Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women's health hubs have been established in NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB in each of the last three years.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) established a virtual Women’s Health Hub in 2023/24 as a foundation for wider service development in subsequent years. One Women’s Health Hub was then established in 2024/25. In 2025/26, four Women’s Health Hubs were established in Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight and Hampshire, alongside a mobile women’s health service offering menopause and long-acting reversible contraception services, and a core women’s health offer through pharmacies providing health checks, cardiovascular disease screening and contraception services.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of inheritance tax on middle-income households whose estates are primarily comprised of residential property, including the effect on their ability to fund social care costs; and what proportion of estates were liable for inheritance tax in each of the last five years.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Inheritance tax is only paid by a small number of estates. For the 2023-24 tax year, the most recent year available, fewer than 5% of UK deaths resulted in an inheritance tax charge.

No inheritance tax is due on any property, money, or other assets passed on to a spouse or civil partner, more widely, various nil-rate bands, exemptions, and reliefs exist including a £325,000 nil-rate band and a residence nil-rate band of a further £175,000 for those passing on a qualifying residence on death to their direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren. This means qualifying estates can pass on up to £500,000 and the qualifying estate of a surviving spouse or civil partner can pass on up to £1 million without an inheritance tax liability.

Information of the proportion of estates liable for inheritance tax is published online at the following:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics-commentary

Inheritance tax should not affect the ability of individuals to fund social care costs as it is only paid on the estate of someone who has died.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of GCSE pass requirements in specific subjects on access to T Levels and other vocational qualifications for students who have demonstrated competence through alternative qualifications or relevant subjects.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Entry requirements for all vocational and technical qualifications for 16–19-year-olds, including T Levels, are set by individual providers. Young people with a range of prior attainment are accessing T Levels - the GCSE grade split for students receiving T Level results is very similar to those receiving results for Applied General Qualifications (AGQs). In addition, the proportion of students accessing T Levels without having achieved GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or above has increased each year, demonstrating that T Levels are reaching a broader group of learners and becoming increasingly accessible.

16-19 students have access to a range of English and maths qualifications: GCSEs, Functional Skills Qualifications and other approved Level 1 and entry-level qualifications where appropriate. New Level 1 qualifications will provide an additional progression route for learners with prior GCSE attainment of grade 2 or below. The government consultation response will be published later this year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not including grassroots and community sports clubs in the bodies subject to The Prevent Duty.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Prevent duty applies to specified authorities including local authorities, education, health, police, and criminal justice agencies. Whilst no formal assessment of applying the duty to grassroots and community sports clubs has been made, this is not required for such organisations to work with Prevent in stopping people from becoming involved in, or supporting, terrorism.

Prevent statutory guidance can be used to inform best practice in sectors that are not specified authorities. The Home Office also has a central fund, the Preventing Radicalisation Fund (PRF), to support project delivery. This initiative has established a catalogue of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including community and grassroots sports clubs that have a track record in implementing Prevent-relevant projects, which aim to reduce the risk of radicalisation at a local level. There are currently 70 CSOs on the PRF framework, of which 4 are sports clubs but this initiative would be open to any local grassroots organisations to join. The Home Office funded 93 projects for the financial year 2025/2026.

Anyone, including staff or volunteers at grassroots and community sports clubs, can make a Prevent referral if they are concerned that someone is at risk of becoming radicalised. These concerns can be raised with Counter Terrorism Policing via the 24/7 Act Early support line on 0800 011 3764. Further information is available at www.actearly.uk/contact.

Where there is an immediate risk of harm or danger to life, emergency services should be contacted via 999.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms exist for grassroots and community sports clubs to report concerns on radicalisation and potential terrorist activity.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Prevent duty applies to specified authorities including local authorities, education, health, police, and criminal justice agencies. Whilst no formal assessment of applying the duty to grassroots and community sports clubs has been made, this is not required for such organisations to work with Prevent in stopping people from becoming involved in, or supporting, terrorism.

Prevent statutory guidance can be used to inform best practice in sectors that are not specified authorities. The Home Office also has a central fund, the Preventing Radicalisation Fund (PRF), to support project delivery. This initiative has established a catalogue of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including community and grassroots sports clubs that have a track record in implementing Prevent-relevant projects, which aim to reduce the risk of radicalisation at a local level. There are currently 70 CSOs on the PRF framework, of which 4 are sports clubs but this initiative would be open to any local grassroots organisations to join. The Home Office funded 93 projects for the financial year 2025/2026.

