Sharon Hodgson MP: written questions
87 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the (a) experiences and (b) interests of (i) children with foetal valproate syndrome and (ii) their families are included in NHS reform.
Answer: As part of National Health Service reform, the Department has launched a transformation programme, led by a senior responsible officer. The Department is engaging with partners to ensure their experiences and interests are considered in shaping the future...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAutism: Foetal Valproate Spectrum DisorderDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders also have a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome.
Answer: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. Information about the number of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome is not collected centrally.
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to respond to the Hughes Report before 23 July 2025.
Answer: The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government dep...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Adrenaline Auto-injectorsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools have administered adrenaline auto-injector devices to pupils experiencing anaphylaxis at school in each year since 2017.
Answer: The department does not hold this data.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason (a) Valproate redress and (b) interim payments are delayed.
Answer: The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving s...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSoft Drinks: TaxationTreasuryTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54238More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending exemptions to the proposed lactose allowance for milk-based drinks to equivalent milk-substitute drinks as part of the Soft Drinks Industr
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024 the Chancellor announced her intention to review the Soft Drinks Industry levy (SDIL) – which has incentivised producers to remove almost half (46%) the sugar in relevant drinks – to further drive product reformulation. The ‘Strength...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes and Palliative Care: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of controls on stocking (a) palliative care medicines and (b) controlled drugs on the (i) adequacy of access to medication for patien
Answer: Under the Enhanced health in care homes framework, every care home must be aligned to a primary care network (PCN) and must have established protocols between the PCN, the care home, and system partners, such as local general practices and pharmacies, for...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes and Palliative Care: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to (a) palliative care medicines and (b) controlled drugs for patients in care homes.
Answer: Under the Enhanced health in care homes framework, every care home must be aligned to a primary care network (PCN) and must have established protocols between the PCN, the care home, and system partners, such as local general practices and pharmacies, for...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes: DrugsHome OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help increase uptake levels of the license for access to controlled drugs in UK care homes with nursing provision.
Answer: Most care homes will not require a licence to access medicines containing controlled drugs for patients who need them. This is because care homes run by public authorities or charities are exempt from the need for a licence. In addition, all care homes wi...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes: DrugsHome OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the existing licensing scheme for access to controlled drugs in UK care homes.
Answer: Most care homes will not require a licence to access medicines containing controlled drugs for patients who need them. This is because care homes run by public authorities or charities are exempt from the need for a licence. In addition, all care homes wi...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOvarian Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of misdiagnosis of women’s health symptoms on levels of diagnosis of ovarian cancer in (a) all women and (b) women under the age of 5
Answer: The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of gynaecological conditions, including ovarian cancer. NHS England has taken urgent action to address gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Recovery Plan, includ...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOvarian CancerDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made on the number of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer at an advanced stage.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of gynaecological conditions, including ovarian cancer. NHS England has taken urgent action to address gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Recovery Plan, includ...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOvarian Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the removal of the target to increase the percentage of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 from the NHS Priorities and Operationa
Answer: The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of gynaecological conditions, including ovarian cancer. NHS England has taken urgent action to address gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Recovery Plan, includ...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Medical ExaminationsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has provided guidance to Personal Independence Payment assessors on the impact of surgical mesh on women's ability to work.
Answer: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or impairment, whether physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or any combination of these. It is paid to contribute to the extra costs that disabled...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBreakfast Clubs: StaffDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has considered the implications of the more costly staffing ratios for Special Educational Needs Schools and Alternative Provisions (APs) in the funding arrangement for the new national primary brea
Answer: The early adopter scheme will test and learn how schools are able to use programme funding, support and guidance to ensure inclusive and accessible provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, in a range of schools, including sp...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily Nurse Partnership ProgrammeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Family Nurse Partnership to include more than the existing 44 local authorities.
Answer: The Family Nurse Partnership Programme (FNP) is the Department’s current service for the most vulnerable first-time parents, for example, teenagers, care leavers, those known to the care system, or those who would otherwise have extremely poor clinical ou...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reducing food supply chain waste through mandatory food waste reporting.
Answer: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of mandatory food waste reporting. This G...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: Telephone ServicesTreasuryTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40450More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March to Question 33256 on Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services, (a) what steps her department is taking to decrease the average wait time for calls to be answered by HMRC and (b) what
Answer: HMRC received additional funding last year to recruit more customer service advisers to help improve telephony performance. HMRC recognise the real difficulties that delays on phones cause customers. At the end of last year, performance on helplines had i...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMusic and Dance Scheme: VATTreasuryTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40447More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to exempt training provided by the Music and Dance Scheme from VAT.
Answer: Performing arts schools that offer full-time education to children of compulsory school age and/or 16-19 year olds for a charge will remain in scope of the policy to apply VAT to their fees and this includes the Music and Dance Scheme. This is to ensure f...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMusic and Dance SchemeDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide financial assistance mirroring arrangements for schools via the Music and Dance Scheme to cover the cost of changes to (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) the
Answer: The Music and Dance Scheme grant funding of both private schools and Centres for Advanced Training relates to financing places via means-tested bursaries only and is not intended as direct funding to meet wider employment costs..
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure investment in social rent homes at the spending review.
Answer: At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 mi...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and Mineworkers' Pension SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason the investment reserves for the (a) Mineworkers Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme were not transferred to members at the same time.
Answer: The transfer of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme investment reserve was a manifesto commitment which the Government has fulfilled. The BCSSS scheme has some differences to the MPS, but we are working with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals.
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHernias: Surgical Mesh ImplantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hernia mesh surgeries have taken place in each of the last 20 years; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients are informed of the risks of mesh complications.
Answer: The following table shows the count of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) where there was any procedure for 'hernia mesh surgeries', recorded for the years 2004/05 to 2023/24, in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned acti...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: RegistrationDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support she plans to provide to the Office for Students to (a) allow more providers to complete the registration process for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement and (b) support additional applications from s
Answer: The government is committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as set out in the Autumn Budget statement in October 2024. From the LLE’s launch in January 2027, the Office for Students (OfS) will regulate all providers offering LLE-fun...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: RegistrationDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether providers receiving educational oversight from Ofsted for Level 5 and 6 provision will have a third category route to registration with the Office for Students during the implementation of the Lifelong
Answer: The government is committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as set out in the Autumn Budget statement in October 2024. From the LLE’s launch in January 2027, the Office for Students (OfS) will regulate all providers offering LLE-fun...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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