will consider how this data could be published on a regular basis.
Whether his Department will publish regular data on patients treated in (a) corridors and (b) other inappropriate spaces.
The Government is committed to tackling the unacceptable practice of corridor care in our National Health Service. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, set out the steps that we are taking, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care.NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. This information will be published following a review of data quality, and we will consider how this data could be published on a regular basis.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will review plastic waste exports to promote domestic recycling.
We are committed to ensuring a level playing field for domestic plastic recyclers and we are currently considering the role of exports in dealing with the UK’s plastic waste. Defra is committed to building a circular economy that enhances industry competition and capitalises on the UK’s potential in plastic recycling and reprocessing, whilst realising our environmental objectives. We recognise that export markets can compliment domestic reprocessing to ensure more of our waste is recycled.
Whether she plans to increase the (a) Plastic Packaging Tax rate and (b) recycled content requirement to promote domestic recycling.
The Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced in April 2022 under the previous government and provides a price incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging – thereby stimulating the collection and recycling of plastic waste. All tax rates and thresholds are reviewed at fiscal events.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress she has made on the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.
The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers will launch in October 2027 across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Earlier this year we appointed UK DMO as the deposit management organisation for the schemes in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and they are continuing to progress at pace with delivery of the scheme.
If he will make it his policy to publish an implementation plan to ensure that each Integrated Care Board commissions a Fracture Liaison Service.
Fracture liaison services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out fracture liaison services across every part of the country by 2030.Officials continue to work closely with NHS England to explore a range of options to provide better quality and access to these important preventative services.
What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for the Op Courage service.
NHS England meets with the regional providers of Op COURAGE on a regular basis to review the individual services, to ensure that they are meeting the needs of veterans. They are undertaking a comprehensive review which includes the time that veterans wait for assessment and treatment. Any recommendations from the review will be implemented from April 2026.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of improved energy efficiency in buildings on (a) energy security, (b) consumer bills and (c) carbon budgets.
Decarbonising buildings is the only certain way to permanently lower bills, protect the UK against price shocks, reduce demands and preserve energy security by helping the UK become energy independent. Government schemes are already delivering improvements to home energy efficiency through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF), the new Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) and the continuation of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) supporting thousands of households to upgrade their heating systems and reduce carbon emissions. The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. We will publish more details soon.
Whether she plans to respond to the consultation entitled National guidance for community scrutiny panels, which closed on 19 October 2023.
Community scrutiny is a valuable means by which local communities can have a voice in how they are policed.The consultation on the national guidance for community scrutiny panels ran under the previous government. We have no plans to respond to this consultation.
What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for neurology health services.
Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We have exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having delivered 5.2 million more appointments across elective care services. This marks a vital first step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the NHS constitutional standard, by March 2029.Between August 2024 and 2025, we reduced the number of incomplete neurology pathways by almost 10,000, or 4.3%, from 236,621 to 226,432, and reduced the average waiting time for neurology services from 16.7 to 15.4 weeks. 56.1% of patients referred were seen within 18 weeks, up from 53.1% at the same point last year. This is still lower than the national average and we are continuing efforts to improve this, recognising this is a challenged specialty.The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, commits to reform outpatient services, including by supporting general practitioners and hospital doctors to work better together to ensure referrals are used when a patient really needs hospital care, through increased uptake of Advice and Guidance. There are a number of initiatives at the national level supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including the UK-wide Neuro Forum, the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time programme for neurology.
If he will consider issuing a call for evidence on ways to (a) promote and (b) fund the installation of domestic energy efficiency measures.
We are working across government on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan for households to cut energy bills for good. The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. We will upgrade up to 5 million homes across the country by accelerating the installation of efficient new domestic energy technologies.We are investing £13.2bn in the Warm Homes Plan up to 2030, in line with the Manifesto commitment. The transition to warmer, decarbonised homes via the Warm Homes Plan will include support for the most vulnerable to help slash fuel poverty. We will publish more details soon.
If she will ensure that her Department does not engage in cooperation over migration control with security forces in (a) Libya and (b) other countries involved in (i) human rights abuses and (ii) violations of international law.
We are clear on the need to respect international law and human rights when it comes to managing migration. The UK is working with Libya and other countries on migration and provides support to the most vulnerable migrants, working in partnership with international partners and institutions.In line with UK Government policy (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81781be5274a2e87dbdcc0/OSJA_Guidance_2017.pdf) the Government carries out Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments for activity overseas to ensure the UK meets its human rights obligations and values.
Communities and Local Government, if he will consider amending statutory planning guidance for listed buildings to permit the use of reproduction stone slates on Grade 1 listed churches.
Each listed building is different, and the government believes that decisions on which materials should be used should be a matter for the decision maker depending on the particular circumstances of each case. We therefore have no plans to issue statutory planning guidance in respect of the matter at this time.
What assessment she has made of the potential barriers to delivery of (a) the Wotton, Charfield and Kingswood Greenway and (b) other paths on disused railways.
It is part of National Highway's role to maintain safety on the Historical Railway Estate whilst seeking to transfer assets to other third parties if appropriate. It is for those third parties to assess the viability of potential greenways routes and National Highways will work with those organisations to support those ambitions where possible. No assessment of the Wotton, Charfield and Kingswood Greenway has been made by the Department. It would be for the local authorities and other local stakeholders involved to continue to develop proposals and assess the viability of the greenway. Active Travel England is developing Rural Design Guidance which will include guidance on greenway delivery and the conversion of old railway paths.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) the European Commission and (b) her Italian counterpart on the attack on the Ocean Viking Rescue Ship.
No.
Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to make it easier for (a) communities and (b) charities to receive planning permission for infrastructure projects.
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period. The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund. The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. It makes clear that local authorities should have policies that set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places; that they should make sufficient provision for infrastructure including energy; and that applications which could affect drainage on or around the site should incorporate sustainable drainage systems. The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.