Anyone, including staff or volunteers at grassroots and community sports clubs, can make a Prevent referral if they are concerned that someone is at risk of becoming radicalised. These concerns can be raised with Counter Terrorism Policing via the 24/7 Act Early support line on 0800 011 3764. Further information is available at www.actearly.uk/contact.

Where there is an immediate risk of harm or danger to life, emergency services should be contacted via 999.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the levels of delays in the international extradition of individuals suspected of murder and other serious violent offences; and what steps her Department is taking to expedite extradition proceedings and reduce delays.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

This Government recognises the importance of robust extradition arrangements in creating a pathway to justice for all victims of crime. Extradition in the UK is very largely a judicial process, with strong legal safeguards and independent decision making. The Government works with operational and international partners to support effective extradition cooperation and ensure that individuals accused or convicted of serious offences can be surrendered to face trial or serve their sentence.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of requiring nature conservation volunteers to pay for a three-year licence to restore and manage roadside grass verges on (a) volunteer participation and (b) biodiversity outcomes.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Natural England is not involved in the issuing of these licenses and therefore has not conducted any assessment of potential impact of requiring nature conservation volunteers to pay for these on (a) volunteer participation and (b) biodiversity outcomes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of pets reunited with their owner following (a) theft and (b) going missing.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All dogs over 8 weeks of age and cats over 20 weeks of age in England must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database. The legislation is intended to improve animal welfare by increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost or stray pets with their keepers.

The Animal Welfare Strategy for England sets out the Department's commitment to improve the effectiveness of the microchipping regime, including by improving the accuracy and accessibility of pet microchip records and strengthening oversight of microchip databases. These measures support the identification and reunification of lost or stolen pets with their keepers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the animal welfare strategy mitigates the risk of pet theft.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All dogs over 8 weeks of age and cats over 20 weeks of age in England must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database. The legislation is intended to improve animal welfare by increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost or stray pets with their keepers.

The Animal Welfare Strategy for England sets out the Department's commitment to improve the effectiveness of the microchipping regime, including by improving the accuracy and accessibility of pet microchip records and strengthening oversight of microchip databases. These measures support the identification and reunification of lost or stolen pets with their keepers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assesement her Department have made of the potential merits of a microchip database for pets to help reunite (a) stolen and (b) missing pets with their owner.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All dogs over 8 weeks of age and cats over 20 weeks of age in England must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database. The legislation is intended to improve animal welfare by increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost or stray pets with their keepers.

The Animal Welfare Strategy for England sets out the Department's commitment to improve the effectiveness of the microchipping regime, including by improving the accuracy and accessibility of pet microchip records and strengthening oversight of microchip databases. These measures support the identification and reunification of lost or stolen pets with their keepers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist assessments were completed, broken down by the number that resulted (a) in a full assessment, (b) in eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare in each of the last five years; and what what estimate he has made of the cost of undertaking full assessments that did not result in eligibility in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England publishes data on NHS Continuing Healthcare on a quarterly basis. This includes the number of 'Checklists', the screening stage prior to a full assessment, resulting in both a full assessment and eligibility for Standard NHS Continuing Healthcare. This information can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-chc-fnc/

We do not hold information on the cost of undertaking full assessments that do not result in NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility. The assessment process is designed so everyone who may require NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is fully assessed for eligibility. Where an assessment does not result in eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare, it may provide access to other support, like National Health Service funded nursing care or a jointly funded package of care with the local authority.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to ensure that all pregnant women (a) have the right to request a Group B Streptococcus test on the NHS, (b) receive that test upon request, and (c) have the results acted upon.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the feasibility of increasing the availability of Group B Streptococcus testing on the NHS.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the present risk-factor-based approach used to identify women at increased risk of passing Group B Streptococcus to their baby during labour.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate has been made of the number of babies who (a) develop and (b) die from Group B Streptococcus infection each year.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to improve the prevention of Group B Streptococcus infection in babies.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her department has made of the adequacy of the level of awareness of Group B Streptococcus among pregnant women at (a) national level and (b) among individual NHS trusts.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to the answer provided to the Hon. Member for Slough on 24 October 2025 in response to Question 82361.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether the current English Language GCSE adequately assesses the practical communication, comprehension and critical-thinking skills required by young people in further education, employment and everyday life.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

In 2024, the government established the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Review considered the extent to which the national curriculum and the assessment system in England are fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people.

