Lisa Smart MP: written questions
579 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Blood Tests: VitaminsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding standard NHS blood tests to routinely include (a) B12, (b) B6, (c) folate, (d) vitamin C and (e) vitamin D.
Answer: The Department has made no assessment of the potential merits of expanding standard National Health Service blood tests to routinely include B12, B6, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin D. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which prov...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVitamin B12Department of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency and reduce the number of cases misdiagnosed as (a) dementia, (b) chronic fatigue syndrome and (c) psychiatric
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance in March 2024 on the diagnosis and management of vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16 year olds. The guidance is available at the following link:http://nice.org.uk/guidance/ng239...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVitamin B12Department of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to raise the minimum reference range for vitamin B12 serum levels to 500 pmol/L.
Answer: The assessment and clinical management of vitamin B12 falls under the remit of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In March 2024, the NICE published the guidance, Vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16s: diagnosis and management, whic...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVitamin B12Department of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing over-the-counter sales of vitamin B12 injections in the UK.
Answer: The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised several medicines for use in different circumstances associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. The legal status assigned to medicines is dependent on an assessment of the product a...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFinance: DocumentsTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44656More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with UK banks on the provision of (a) bank statements and (b) other financial documents in accessible formats for customers with visual impairments.
Answer: The Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. FCA guidance highlight...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: PublicationsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44655More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS documents are available in (a) large print, (b) braille and (c) other accessible formats for patients with visual impairments.
Answer: Under the Equality Act 2010, health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged.Since 2016, all National Health Service organisations and publicly funded social care providers are exp...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAccident and Emergency Departments: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44654More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the level of staff overtime pay rates in emergency departments on (a) the quality of patient care and (b) the ret
Answer: The Department has not made this specific assessment. Where national rates for overtime are applicable in England, these are set out in the national terms and conditions, and no recent changes have been made to these provisions, nor are there planned to b...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the economic impact of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation on (a) small manuf
Answer: The Government has listened to feedback from small businesses and introduced support measures to help compliance with EPR, including: exemptions from fee obligations for producers with annual turnover below £2 million and packaging tonnage below 50 tonnes...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGlass: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will review the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) cost allocation model for glass packaging.
Answer: Defra has engaged with industry and experts to ensure accuracy of the model. This includes consultation with WRAP, the Environmental Services Agency, British Glass and MKD32 on the decision to use volume in the apportionment of kerbside recycling collecti...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to (a) exempt and (b) reduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees to packaging waste managed through private waste contracts in the hospitality se
Answer: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44650More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fee structure accurately reflects the environmental performance of (a) the brewing sector,
Answer: The Government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). This is a major reform that will be iterated over several years to incentivise...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDiethylstilbestrolDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44649More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 38407 on Diethylstilbestrol, whether he plans to issue an apology to women who (a) experienced long-term health impacts, (b) were compelled to pl
Answer: The government took action regarding Diethylstilbestrol (DES) in the early 1970s. In 1971, it was recognised that DES could cause a distinct type of cancer in the daughters of women who took DES in early pregnancy. Shortly afterwards, its use was contrain...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: InformationTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44648More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC plans to improve its (a) telephone and (b) online chat services to ensure that people can receive human assistance when digital systems fail to provide information.
Answer: Once they have submitted an A1 certificate renewal or other time-sensitive application, customers can use the “check when you can expect a reply from HMRC” tool which is available on gov.uk to confirm when they are likely to receive a response. Customers ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and CustomsTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44647More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of HMRC's communication channels for people seeking urgent updates on (a) A1 certificate renewals and (b) other time-sensitive applications.
Answer: Once they have submitted an A1 certificate renewal or other time-sensitive application, customers can use the “check when you can expect a reply from HMRC” tool which is available on gov.uk to confirm when they are likely to receive a response. Customers ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWindrush CommissionerHome OfficeTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41564, under what circumstances the Windrush Commissioner could move from operating on a non-statutory basis to a statutory basis.
Answer: The Windrush Commissioner will be a public appointee, operating independently of the Home Office to serve as an advocate and trusted voice for victims, families and impacted communities affected by the Home Office Windrush Scandal.To maintain momentum, dr...
Answered 14 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: WomenMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice on 11 March 2025 to Question 903119 on Female Offenders, whether that specialised training is available to all staff.
Answer: The Foundation training programme for all new prison officers includes learning in relation to suicide and self-harm. For officers working in the female estate, there is an additional week of Foundation training which gives officers an understanding of t...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice Custody: SuicideHome OfficeTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rollout of suicide prevention training on staff in police custody suites.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the response to PQ 38138 published on 20th March 2025.
Answered 14 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: TrainingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring firefighters receive suicide prevention training.
Answer: Every suicide is a tragedy, and we recognise the valuable role that firefighters play in attending these emergency incidents. As part of the Government’s mission to reduce the lives lost to suicide we are recruiting 8,500 new mental health workers who wil...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: TrainingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what role her Department has in setting (a) standards and (b) contents of training for firefighters.
Answer: It is the responsibility of Fire and Rescue Authorities to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. The Government will continue to work closely w...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Custodial TreatmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England has spent on (a) drug and (b) alcohol treatment in (i) prisons, (ii) young offender institutions, (iii) immigration removal centres and (iv) other secure settings in the last t
Answer: A detailed analysis of NHS England’s spend on drug and alcohol treatment in prisons, young offender institutions (YOIs), immigration removal centres (IRCs), and other secure settings is not available at the level requested. This is because mental health a...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMigraines: ChildrenDepartment for EducationTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the impact of migraines on children’s education.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people receive the right support to succeed and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life. Pupils at school with medical conditions should be properly supported so that they have f...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMigraines: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the impact of migraines in the workplace.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Health and Social Care are committed to supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with migraines, with their employment journey. The Disability Confident Scheme e...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHonoursCabinet OfficeTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42632More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the average time taken to process nominations for national honours.
Answer: Processing the large number of nominations for national honours can be lengthy but it is critical to ensure the integrity of national honours is maintained. Verifying information about nominees can take time to ensure the independent process has been comp...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCounselling: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent people without accreditation from offering paid counselling services.
Answer: There are no current plans to extend statutory regulation to therapists and counsellors, and no recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of the lack of statutory regulation on patient safety.When considering which professions should be prot...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCounselling and Psychiatry: RegulationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to introduce statutory regulation for (a) counsellors and (b) psychotherapists to help ensure minimum standards of (i) training, (ii) supervision and (iii) professional conduc
Answer: There are no current plans to extend statutory regulation to therapists and counsellors, and no recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of the lack of statutory regulation on patient safety.When considering which professions should be prot...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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