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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Mental Health Strategy for England will aim to improve outcomes specific to family carers of those with severe mental illness.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Mental Health Strategy for England will aim to improve outcomes specific to family carers of those with severe mental illness.
We recognise the many challenges that people care for loved ones with severe mental illnesses face every day, and we will consider the needs of family carers as we develop a new mental health strategy designed to ensure better support is accessible to people across the country with mental health needs.
The forthcoming Mental Health Strategy for England will set out the Government’s priorities for improving mental health and wellbeing and will be informed by engagement with people with lived experience, and their families and carers.
Alongside this, the Government is developing a Modern Service Framework for severe mental illness, which will set consistent standards across the country so that people with severe mental illness receive the best quality, evidence-based, and equitable care and support. Recognising the important role that carers and families play is an important part of this.
That this House expresses deep concern over news that PAPYRUS, the suicide prevention charity has gone into administration; notes that this charity has delivered a vital service via its HOPELINE247 for young people suffering with poor mental health; highlights the tireless campaigning of volunteers, including 3 Dads Walking who raised £1.5 million following the loss of their daughters; further notes the contribution that PAPYRUS has made over the last 29 years and expresses regret that this does not constitute the loss of a singular charity but rather a loss of a vital service that has saved countless lives over the years; and urges the Government to support organisations like PAPYRUS that often work in tandem with NHS services as a means of offering community support so no one has to wait till crisis point to receive appropriate care.
That this House expresses deep concern over news that PAPYRUS, the suicide prevention charity has gone into administration; notes that this charity has delivered a vital service via its HOPELINE247 for young people suffering with poor mental health; highlights the tireless campaigning of volunteers, including 3 Dads Walking who raised...
There has long been a proven link between people deliberately harming animals and then committing domestic abuse. The Links Group has researched and highlighted that link for 25 years and is having a special conference later this year to mark this. Will the Minister agree to meet me and the Links Group so that we can draw on its 25 years of expertise to help prevent avoidable harm to women, children and even animals?
There has long been a proven link between people deliberately harming animals and then committing domestic abuse. The Links Group has researched and highlighted that link for 25 years and is having a special conference later this year to mark this. Will the Minister agree to meet me and the Links Group so that we can draw on its 25 years of expertise to help prevent avoidable harm to women, children and even animals?
Absolutely, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is her latest estimate of the cost of a) increasing the upper capital limit for social care to £100,000 and b) increasing the lower capital limit for social care to £25,000.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is her latest estimate of the cost of a) increasing the upper capital limit for social care to £100,000 and b) increasing the lower capital limit for social care to £25,000.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what date he expects the Transformation Programme to be in operation for WPS claims.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what date he expects the Transformation Programme to be in operation for WPS claims.
The War Pension Scheme (WPS) Transformation Programme has been in place since September 2024, with the aim of improving the accuracy and efficiency of WPS claim processing.
A range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.
To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.
With the operational system delivered, transformation continues via a WPS Recovery Taskforce, established in June 2025 to continue to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying further areas for improvement.
The capacity of the working resource is now considered to be sufficient and effective enough to complete the processing of as many claims as are being received.
Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Transformation Programme on WPS claim response times.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Transformation Programme on WPS claim response times.
The War Pension Scheme (WPS) Transformation Programme has been in place since September 2024, with the aim of improving the accuracy and efficiency of WPS claim processing.
A range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.
To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.
With the operational system delivered, transformation continues via a WPS Recovery Taskforce, established in June 2025 to continue to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying further areas for improvement.
The capacity of the working resource is now considered to be sufficient and effective enough to complete the processing of as many claims as are being received.
Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.
That this House marks World Suicide Prevention Day; remembers all those who have lost their lives to suicide or who have lost a loved one to suicide; pays tribute to the tireless work of both national and community groups such as Winchester Youth Counselling which provides invaluable support for young people in need; urges the Government to commit to putting funding for mental health services on an equal footing for funding for physical health services; notes that despite mental health services account for 20% of NHS workload they receive a mere 8% of NHS funding; calls on the Government to heed Liberal Democrat calls for a mental health professional in every school; and further urges support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide as well as those suffering with poor mental health.
That this House marks World Suicide Prevention Day; remembers all those who have lost their lives to suicide or who have lost a loved one to suicide; pays tribute to the tireless work of both national and community groups such as Winchester Youth Counselling which provides invaluable support for young...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of enforcement resources at main border points of entry to prevent the illegal movement of dogs into the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of enforcement resources at main border points of entry to prevent the illegal movement of dogs into the UK.
As outlined in its manifesto, this Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. This Government operates one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe and keeps resource allocation for these checks under review in close liaison with enforcement agencies.
The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 gives the Government powers to introduce measures to strengthen current enforcement mechanisms. This Government will continue to work with UK enforcement bodies as it develops these measures, including on resource impacts.
There is a very passionate group of people in Winchester who have long campaigned for a lido to be built in the old leisure centre, and they are very excited that one of the proposals for the old leisure centre is a lido. Could the Minister explain what support is available for such facilities, which get people outside, exercising and being part of the community, which is good for physical and mental health?