The Review’s final report recommended that the government makes significant changes to the key stage 4 English programme of study and the GCSE English language subject content, introducing greater clarity of purpose to focus English language more clearly on the nature and expression of language, and to support critical analysis of a wider variety of text types and genres. The Government accepted their recommendation that the government introduce an oracy framework to support practice and to complement the existing frameworks for reading and writing. We will be reforming the curriculum and GCSE English language and consulting on the content.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many medical students have (a) suspended and (b) withdrawn from their courses in each of the last five academic years where financial pressures were cited as a reason.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Office for Students (OfS) publishes the number of intakes to medicine degrees each year, as well as withdrawals during the first year of the course. It does not publish reasons for withdrawal. The data is available at the following link:

https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-providers/finance-and-funding/medicine-and-dentistry-funding/data-on-medical-and-dental-intakes/

The Student Loans Company (SLC) publishes data on student withdrawals from higher education providers by domicile, academic year, and year of study for SLC-funded students. It does not publish the reason for withdrawal. The data is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/early-in-year-student-withdrawal-notifications-academic-year-201819-to-202425-up-to-31082025/early-in-year-student-withdrawal-notifications-academic-year-201819-to-202425-up-to-31082025#additional-information

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps this Department is taking to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to hire young people following increases in employer National Insurance contributions.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. By 2029, this Government will have invested an additional £2.5 billion through the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy.

This investment will encourage employers to take on new talent and create up to 200,000 opportunities for work through a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds.

Employers are also not required to pay Employer National Insurance Contributions for employees under-21 and for under-25 apprentices, on earnings up to £50,270.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of delays in the Armed Forces recruitment process; and what the average time is for recruits to commence basic training (a) after submitting an application to join the Armed Forces and (b) after attending their medical assessment.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

For the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, the median time between submitting an application and commencing basic training was 252 days in the Royal Navy, 247 days in the Army and 356 days in the Royal Air Force. Recruitment timelines have improved in both the Royal Navy and the Army compared with the previous reporting period, reflecting the impact of ongoing recruitment reforms.

The data capturing the time between recruits attending their medical assessment and commencing basic training is not held centrally in a comparable or meaningfully comparable for each of the Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is focused on reducing the time it takes candidates to join the Armed Forces, in line with the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. The MOD recognises that some candidates wait longer than desired to commence basic training. Recruitment timelines are affected by a range of factors, including medical and security checks, the availability of specialist training places, and candidate choice.

It is also important to recognise that many applicants choose to defer entry to complete education, honour existing employment commitments, or wait for their preferred role or training start date.

To address these challenges, Defence has delivered a range of recruitment reforms to reduce barriers to entry and shorten the time taken to join the Armed Forces. These include conditional offers of employment within 10 days and provisional training start dates within 30 days, the removal of over 100 outdated medical policies, greater digital access to candidate medical records, and improved candidate communications.

Defence is continuing to build on these reforms to improve the candidate experience and help motivated and capable people join the Armed Forces more quickly. The lessons identified are also informing the development of the Armed Forces Recruitment Service, which will further improve the speed and flexibility of Armed Forces recruitment.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department is doing to ensure veterans discharged from the armed forces can secure accommodation; and what assessment she has made regarding the adequacy of these measures.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Government is committed to renewing the nation's contract with those who serve and have served, ensuring that veterans and their families can access the support they need, when and where they need it.

Last year, the Government launched its new Veterans Strategy, recognising veterans as a national asset and setting a new direction for how the nation supports those who have served. Alongside this, we announced the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for veterans to access the care and support available to them.

The Ministry of Defence also provides tailored information, guidance and welfare support through Veterans Services and its network of case managers across the UK, helping veterans and their families navigate and access services, including support with housing.

To help veterans secure accommodation, the Government has removed local connection requirements for regular Armed Forces veterans applying for social housing in England and funding the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme to provide wraparound support across the UK. Veterans who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, can also access dedicated assistance through Op FORTITUDE.

The Government works closely with delivery partners to ensure veterans can access appropriate housing and wider support services. Veterans can also access specialist mental and physical healthcare through Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE, employment and career support through Op ASCEND and the Career Transition Partnership, and assistance for those in contact with, or at risk of contact with, the criminal justice system through Op NOVA.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that serving Armed Forces personnel are able to access skills, qualifications and employment opportunities to support successful transitions into civilian careers.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to supporting Service personnel as they transition to civilian employment through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), the Armed Forces' official provider of resettlement services.

