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

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will announce details of the eligibility criteria and timeline for introducing a new Sustainable Farming Incentive offer.

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

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that will better target SFI in an orderly way towards our priorities for food, farming and nature. We will provide further details about our plans for the SFI offer later this summer.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the report by the Children's Commissioner, Growing up in a low-income family: Children’s experiences, published on 8 July; and (2) the recommendation that children in low-income households be prioritised for access to new homes under the Affordable Homes Programme.

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

The Child Poverty Taskforce, co-chaired by the Work and Pensions and Education Secretaries, is committed to listening to the voices of children and families and embed the voices of these families directly into their work.

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Growing up in a low-income family: Children‘s experiences, was commissioned by the Child Poverty Taskforce to provide evidence on children’s lived experience of poverty to support the development of an ambitious child poverty strategy. The findings of the report make for uncomfortable reading, but it is vital that we face up to the reality of what children in poverty are feeling so we can develop a Strategy that is fit for purpose and truly responds to the needs of children as they set out from their perspective. This valuable research forms part of the Taskforce’s ongoing wider work to ensure those voices are a central part of developing a strategy.

​The Child Poverty Unit, based in the Cabinet Office, worked closely with the Office of the Children’s Commissioner on the report, including at research design and reporting stages, and the findings have already been considered as part of strategy development.

​The Minister for School Standards is planning to meet with the Children‘s Commissioner for England to discuss the report in detail and a Children’s Commissioners roundtable, co-chaired by the Minister for Employment and the Minister for School Standards, will be held in September to bring together all four Children’s Commissioners for a broader discussion on child poverty.

​The Taskforce is considering the report’s recommendations in advance of publication of the strategy in the autumn.

Given the priority this government accords to social rented housing, at least 60% of homes delivered through the new Social and Affordable Homes programme will be for Social Rent.

The programme will not set numerical targets for particular types of homes other than Social Rent but will be designed with the flexibility necessary to support a greater diversity of social and affordable supply including council, supported, community-led and rural housing.

We will set initial targets for Homes England and the GLA after receiving bids from Registered Providers and will review these targets across the lifetime of the programme to maximise delivery. It is our intention to publish a full prospectus for the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme in autumn 2025 and open it for bids in the winter.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the recommendation from the Children’s Commissioner in the report Growing up in a low-income family: Children’s experiences, published in July, that all school-age children in England and care leavers up to the age of 25 should have access to free bus travel.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government knows how important affordable bus services are in enabling young people to get to education, work and access vital services.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include school students and care leavers up to age 25, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, including to those aged 16 and under, and 17–18-year-olds in full-time education, as discretionary enhancements to the ENCTS. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources.

At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the Government’s £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for school-age children and care leavers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to implement the recommendation made in the report by the Select Committee on Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities (Session 2017–19, HL Paper 320), published in April 2019, and in the follow-up letter to that report from the Chair of the Liaison Committee, published in March 2021, that they conduct a detailed review of the coastal transport network.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of reliable public transport services in keeping communities connected, including in coastal areas.

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in our coastal communities. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

Rail also has an important role in connecting coastal communities as part of the wider transport system. The Department requires its train operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand. These should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. These timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what is (1) the timeline, and (2) the intended consultation framework, for setting a long-term multi-decade target for flood risk management, as referenced in the 10-Year National Infrastructure Strategy and recommended by the National Audit Office and National Infrastructure Commission.

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

We are exploring setting a long-term target for flood risk management, as recommended by the National Audit Office and the National Infrastructure Commission.

The long-term target for floods would be a multi-decade target. It would set out the level of flood risk and flood resilience the nation wants and can afford. To set a long-term target we would use the best available information from the Environment Agency derived from the new national flood risk assessment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the mental health support services available to children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.

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

The 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out how we will work with schools and colleges to better identify and meet children's mental health needs by delivering mental health support teams to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30.

It also sets out the core principle of early intervention and support, without the need for diagnosis, and that this particularly applies for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This autumn, the Government will bring forward a schools white paper setting out the Government’s approach to reforming the system for special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring joined-up support for children and young people. This will involve education and healthcare providers working together with other local services to plan and deliver evidence-based early interventions for children. Through local commissioning, the Government will ensure that Neighbourhood Health Services work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries, and colleges to offer timely and joined-up support to children, young people, and their families.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report Drowning in debt, published by Christians Against Poverty in July, and in particular its findings on the impact of debt cases and associated mental ill-health on social mobility.

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

DWP remains committed to working with anyone who is struggling with their repayment terms. The Department strives to set affordable, sustainable repayment plans, and encourages anyone unable to afford the proposed rate of repayment to contact DWP’s Debt Management at the earliest opportunity.