There is a very passionate group of people in Winchester who have long campaigned for a lido to be built in the old leisure centre, and they are very excited that one of the proposals for the old leisure centre is a lido. Could the Minister explain what support is available for such facilities, which get people outside, exercising and being part of the community, which is good for physical and mental health?
The hon. Gentleman will have heard the Minister for sport talk about the £400 million that we are putting into grassroots sports facilities, and he will also have heard my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Dr Opher) about a forthcoming announcement that we are planning to make specifically around lidos. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman’s community on defending, supporting and championing not just leisure facilities but lidos in particular. Most of the lidos in this country exist because of people like his constituents, who care for them and have supported them to stay open for many years. I would be very happy to visit and meet them at some point—but only on the condition that there is a woman dressed as a lobster as part of the event.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help improve consistency of local authority implementation of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help improve consistency of local authority implementation of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, Defra will continue work with local authorities to ensure that enforcement is consistent and effective.
To improve consistency and encourage best practice, Defra works with the Local Government Animal Welfare Group and National Companion and Exotic Animal Welfare Panel to encourage a coordinated and consistent approach to enforcement across local authorities.
We know that food security is part of national security, and it has been another tough year for agriculture, with a record wet winter and now a record hot summer. We also have bluetongue disease going through livestock—when I was at vet school, that was a disease of northern Africa and southern Europe—which has spread through Europe to the UK and now to Scotland because of climate change. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is hugely irresponsible and scientifically ignorant for the Leader of the Opposition to ban Conservative candidates who believe in taking serious action to tackle climate change from standing at the next general election?
We know that food security is part of national security, and it has been another tough year for agriculture, with a record wet winter and now a record hot summer. We also have bluetongue disease going through livestock—when I was at vet school, that was a disease of northern Africa and southern Europe—which has spread through Europe to the UK and now to Scotland because of climate change. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is hugely irresponsible and scientifically ignorant for the Leader of the Opposition to ban Conservative candidates who believe in taking serious action to tackle climate change from standing at the next general election?
The Leader of the Opposition will have to take responsibility for her own candidates. I was once Leader of the Opposition—it is a hard job, as I proved. There is an interesting point here, which is that a debate has broken out in the pages of The Daily Telegraph—an organ I obviously read a lot—on climate change, and people are saying, “Hang on a minute; how can the Conservative party, which cares about preservation of our way of life, ignore this issue?” I urge people across the House to take the issue seriously.
We very much welcome the Government’s initiative to give children free bus travel throughout the summer—it is a great idea. The only problem is that in Winchester and its surrounding area, Hampshire county council keeps cutting funding for bus services. Will the Minister explain what the Department is doing to encourage councils and operators to increase rather than decrease bus services?
We very much welcome the Government’s initiative to give children free bus travel throughout the summer—it is a great idea. The only problem is that in Winchester and its surrounding area, Hampshire county council keeps cutting funding for bus services. Will the Minister explain what the Department is doing to encourage councils and operators to increase rather than decrease bus services?
In addition to delivering £3 billion across the country—we have a new, formula-led way of doing that, rather than the competitive allocations of the previous Government—we have given local transport authorities increased powers to take back control of bus services, be that through enhanced partnerships, franchising or local authority-led bus companies.
That this House commends the tireless campaigning of EDS UK to raise awareness about hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD); recognises that these multisystem conditions are often undiagnosed for years, leaving patients to suffer a litany of seemingly unconnected symptoms; highlights that this means that those with hEDS/HSD are often left without adequate support or care to manage their symptoms, which can be devastating; underlines that hEDS/HSD ought not be called rare but rather a realistic possibility; celebrates the work of Dr Reinhold in Winchester to develop the RCGP EDS Toolkit which is available worldwide to support medical practitioners to recognise hEDS/HSD earlier; urges the Government to promote this toolkit as a means of raising awareness about EDS; and calls on the Government to meet with EDS UK to discuss next steps.
That this House commends the tireless campaigning of EDS UK to raise awareness about hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD); recognises that these multisystem conditions are often undiagnosed for years, leaving patients to suffer a litany of seemingly unconnected symptoms; highlights that this means that those...
It is well recognised that people who inflict deliberate pain, injury or violence on animals are more likely to be involved in domestic abuse, yet if someone is prosecuted for deliberately injuring an animal, they are prosecuted under animal welfare laws, meaning that their conviction is unlikely to show up under the domestic abuse disclosure scheme. Will the Minister look at how we can change the recording of such offences, so that people who deliberately harm animals are likely to be reported as being at risk of committing domestic abuse against people?
It is well recognised that people who inflict deliberate pain, injury or violence on animals are more likely to be involved in domestic abuse, yet if someone is prosecuted for deliberately injuring an animal, they are prosecuted under animal welfare laws, meaning that their conviction is unlikely to show up under the domestic abuse disclosure scheme. Will the Minister look at how we can change the recording of such offences, so that people who deliberately harm animals are likely to be reported as being at risk of committing domestic abuse against people?