The CTP delivers a comprehensive programme of career transition support, including career consultancy, employability guidance, job-finding assistance, vocational training and access to a wide network of employers. This support is designed to help Service Leavers maximise their employment prospects and achieve positive and sustainable civilian career outcomes.

Through its bespoke CTP training programme, Service personnel can access industry-recognised qualifications and vocational training aligned to labour market demand. Training opportunities cover a broad range of sectors, including engineering, construction, digital and cyber, project management, logistics, health and safety, renewable energy and business administration. These courses are designed to equip Service Leavers with the knowledge, skills and qualifications sought by civilian employers.

In addition, the CTP works closely with employers across the public, private and third sectors to identify employment opportunities and ensure that the skills and experience gained during military service are effectively matched to workforce requirements across the UK economy.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of cases in which Army vehicles with reported defects are being used by service personnel; how many such vehicles have been reported in each of the last three years; and what action has been taken in response to those reports.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Army routinely assesses the serviceability and safety of its vehicle fleet through established engineering management processes. These include maintenance inspections, supervisory checks and assurance activity recorded and managed on the Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) Management Information System.

The Land Equipment Assurance Team inspections capture findings specifically related to the incorrect movement or authorisation of non-taskworthy (NT) vehicles. The findings recorded over the last three full years are as follows;

This data should not be read as evidence that unsafe vehicles were unknowingly used but instead it records a policy breach associated with the journey or authorisation of a NT vehicle on JAMES.

Where non-compliance is identified, units are instructed to take corrective action by addressing the immediate issue, reinforcing engineering policy and capturing lessons to prevent recurrence.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to support parents and carers in preparing children for starting school.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is supporting parents and carers to prepare children for school through a wider package of measures to improve school readiness to meet the government’s ambition for 75% of children to reach a good level of development in Reception by the end of 2028.

Best Start Family Hubs provide accessible parenting and home learning support in every local authority, including stay and play, story and rhyme sessions, and practical advice on chatting, playing and reading together. Hubs also help families understand and access childcare entitlements and high-quality early education, and every hub will have a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner to identify emerging additional needs early and support children through the transition to Reception.

The government has also completed expansion of 30 hours of funded childcare and early education for eligible working parents of children from nine months old and continues to drive take up of the universal 15-hour early education entitlements for two, three and four-year-olds, giving children more opportunities to benefit from high-quality early education before starting school. Further, the government has published guidance for schools and early years providers on effective transitions and is funding Early Education Partnerships to strengthen links between settings and schools.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how early years services and support for babies will be incorporated into the Government's community-based model of care and neighbourhood health service proposals.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies will be a core component of Neighbourhood Health for babies, children and their families.

The programme will bring early years, health and family support together through a network of up to 1,000 hubs and 2,000 network sites in every local authority in England by the end of 2028. Healthy Babies services, including maternity, health visiting, infant feeding, perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support, will sit at the heart of this offer.

Local authorities and health partners will develop joined-up pathways from pregnancy onwards and explore opportunities to co-locate services in Best Start Family Hubs, Neighbourhood Health Centres, GP settings and trusted community venues. This will help families access early years support, parenting and home learning services, and early support for children with additional needs, closer to home and through a more preventative, joined-up model.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of support services for (a) families and (b) babies in North East Hampshire.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has made this issue a personal priority, and is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies. The taskforce will consider all aspects of current provision, in North East Hampshire and beyond.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support food banks and local charities to prevent supermarket food waste in North East Hampshire constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy prioritises preventing food waste in the first instance. Where surplus food does arise, businesses, including supermarkets, are expected to prioritise the safe and timely redistribution of edible food to people in need. On 13 May, Government reinforced its commitment to supporting those most in need by announcing a new national programme to redistribute surplus food. Defra is driving action through a range of activities, including working across Government and with stakeholders to develop a national endeavour to end avoidable food waste, operating across the entire food supply chain and redistribution sector.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his Department has made of average processing times for Access to Work Mandatory Reconsideration requests, and what steps are being taken to reduce delays.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Over recent months we have experienced an increase in the volume of Mandatory Reconsiderations being received into Access to work. However, the Department remains committed to ensuring that reconsideration requests are reviewed as promptly as possible and has taken steps to strengthen service delivery. This has included the redeployment of existing staff to focus on reconsiderations, in addition to the recruitment of additional staff to increase processing capacity, improve processing times, and support the clearance of the backlog by September 2027.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department prioritises Home Responsibilities Protection correction claims according to the age or vulnerability of the applicant; what the average waiting time is for a determination; how many claims remain outstanding; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

DWP does not maintain data on the average waiting time, or number of claims outstanding, for Home Responsibilities Protection claims specifically. This information is only available at disproportionate cost to DWP.

