Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) improve energy efficiency in rural homes, and (2) improve access to advanced energy solutions.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Our ambitious Warm Homes Plan will support investment in households, including rural homes, to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to save families money on their bills.

The Government has committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. This includes the new Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), which will provide support for low-income households living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England.

We are taking steps to make heat pumps more efficient and easier to install which includes increasing funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £295 million next financial year, removing outdated planning rules and consulting on product efficiency standards.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the finding published on 27 March in Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics in England, 2025 (2024 data) that rural households have a higher rate of fuel poverty, what steps they are taking to tackle fuel poverty in rural areas.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Government is currently consulting on a new fuel poverty strategy for England and has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next three years. Mutiple energy efficiency schemes support fuel poor households including in rural areas. The Warm Home Discount supported around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter and we recently consulted on expanding the scheme to more low income households next winter.

Our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication in Environmental Research Letters on 31 March of Reconsidering the macroeconomic damage of severe warming, what assessment they have made of the finding that global warming will have a significant negative impact on the size of the global economy.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The latest Synthesis Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that it is unequivocal that human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land, and that widespread and rapid changes to the climate have occurred. The IPCC also found that projected net economic damages generally increase non-linearly with global warming levels and that economic impacts could be higher than previous estimates.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the number of problem gamblers who are serving in the Armed Forces.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.

While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.

This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.

Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.

Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of gambling-related harm among (1) veterans and (2) people currently serving in the Armed Forces; and what assessment they have made, if any, of gambling participation rate in those groups.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.

While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.

This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.

Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.

Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support is available to problem gamblers who are serving in the Armed Forces.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.

While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.

This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.

Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.

Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding by Coram Family and Childcare’s annual survey 2024 that 16 per cent of rural families report sufficient access to childcare, compared to 30 per cent last year.

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

It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver entitlements and high-quality early years provision going forward.

In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for early years entitlements, which is a more than 30% increase compared to the 2024/25 financial year, as the department rolls out the expansion of the entitlements, so eligible working parents of children aged from nine months can access 30 hours of funded childcare.

We also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year. On top of this, we are providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the early years expansion grant, and £25 million through the forthcoming National Insurance Contributions grant for public sector employers in the early years. The Coram Family and Childcare survey highlights the real difference the expanded childcare entitlements are making, with more to come from September, as funding increases from 15 to 30 hours a week of funded childcare.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the Disability Access Fund in 2024/25 has increased by £29, to £910 per year per eligible child and will increase again in 2025/26 to £938 per eligible child per year. Additionally, the department has introduced additional resources for early years educators to support children with SEND, including a free online training module, and SEND assessment guidance and resources.

Local authorities are required by legislation to provide sufficient childcare places for children in their local area who require childcare. This includes children with SEND and children in rural areas. Local authorities are also required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract. If a parent is unable to secure a place, they should reach out to their local authority for assistance.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the publication of Coram Family and Childcare’s annual survey 2024, what steps they plan to take to ensure accessibility and affordability of rural childcare.

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

It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver entitlements and high-quality early years provision going forward.

In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for early years entitlements, which is a more than 30% increase compared to the 2024/25 financial year, as the department rolls out the expansion of the entitlements, so eligible working parents of children aged from nine months can access 30 hours of funded childcare.

We also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year. On top of this, we are providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the early years expansion grant, and £25 million through the forthcoming National Insurance Contributions grant for public sector employers in the early years. The Coram Family and Childcare survey highlights the real difference the expanded childcare entitlements are making, with more to come from September, as funding increases from 15 to 30 hours a week of funded childcare.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the Disability Access Fund in 2024/25 has increased by £29, to £910 per year per eligible child and will increase again in 2025/26 to £938 per eligible child per year. Additionally, the department has introduced additional resources for early years educators to support children with SEND, including a free online training module, and SEND assessment guidance and resources.