DWP has introduced several measures to support our most vulnerable customers including a Vulnerability Hub for DWP Debt Management colleagues to ensure that customers who are in challenging circumstances or have complex needs are supported to help them manage their debts effectively and a specially trained Advanced Customer Support team with access to a range of tools and guidance to support our most vulnerable customers. The Department can also enlist support from a DWP Visiting Officer who can visit the individual to offer tailored support and advice and where appropriate referrals can be made to external support providers. DWP also continues to work in partnership with the Money Adviser Network (MAN) who offer free professional independent and impartial money and debt advice, and customers are routinely offered a referral to this service with their consent. DWP also remains committed to HM Treasury’s Breathing Space policy, which provides those with problem debt the right to legal protections from creditor action for a period of 60 days to enable them to receive debt advice and enter an appropriate debt solution.

In addition, we have introduced our Universal Credit Act which legislates to rebalance Universal Credit by bringing in, for the first time ever, a sustained above inflation increase to the UC standard allowance for all claimants. We have also introduced a new Fair Repayment Rate, helping 1.2 million low-income households to keep more of their Universal Credit and we have extended Free School Meals to all pupils in households in receipt of Universal Credit - lifting 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand the Best Start family hub programmes to offer healthcare and education support services at the weekend.

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

On 7 July 2025, the government published ‘Giving every child the Best Start in Life’, which is available on GOV.UK. This outlines the government’s commitment to deliver a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services.

We will fund Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to ensure that children and families who need support the most, especially those from low-income backgrounds or those with additional vulnerabilities can access it.

Local authorities will deliver joined up and enhanced services through family hubs so that all parents and carers can access the support they need, when they need it. Local authorities will receive a programme guide with minimum delivery expectations and will be expected to develop clear plans to establish and enhance family hubs in their area. The role of local authorities will include identifying family hub sites, commissioning services within family hubs and the recruitment of staff to deliver services. Services and their availability, including weekend opening hours, will vary depending on local needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to the Regional Department for Education Directors about the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 in schools in the maintained system.

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

It is a school's responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements in the Equality Act 2010, including complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The department provides guidance to help schools understand their duties under the Act.

Enforcement of equality legislation is the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which offers advice, supports legal cases, and can take regulatory action against organisations that breach the law.

If someone believes a school has not complied with the Equality Act, they should first follow the school’s complaints procedure. They can also seek advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service, which advises and assists people on issues relating to equality and human rights. If, after completing the school’s process, they feel their complaint was mishandled, they may complain to the department, which will review whether the school followed their complaints process correctly.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what processes the Regional Department for Education Directors has in place to monitor the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 by academies.

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

It is a school's responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements in the Equality Act 2010, including complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The department provides guidance to help schools understand their duties under the Act.

Enforcement of equality legislation is the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which offers advice, supports legal cases, and can take regulatory action against organisations that breach the law.

If someone believes a school has not complied with the Equality Act, they should first follow the school’s complaints procedure. They can also seek advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service, which advises and assists people on issues relating to equality and human rights. If, after completing the school’s process, they feel their complaint was mishandled, they may complain to the department, which will review whether the school followed their complaints process correctly.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to the Regional Department for Education Directors about the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 in academies.

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

It is a school's responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements in the Equality Act 2010, including complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The department provides guidance to help schools understand their duties under the Act.

Enforcement of equality legislation is the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which offers advice, supports legal cases, and can take regulatory action against organisations that breach the law.

If someone believes a school has not complied with the Equality Act, they should first follow the school’s complaints procedure. They can also seek advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service, which advises and assists people on issues relating to equality and human rights. If, after completing the school’s process, they feel their complaint was mishandled, they may complain to the department, which will review whether the school followed their complaints process correctly.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what processes the Regional Department for Education Directors has in place to monitor the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 by schools in the maintained system.

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

It is a school's responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements in the Equality Act 2010, including complying with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The department provides guidance to help schools understand their duties under the Act.

Enforcement of equality legislation is the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which offers advice, supports legal cases, and can take regulatory action against organisations that breach the law.

If someone believes a school has not complied with the Equality Act, they should first follow the school’s complaints procedure. They can also seek advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service, which advises and assists people on issues relating to equality and human rights. If, after completing the school’s process, they feel their complaint was mishandled, they may complain to the department, which will review whether the school followed their complaints process correctly.

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Found: Blower; Lord Evans of Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton; Lord Harlech; The Lord Bishop of Lincoln

Found: Frognal; Lord Hampton; Lord Harlech; Baroness Hussein-Ece; Lord Johnson of Marylebone; The Lord Bishop of Lincoln

Found: BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH BARONESS BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON

Found: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 36 BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN LORD BOURNE OF

Found: institutions in England. 91 Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN

Found: BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH BARONESS BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON

Found: BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH BARONESS BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON

Found: BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH BARONESS BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON

Found: BARONESS WHITAKER THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH BARONESS BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON