Scrutiny Without Division as Ministers Pledge Service Reforms

High-Level Summary

Westminster Hall considered five debates covering policing, bus stop standards, community pharmacy funding, youth participation, and pica within SEND. MPs discussed declining public confidence in policing, with Ministers outlining a reform White Paper, funding changes and attendance targets. Proposals for national bus stop standards met a ministerial preference for locally set approaches while pausing certain floating bus stop designs. A cross‑party debate on pharmacies examined financial pressures and recent funding uplifts alongside plans for pharmacist prescribing. Government backing for the UK Youth Parliament and implementation of votes at 16 was reiterated, and Ministers committed to include pica in statutory guidance and examine training and early‑intervention support. All debates concluded with the House resolving that it had considered the matters, without a division.

Detailed Summary

Public Confidence in the Police

Opening the debate, Jonathan Hinder cited evidence that confidence has fallen: “the trend has been downward” across surveys and polls. He argued for clearer priorities, a review of public order law, and speeding up misconduct processes so the system prioritises “getting the really bad officers out without delay”. Luke Myer called for an urgent review of the funding formula to support high‑deprivation areas, and other contributions raised leadership churn and pressures from complex, high‑harm crime.

Responding, Home Office Minister Jo White said the Government’s police reform White Paper proposes “the most significant changes to policing in nearly 200 years” to “create a system that is better equipped to tackle modern threats”. She outlined a new national police service to strengthen serious and organised crime capability—“A new national police service will strengthen our ability”—and highlighted increased funding and neighbourhood policing growth, including that the Met “will receive up to £4 billion in funding” in 2026‑27. She also set expectations for response times: forces should “attend 90% of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas”. The House resolved, “That this House has considered Government support for public confidence in the police”.

Standards for Bus Stops

Alex Mayer pressed for national standards to improve visibility, accessibility and passenger information at stops, pointing to new powers under the Bus Services Act 2025. She discussed real‑time information, maintenance and ownership clarity, and Members raised concerns about “floating bus stops” and accessibility.

Roads Minister Justin Madders supported better facilities and information but stressed that standards should be set locally, given the diversity of around 330,000 stops. He cautioned that “careful consider would therefore need to be given before taking action to prescribe a uniform national standard”. On floating bus stops, he said authorities were “asked…to pause new installations of the design” pending further research. The House resolved, “That this House has considered standards for bus stops”.

Government Funding for Local Pharmacies

Shivani Raja described severe financial pressures on community pharmacies, citing “a funding gap of around £2.5 billion” and a net loss of roughly 1,000 pharmacies between 2016 and 2026. She urged reimbursement reform, multi‑year certainty, business rates relief and workforce support—“We must review the drug reimbursement formula”. Other Members highlighted Pharmacy First’s potential; one noted “something like 7 million consultations had taken place” with high take‑up.

Minister Diana R. Johnson said the Government had delivered uplifts and confirmed “a further significant uplift of 10% for ’26‑27, worth an additional £340 million” alongside a national roll‑out of NHS pharmacist prescribing from autumn 2026. She added that closures had slowed—“19 net closures in ’25‑26 compared with 112 in ’24‑25”—and that officials are reviewing whether stronger oversight of pharmacy businesses is needed, offering to meet MPs to discuss potential legislative gaps. The House resolved, “That this House has considered Government funding for local pharmacies”.

Government Support for the UK Youth Parliament

Peter Swallow praised the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) for developing skills and engagement, noting DCMS describes it as its “key mechanism for engaging with young people” in policymaking. He linked UKYP campaigning to votes at 16 and highlighted representation across backgrounds.

Minister Vicky Foxcroft confirmed co‑design work with young people and partners to expand participation, and said the Government are “working closely across Government to implement” votes at 16. She also announced plans to “recruit a dedicated new youth policy network” and to refresh the youth advisory group. The question was put and agreed to.

Pica Training within SEND Provision

Margaret Mullane called for mandatory pica training across education settings, stressing severe risks and citing a death following ingestion of paper towels despite risk assessments. A coroner‑referenced incident days earlier had found “blue paper towel in his mouth”. She said, “Pica is not rare. It is just rarely spoken about”, and argued for tailored risk assessments, monitoring and rapid escalation in schools.

Minister Georgia Gould committed to include pica in revised statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions—“we will rectify that when we finally publish the guidance”—and to “ask the panel to take a specific look” at pica within work on national inclusion standards. She also referenced investment in early intervention and workforce to support inclusion. The House resolved, “That this House has considered Pica training within SEND provision”.