Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the statutory guidance for implementing the provisions of the Down Syndrome Act, 2022, will be published; what work on that guidance remains to be done prior to publication; whether the final guidance will reflect the concerns raised by the National Down Syndrome Policy Group; and if the relevant Health Minister will hold discussions with representatives of the Policy Group and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Down Syndrome.  [34598]

[Due for Answer on 16 October]

The Minister of State for Social Care (Alison McGovern): I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July in response to Question 16199.

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WPQ 16199, asked on 6 July and answered on 14 July 2026

Sarah Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the final statutory guidance under the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety (Preet Kaur Gill): Under the Down Syndrome Act, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give statutory guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome. The public consultation on the draft guidance was launched on 5 November 2025.

The consultation on draft guidance closed on 30 March 2026, and the Government is carefully considering the responses received to inform the final guidance to be published.