On 20 November 2025, the Government put a pause on new floating bus stops that require people to board or alight directly from or into a cycle track.

During the passage of the Bus Services Act, officials met with NFBUK who presented their views on the issue. Meetings were also held with other groups representing vision-impaired people.

Active Travel England is currently carrying out research into the safety, accessibility and suitability of floating bus stops across different contexts that will consider potential design solutions to improve accessibility.

There are resources in place to help support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical knowledge summary on osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures.

The Royal College of General Practitioners also has an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, developed in collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which is designed to support the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by highlighting which groups are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.

In March this year, the Government announced funding for 20 new bone density, or DEXA, scanners across England, supported by £2.6 million of investment. Tens of thousands of patients will benefit from faster access to bone scans as a result, helping to ensure that people with bone conditions, such as osteoporosis, get diagnosed earlier. This builds on the first wave of 13 DEXA scanners announced last year.

Last year in 2025, over 21,000 extra DEXA scans were delivered compared with the previous year, 2024.

I refer the hon. member to the answer provided by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in January this year. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-12/104605

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and DHSC recognise that mefloquine is associated with neurological and psychiatric adverse effects. Defence Medical Command (DMedC) support an approach to healthcare in which treatment is directed towards the patient’s clinical diagnosis and presenting symptoms and managed in accordance with current evidence-based clinical practice and relevant national guidance. DMedC is not aware of evidence or national guidance that recommends withholding otherwise appropriate treatments where clinically indicated, solely on the basis of previous mefloquine exposure.

The MOD will continue to review emerging evidence, including systematic reviews, regulatory advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) and recommendations from expert bodies concerned with malaria prevention.

As outlined in the response by the former Minister for Health Innovation and Safety, NHS England is considering adding screening for prior mefloquine use and any associated adverse events to initial Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE assessments.

The Government is considering a range of evidence on the costs and benefits of parental leave and pay as part of the ongoing Parental Leave and Pay Review. This includes evidence from other countries, including European countries such as Germany and Spain, which have different parental leave and pay systems and higher levels of fathers’ leave take-up.

The costs and benefits of paid paternity leave depend on the design of the entitlement, including its duration, payment rate and take-up. The Government has not yet reached conclusions on potential reforms. The Review is expected to report in early 2027, setting out next steps for taking forward any reforms to implementation.

The UK Government is committed to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls in conflict and fragile settings. As part of this commitment, the UK is refreshing our WPS National Action Plan to ensure it responds to current and emerging threats to women and girls. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's commitment to this agenda in her speech marking 25 years of the Women, Peace and Security agenda on 24 November 2025: Twenty-Five years of Women Peace and Security - GOV.UK.

In May 2026, the Foreign Secretary launched a new global campaign to tackle violence against women and girls, including through a new International Coalition. The campaign covers all forms of violence against women and girls, including violence in conflict settings.

The Government has noted the University of Essex research and will continue to consider its findings alongside a broad range of evidence.

The scope of the Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) already includes those who felt pressured to resign and they are encouraged to apply for the LGBT Impact Payment. The Impact Payment is assessed by an Independent Panel, separate from and independent of Defence, and provides recognition for a broad range of impacts felt under the Ban, including experiencing pressure to resign.

Defence does not require applicants to provide service records to support their application and encourages veterans to apply with their own personal testimonies. Subject Access Requests from any individuals, not just LGBT veterans, can take time to complete, not only due to high demand but also as records are stored in multiple locations. Prioritising requests from LGBT veterans would be unfair on other veterans applying to other Defence schemes that do require such evidence.

All applications are considered on a basis of reverse burden of proof; the information provided by the applicant will be accepted if the reported events are more likely to have occurred than not, unless there is evidence on their case file to the contrary. This approach prevents applicants being disadvantaged due to records being incomplete through no fault of their own.

The Ministry of Defence values the insights and expertise of partners from across the charity sector and welcomes regular dialogue. Defence Ministers and officials regularly meet with its representatives, including the Chief Executive Officer.

Defence is committed to ensuring all applications are completed equitably and in the timeliest manner possible. Steps have been taken to increase the speed of processing Impact Payment applications, including recruiting both an additional Independent Panel Chair and Members, thereby enabling further Panel sittings each week. Application numbers and processing speeds are continually monitored to ensure any additional measures are taken to enable the conclusion of all applications by, or soon after, the time the Scheme closes for applications.

The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Maternity and Neonatal Review led by Donna Ockenden is an independent review. Therefore, the Department does not hold information about those individuals who declined to participate.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, or Hillsborough Bill, that is currently in Parliament will establish a new duty of candour and assistance at inquiries, inquests, and other investigations. Once the bill achieves Royal Assent, we will extend the duty of candour to the reviews commissioned this year into maternity and neonatal care at Leeds and Sussex.

