Found: In June 2026, the Minister for Skills, Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, wrote to Skills England setting

Found: In June 2026, the Minister for Skills, Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, wrote to Skills England setting

Found: Baroness Smith of Malvern Oral Evidence

Found: Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday 14 July 2026 The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern Minister for

Found: Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and the Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 9 July (HL820), what are the "relevant partners" referred to; and what steps will be taken as part of this review.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

"Relevant partners" refers to charities and organisations with expertise in disability benefits, welfare rights and claimant support, such as Citizens Advice.

As part of keeping this area under review, the Department will continue to consider evidence about the activity of commercial providers and any poor practice, including where this may affect the quality or reliability of evidence submitted in support of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims.

Healthcare Professionals (HPs) and Case Managers are required to undertake a detailed review of all available evidence as part of the assessment and decision-making process and to assess the consistency, relevance and sufficiency of the information provided in support of a claim.

The PIP Assessment Guide requires HPs to consider any inconsistencies in the evidence available, determine whether further supporting evidence is required, and record the rationale for the conclusions reached. Where appropriate, HPs may seek additional evidence from professionals involved in the claimant’s care, including GPs, hospital clinicians and other relevant practitioners, to help inform their advice to DWP.

DWP is focussed on preventing fraud and error from entering the system and has robust detect and correct capabilities in place to address inaccurate payments at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 22 July (HL901), how many internationally domiciled entrants to UK higher education have no previous qualifications.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is responsible for collecting and publishing data on the UK higher education (HE) sector. HESA do not publish data on the highest qualification on entry to HE of international students. Caution is advised when interpreting entry qualifications for international students, as qualifications obtained overseas may not align with the categories defined by HESA. Providers are responsible for determining an appropriate qualification level for qualifications earned overseas.

Analysis of the HESA Student data by the department shows that 1,635 non-UK domiciled entrants to UK HE (undergraduate and postgraduate) in 2024/25 had no formal qualifications.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 14 July (HL1474), how they plan to ensure that necessary healthcare provision in education settings, including postural management, is assessed, commissioned and delivered under appropriate clinical governance by the relevant NHS bodies; how they will distinguish between healthcare provision and provision that educates or trains a child and is therefore treated as special educational provision under section 21(5) of the Children and Families Act 2014; and what assessment they have made of whether SEND training for school staff will transfer NHS responsibilities to education settings.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Section 21 of the Children and Families Act 2014 is clear that healthcare provision is only deemed to be special educational provision if it educates or trains a child or young person. Such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, as set out in paragraph 9.74 of the ‘Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years’.

Schools are not responsible for clinical healthcare tasks. Healthcare tasks can be delegated to staff in schools and other education settings where the responsible healthcare professional considers delegation safe and appropriate. While training may be necessary as part of delegation arrangements, it does not of itself transfer responsibility. The department is working with the Department for Health and Social care to produce guidance on clinical healthcare in schools.

Local authorities and integrated care boards must work together to put joint commissioning arrangements in place to ensure sufficient services and provision are available to meet the needs of children and young people in their area, both those with education, health and care plans and those without. This would include children and young people with cerebral palsy.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 14 July (HL1473), what mechanisms are in place to ensure that (1) the expert panel is publicly accountable, and (2) the wider community can submit feedback on the standards and specialist provision packages being developed.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The independent expert panel has been appointed to oversee the development of the National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision Packages. The panel will draw on evidence from academics, education leaders and practitioners, the Education Endowment Foundation, health and social care professionals, and UKRI. They will promote high-quality, evidence-based practice, to ensure accountability and alignment across the system.

The panel will also engage with stakeholders from the wider community, including children, young people, families, practitioners, local authorities and representative organisations to make sure their recommendations are informed by a wide range of views and lived experience. A parent engagement group to support the panel's work is being established.

The panel will publish their recommendations on draft Specialist Provision Packages for the department and the Department of Health and Social Care to decide on. The departments will be accountable for decision-making on the Specialist Provision Packages.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 17 July (HL1821), how they will inform stakeholders and parliamentarians of changes to Universal Credit as a result of the Universal Credit Review.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Universal Credit Review has been designed as an ongoing flexible programme of engagement, evidence gathering and policy development rather than a single review culminating in a final report. This approach has allowed the Department to respond to evidence as it emerges and take forward improvements where appropriate.

Any future changes to Universal Credit arising from the Review will be announced in line with established Government and Parliamentary processes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 27 April (HL16205), whether Lord Mandelson was involved in the Sale of Student Loans Act 2008 legislation and subsequent policy; and through what mechanisms Lord Mandelson’s correspondence and private office papers from that period has been reviewed.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department does not hold records of any involvement of Lord Mandelson in this policy area. Lord Mandelson was not a government minister at the time the Act was passed.

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Found: Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Minister for Transformation) (from 9 July 2024) Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Minister for Transformation) (from 9 July 2024) Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: in July 2025, including Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Employment and the Rt Hon. the Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: in July 2025, including Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Employment and the Rt Hon. the Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: effectively July 2026 2 Contents Contents 2 Foreword from the Minister for Skills, Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: Timms MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: Baroness Smith of Malvern as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Timms MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: Trust. 43 List of Ministers’ Interests - July 2026 The Rt Hon The Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: Letter dated 14/07/2026 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the SLC

Found: Letter dated 14/07/2026 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the SLC

Found: Letter dated 13/07/2026 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Lord Young regarding a question on the commencement