The hon. Gentleman makes a really important point: some research has shown a correlation between someone abusing their pet and domestic abuse. That is touched on in the cross-Government VAWG strategy. It is important that vets are aware of that research and that link, and can detect those issues and signpost and escalate when necessary.
I welcome the Secretary of State’s mentioning an update to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966; after 60 years, it is much needed to make the Act fit for purpose to regulate new business structures and paraprofessionals such as physios, and to protect the title of veterinary nurse. Could we have an assurance that, with the change of Administration, the update will remain a priority and will not be kicked into the long grass? It is much needed right now.
I welcome the Secretary of State’s mentioning an update to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966; after 60 years, it is much needed to make the Act fit for purpose to regulate new business structures and paraprofessionals such as physios, and to protect the title of veterinary nurse. Could we have an assurance that, with the change of Administration, the update will remain a priority and will not be kicked into the long grass? It is much needed right now.
I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that it is a priority for the Government. I visited the University of Surrey’s veterinary medicine school yesterday, and we have been engaging with the sector, which wants to modernise the legislation. It is not fit for purpose—there are plenty of things available now that were not around in 1966, such as scans for animals. We are absolutely committed as a Government to modernising the legislation to the benefit of the profession—ensuring that we continue to drive up standards, celebrate good practice and root out bad practice—and to the benefit of pet owners, too.
Will the Minister join me in congratulating Lib Dem-run Winchester city council on its fantastic initiative, Solar Together, which installs solar panels on council houses? So far, it has installed solar panels on 35 properties, reducing energy bills, lifting people out of fuel poverty and reducing carbon output. What support is the Minister giving to ensure that such initiatives can continue, in Winchester and throughout the whole country?
Will the Minister join me in congratulating Lib Dem-run Winchester city council on its fantastic initiative, Solar Together, which installs solar panels on council houses? So far, it has installed solar panels on 35 properties, reducing energy bills, lifting people out of fuel poverty and reducing carbon output. What support is the Minister giving to ensure that such initiatives can continue, in Winchester and throughout the whole country?
I will absolutely congratulate Winchester city council on leading on this. Councils play a hugely important role, and I am looking forward to meeting many of them to discuss this issue when I visit the Local Government Association later this week. We have £1 billion of funding for community energy projects, and we are bringing forward more measures to accelerate progress, because this really is an opportunity to tackle the climate crisis, bring down energy bills and contribute to energy security.
What steps he is taking to help tackle climate change.
What steps he is taking to help tackle climate change.
I would like to highlight three things that this Government have done to tackle climate change. First, we have brought forward carbon budget 7. I pay tribute to many Members of this House for the excellent discussion we had, with contributions from Members from Darlington to Devon, via Derby. Secondly, we have secured massive investment; since this Government came to power, we have secured more than £100 billion of private investment. Thirdly, we have been looking at where there is friction in the system, and at how to remove that friction, whether through working with communities to energise Britain—I was out in Manchester and Bradford yesterday—or by reordering the queue for our energy projects, to ensure that we are at the forefront of tackling climate change, are managing the risks, and are taking advantage of the opportunities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the costs to FE colleges of their ineligibility for the VAT refund scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the costs to FE colleges of their ineligibility for the VAT refund scheme.
While VAT is a matter for His Majesty’s Treasury, the department recognises that the VAT status of further education (FE) providers remains an issue of interest to the sector. Analysis indicates that VAT receipts for FE colleges are around £200 million per annum. The government continues to look into the VAT position of FE colleges, noting my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s commitment to look into this issue when it was raised at the Liaison Committee in December 2025. The government keeps all taxes under review and any changes would be announced at a fiscal event.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken to progress the Transformation Programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken to progress the Transformation Programme.
Defence Reform is the most significant transformation of Defence in over 50 years. Since April 2025, we have made substantial progress in reshaping the organisation including establishing clear accountabilities flowing from the four most senior leaders in Defence which enabled the consolidation of 17 separate organisations into four core areas designed to operate in an integrated way. Building on these foundations we are now practically implementing the Defence Operating Model (DOM) in live operation. By April 2027, we will sufficiently embed the DOM so that it becomes the default way Defence works. Over the course Parliament, we are committed to embedding the changes required to achieve the ambitions set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
That this House celebrates English Wine Week 20-28 June; highlights the significant contribution of this industry to the UK economy; notes in particular the 500 hectares of vines in Winchester, making it the fifth-largest wine producer in the country; pays tribute to Hambledon, The Grange, Longdown and Northbrook vineyards to name just a few; further celebrates all English wine producers and echoes the calls of Winchester City Council to make Hampshire the centre of the English wine industry, bringing jobs, tourism and investment to the region; and congratulates this fast-growing industry and its employees on their current and future success.
That this House celebrates English Wine Week 20-28 June; highlights the significant contribution of this industry to the UK economy; notes in particular the 500 hectares of vines in Winchester, making it the fifth-largest wine producer in the country; pays tribute to Hambledon, The Grange, Longdown and Northbrook vineyards to...