This will give the reviews’ chairs formal powers to help them find the truth from the organisations and staff involved, including compelling everyone they invite to provide evidence, whether or not they still work in the National Health Service.

I refer the Rt hon Member to the answer I gave to him on 30 June to question UIN 13075.

The Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC) wrote to the Prime Minister on 16 June, requesting information regarding internal and cross-Government discussions in relation to the Hughes Report, actions that have been taken beyond the Department, the future plans regarding the implementation of its recommendations, and a timetable for a full response.

The Department will provide any information required to support a timely response.

While universities are independent from government and responsible for their own admissions decisions, we are committed to supporting Ukrainian young people in the UK. Students granted leave under the Ukraine schemes are treated as home students for admissions purposes, eligible for home fee status and student finance, removing barriers to higher education entry.

Universities have offered flexibility including contextual admissions and English language support. The Student Action for Refugees network lists over 80 universities offering scholarships, and many providers have established hardship funds.

Ukrainian students may have faced disrupted education, difficulties evidencing attainment, and language barriers to accessing education opportunities in Ukraine.

Access to Ukrainian language is important for entry to Ukrainian universities and the department is exploring opportunities to support Ukrainian language learning, including a Ukrainian GCSE. Students can also sit the Ukrainian National Multisubject Test in the UK.

The Ukraine Schemes were established to provide temporary sanctuary in the UK for Ukrainians and their eligible family members fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. They do not confer refugee status or international protection and are distinct from the asylum system.

From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine Schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine Schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to its strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.

The Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window.

The Government is considering the future position drawing on evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. The Government will respond in a responsible and considered manner and intends to make a further statement in due course.

Through the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, we are supporting resilient and innovative automotive supply chains, including the materials needed for zero emission vehicle manufacturing.

There are no plans to limit the use of Butyl.

The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and must decide for itself the most effective and efficient way of delivering the BBC World Service, despite blocking and other forms of harmful interference in several parts of the world.

The World Service works to circumvent that blocking through technology, agility and persistence. As a result, almost three quarters of their audience in 2024/25 was in countries with no or low media freedom, and funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - which has increased by 42 per cent since 2024 - has supported that effort.

Minister Hardy attended the launch of Wildlife and Countryside Link’s “Hidden in the Haul” report. The department is considering the report’s detail.

To understand and address bycatch, Defra funds a range of initiatives including:

• The Bycatch Monitoring Programme, which reports annually on bycatch rates analysed by fishing gear type.
• The Cefas fisheries observer programme which uses scientific observers on vessels to collect data about bycatch.
• The Clean Catch programme, which works collaboratively with UK fishers to gather data on bycatch and develop and trial mitigation measures.
• The Bycatch Risk Prioritisation Framework project which aims to provide quantitative and spatial information on bycatch risk per region for sensitive marine species and will inform strategic decision-making about further monitoring and mitigation of bycatch.
• Developing a Seabird Bycatch Action Plan for England with stakeholders, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, to address seabird bycatch in English waters.

Minister Hardy attended the launch of Wildlife and Countryside Link’s “Hidden in the Haul” report. The department is considering the report’s detail.

To understand and address bycatch, Defra funds a range of initiatives including:

• The Bycatch Monitoring Programme, which reports annually on bycatch rates analysed by fishing gear type.
• The Cefas fisheries observer programme which uses scientific observers on vessels to collect data about bycatch.
• The Clean Catch programme, which works collaboratively with UK fishers to gather data on bycatch and develop and trial mitigation measures.
• The Bycatch Risk Prioritisation Framework project which aims to provide quantitative and spatial information on bycatch risk per region for sensitive marine species and will inform strategic decision-making about further monitoring and mitigation of bycatch.
• Developing a Seabird Bycatch Action Plan for England with stakeholders, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, to address seabird bycatch in English waters.

The reporting of marine mammal bycatch is an important obligation and the requirement is communicated to the fishing industry at regular intervals by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) along with other applicable regulation. We take compliance seriously and any breaches of the reporting requirement are dealt with in line with MMO’s published Compliance and Enforcement Strategy.

There are no current plans to commission the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop guidelines specifically on the treatment of hemiplegia in infants. Topics for new or updated NICE guidance are identified through its established prioritisation process, which considers the needs of the health and care system, the availability of evidence, and input from key stakeholders.

At present, NICE does not have plans to develop guidance in this area, and has not previously published guidance specifically on hemiplegia in infants.

The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the relative effectiveness of early intervention compared with treatment at a later stage for this condition. Decisions about clinical intervention are made by healthcare professionals, drawing on the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and individual patient need.

Proposals for new NICE guidance can be submitted for consideration through the NICE prioritisation process.