Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support online pharmacies and distance-selling pharmacies to provide for under-served populations.

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

We are committed to rebuilding the pharmacy sector and have increased the community pharmacy contractual framework to £3.1 billion. This deal represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service in 2025/26, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26. This funding is available to be earned by both brick-and-mortar pharmacies and distance selling pharmacies.

There are more brick-and-mortar pharmacies in the most deprived areas of the country. Patients across the country can choose to access NHS pharmaceutical services from their local pharmacy or remotely through distance selling pharmacies. All pharmacy contractors must provide NHS essential services such as dispensing and can choose to provide NHS advanced services such as Pharmacy First. Most services can be provided face-to-face or remotely.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support cardiovascular disease prevention through online pharmacies.

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

We are committed to ensuring fewer lives are lost to the biggest killers, including cardiovascular disease. That is why we have set an ambition to reduce premature death from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade. Community pharmacies make an important contribution to achieving this ambition including by providing NHS blood pressure checks and the NHS New Medicine Service through which pharmacists provide extra support to patients newly prescribed medicines including for cardiovascular disease. Whilst blood pressure checks can only be provided face-to-face, the New Medicine Service can also be delivered remotely.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a single unique identifier for children in care.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The single unique identifier for children which the government promised in its manifesto is intended to apply to all children, including those in care, and is part of the solution to improve data sharing to stop children falling through the cracks. The legislation to enable its designation and use is currently before Parliament as part of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that integrated care boards (1) better assess the mental health needs of young people, and (2) provide more integrated community based mental health support for young people; and what plans they have to publish statutory guidance for integrated care boards in this area.

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

Integrated care boards are responsible for determining and meeting the mental health needs of the young people in their local populations, and there are no plans to publish statutory guidance in this area. The Department expects integrated care boards to continue to improve access to community-based mental health support for children and young people under our plans to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, under the 10-Year Health Plan.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of pre-school intervention in ensuring that children start school with adequate literacy, communication and language skills.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The government is committed to improving early literacy and ensuring children have the best start in life. Strong early foundations are essential for school readiness and long-term educational success. That is why we are focused on strengthening the home learning environment and supporting families from pregnancy through the early years, as part of our wider ambition under the Plan for Change. This includes the national target for 75% of children to achieve a Good Level of Development by 2028.

Family Hubs are central to this ambition, providing joined-up support for families across health, education and early years services.

In 2025/26, we are investing £10.7 million in home learning environment services through Family Hubs to help parents create language-rich, nurturing settings that support early communication and confidence.

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme as part of the Spending Review 2025. Through our ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign and partnerships with the voluntary sector, we continue to support parents to chat, play and read with their children, simple, everyday actions that make a lasting difference to early literacy and school readiness.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish family hubs to ensure adequate literacy skills across the country.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The government is committed to improving early literacy and ensuring children have the best start in life. Strong early foundations are essential for school readiness and long-term educational success. That is why we are focused on strengthening the home learning environment and supporting families from pregnancy through the early years, as part of our wider ambition under the Plan for Change. This includes the national target for 75% of children to achieve a Good Level of Development by 2028.

Family Hubs are central to this ambition, providing joined-up support for families across health, education and early years services.

In 2025/26, we are investing £10.7 million in home learning environment services through Family Hubs to help parents create language-rich, nurturing settings that support early communication and confidence.

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme as part of the Spending Review 2025. Through our ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign and partnerships with the voluntary sector, we continue to support parents to chat, play and read with their children, simple, everyday actions that make a lasting difference to early literacy and school readiness.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the 43 per cent decline in the number of hen harrier chicks fledging in 2024 compared to 2023, what steps they are taking to introduce licensing of grouse shooting in England.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises well-managed grouse shooting can be an important part of a local rural economy, providing direct and indirect employment. It also appreciates that many people hold strong views on the issue of grouse shooting and there is evidence to suggest a link between it and crimes against birds of prey. While Defra has not yet made any formal assessment of the potential merits of the licensing of grouse shooting in England, it will continue to work to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between grouse shooting and conservation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that mental health support is available in all primary and secondary schools.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

This government is committed to improving mental health support for all children and young people. This is critical to high and rising standards in schools and breaking down barriers to opportunity, helping pupils to achieve and thrive in education.

The government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), so every child and young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. By April 2026, the department estimates that 60% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England will be covered by an MHST, up from 52% in April 2025.

The government will also recruit 8,500 mental health staff to treat children and adults, and open new Young Futures Hubs with access to mental health support.

To support education staff, the department provides a range of guidance and practical resources on promoting and supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing, such as a resource hub for mental health leads and a toolkit to help schools choose evidence-based early support for pupils.