Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 25 February (HL14473), when they expect the co-produced action and implementation plan to be published.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has no plans at present to publish the action plan. The action plan is a partnership with HM Prison and Probation Service and other Government departments, and NHS England has a governance route through which it holds itself accountable.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether water companies are required to make an active contribution to the protection and improvement of public health.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Water companies have statutory and regulatory duties to protect and improve public health and actively take steps to meet them. These include completion of risk assessments and the sampling of drinking water supplies that may cause the supply not to be wholesome. “Wholesomeness” is defined in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 as water which does not contain any microorganism, parasite, or substance at a concentration or value which would constitute a potential danger to public health.

Where a water company is also legally required to add fluoride to water supplies to improve public health, it must do so in a way that complies with the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s Code of Practice on Technical Aspects of Fluoridation of Water Supplies 2021.

Protecting and improving public health is also a priority in the Government’s planned reforms for the water sector. A new taskforce, led by the Chief Medical Officer for England, will support the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, providing independent and technical advice on public health risks from water and opportunities to improve water treatment and protection.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 5 February (HL13750), what is the evidence base that there is a stigma around mental health in schools that requires intervention by the Government.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The importance of reducing the stigma around mental health is widely recognised, backed up by evidence such as the Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, published in 2022, and is frequently highlighted as a key issue by stakeholders and service users. The findings are available on the Lancet Commission’s website.

The initial Mental Health Support Team (MHST) evaluation, the Early evaluation of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Trailblazer programme from 2023, and the more recently published Findings from surveys of schools and colleges and Mental Health Support Teams from 2025, both found overwhelmingly positive support for MHSTs from education staff. This data is available on page 21 of the attached document.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Baroness Merron to Lord Kamall on 19 February (DEP2026-0132), by what date they expect to conclude negotiations with the British Medical Association resident doctors committee about helping doctors with the up-front cost of their training.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government remains committed to working constructively with trade unions and improving the working conditions for all our hardworking National Health Service staff. Since 8 January 2026, the Government has been engaging in intensive and constructive discussions with the British Medical Association’s Resident Doctors Committee, exploring various measures aimed at improving the working lives of resident doctors.

Given the nature of negotiations, we cannot at this time provide a specific date by which we expect talks to have concluded. We hope that these talks result in an agreement that works for everyone and avoids further unnecessary disruption for patients and NHS staff.

Found: Letter from Baroness Merron to Lord Moylan regarding clarification on what constitutes a "terminal illness

Found: Letter from Baroness Merron to Earl Howe regarding amendment 581A - whether additional specific guidance

Found: Letter from Baroness Merron to Baroness Coffey regarding the role of independent advocates (Clause 22

Found: taskforce members include: Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Chair) Baroness Merron