Local authorities are required by legislation to provide sufficient childcare places for children in their local area who require childcare. This includes children with SEND and children in rural areas. Local authorities are also required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract. If a parent is unable to secure a place, they should reach out to their local authority for assistance.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to strengthen support for childcare providers in rural areas, particularly those who provide childcare for disabled children.

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

It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver entitlements and high-quality early years provision going forward.

In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for early years entitlements, which is a more than 30% increase compared to the 2024/25 financial year, as the department rolls out the expansion of the entitlements, so eligible working parents of children aged from nine months can access 30 hours of funded childcare.

We also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year. On top of this, we are providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the early years expansion grant, and £25 million through the forthcoming National Insurance Contributions grant for public sector employers in the early years. The Coram Family and Childcare survey highlights the real difference the expanded childcare entitlements are making, with more to come from September, as funding increases from 15 to 30 hours a week of funded childcare.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the Disability Access Fund in 2024/25 has increased by £29, to £910 per year per eligible child and will increase again in 2025/26 to £938 per eligible child per year. Additionally, the department has introduced additional resources for early years educators to support children with SEND, including a free online training module, and SEND assessment guidance and resources.

Local authorities are required by legislation to provide sufficient childcare places for children in their local area who require childcare. This includes children with SEND and children in rural areas. Local authorities are also required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract. If a parent is unable to secure a place, they should reach out to their local authority for assistance.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) fixed odds betting terminals, and (2) electronic gaming machines, are on property owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Army and Royal Air Force have confirmed that all such machines have been removed from their property. The Royal Navy has confirmed that this work is in the final stages.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve treatment of people with bipolar disorder.

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

It is unacceptable that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long, including for people with bipolar disorder. We are determined to change that.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, create a network of open access community Young Futures hubs, recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to cut wait times and provide faster treatment, and modernise the Mental Health Act.

We are also committed to new models of care for mental health, including reforming care for people experiencing a mental health crisis. We are testing neighbourhood mental health centres for people aged 18 years old and over with serious mental illness. These six pilot schemes are based in Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Sheffield, York, Birmingham, and Whitehaven.

These pilots will offer 24/7 open access care closer to home, with an integrated service that includes healthcare providers, local authorities, and the voluntary sector. They build on international evidence that shows that similar models have led to a reduction in hospitalisation and waiting times, and support our efforts to move more care into the community.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much money was made from fixed-odds betting terminals located on Ministry of Defence property in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, (3) 2023, and (4) 2024; and who was the beneficiary of any such money.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have a tri-service policy that sets out the process to be followed in the event that a serving soldier develops a gambling addiction.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Further to the answer I gave the Noble Lord Bishop on 15 April 2025 to Question HL6578, there is currently a comprehensive Gambling clinical pathway in the Defence Medical Services that assesses and supports Service personnel who come forward with a gambling issue.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether gambling machines of any category as defined in the Gambling Act 2005 are provided by (1) the navy, (2) the army, or (3) the air force, in (a) catering, (b) retail, or (c) leisure facilities, of (i) UK bases, and (ii) UK-run bases abroad.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 April 2025, to Question HL6578.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislation similar to the Gambling Addiction Prevention Act 2019 in the United States of America, to require the development and implementation of policies and programmes to prevent and treat gambling disorders among members of the armed forces and their dependants.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to introduce legislation. The MOD already has a number of policies and programmes in place within the Armed Forces that assist Service personnel with gambling addiction.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to require (1) annual medical screening questions related to gambling disorder in the military, and (2) the annual assessment of the prevalence of gambling disorder among members of the armed forces.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to introduce legislation. The MOD already has a number of policies and programmes in place within the Armed Forces that assist Service personnel with gambling addiction.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to require that screening questions related to gambling disorders are asked during a soldier's recruitment process.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plans to introduce legislation. The MOD already has a number of policies and programmes in place within the Armed Forces that assist Service personnel with gambling addiction.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the success of existing programmes in the military in reducing gambling-related harm among serving personnel.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 15 April 2025 to Question HL6577.