When an amendment is made by HMRC to a customer's National Insurance record, which results in a change to their State Pension entitlement, the information provided by HMRC does not include the reason for the National Insurance record amendment or whether a customer is known to be vulnerable. Therefore, DWP processes all State Pension reviews based on the datal order of receipt of the notification from HMRC.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department uses criteria to prioritise Home Responsibilities Protection correction claims; what the current average waiting time is for a determination; how many claims remain outstanding; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

DWP does not maintain data on the average waiting time, or number of claims outstanding, for Home Responsibilities Protection claims specifically. This information is only available at disproportionate cost to DWP.

When an amendment is made by HMRC to a customer's National Insurance record, which results in a change to their State Pension entitlement, the information provided by HMRC does not include the reason for the National Insurance record amendment or whether a customer is known to be vulnerable. Therefore, DWP processes all State Pension reviews based on the datal order of receipt of the notification from HMRC.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the treatment of 16 to 19 year olds undertaking employer-based apprenticeships with those in full-time non-advanced education or unpaid training courses, for the purposes of a parent or guardian's continued eligibility for Universal Credit.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

We want to ensure that young people of all backgrounds can access the apprenticeship opportunities they need to get ahead. To address this, we have announced a targeted bursary worth up to £4,500 per year per eligible Universal Credit household. This will remove a barrier that may otherwise discourage a small number of young people from taking up an apprenticeship, helping them to take the first step into their careers, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances. Further information on how eligible households can apply, how the bursary will be paid, and timelines for implementation will be announced in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to conduct a review of the Overseas Scale Rates for employee subsistence, and what methodology is used to determine those rates.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Overseas Scale Rates are an administrative easement that employers may use to reimburse accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred by employees travelling outside the UK without the need to check receipts.

In response to stakeholder feedback and following engagement with industry the government announced a review of both the Overseas and Benchmark scale rates, at Tax Update 2026.

This review considers the current costs of travel and looks at whether there is scope to simplify the application of the rates. HMRC is engaging with tax and industry stakeholders as part of the review.

The government will consider the outcomes of the current engagement when the review concludes.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment HMRC has made of the impact of its National Minimum Wage compliance campaigns on small and micro-businesses; and what steps HMRC takes to ensure compliance communications are proportionate and targeted towards employers at risk of non-compliance.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Further details of HMRC’s activity in this area can be read within the annual reports of the Government’s evidence on enforcement and compliance of the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage – National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage: enforcement and compliance - GOV.UK

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support high streets.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

To restore high streets, we have announced measures to tackle organised crime, cut business rates for pubs, and stop the spread of vape shops and gambling outlets.

Later this year, we will publish a High Streets Strategy, setting out the longer-term plan for bringing life back to our town centres.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department is doing to support mental health in the Armed Forces; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of those support services for (a) serving members and (b) veterans.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages personnel to consider their mental fitness as equally as important as their physical fitness promoting good mental resilience and mitigating the negative impacts of potential traumatic experiences.

The Department encourages early identification and intervention for those experiencing mental health challenges and actively promotes a culture where Personnel feel comfortable seeking help without stigma.

Personnel have access to a vast range of resources to support their mental health with both in-person and online options, briefings before, during, and post-deployment, a dedicated 24 hour phoneline for both personnel and their families and access to HeadFIT; an externally accessible website specifically designed for the Defence community. All Personnel, undertake a mandated annual mental fitness brief which provides information on mental health, wellbeing, stress management, and provides signposting to appropriate help.

Personnel who are experiencing a mental health disorder are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service. DPHC has introduced standardised training for primary care clinicians incorporating emerging digital interventions to ensure Personnel can access initial mental healthcare at any Defence medical centre, strengthening the initial management of mental health disorders within primary care settings.

Defence Mental Health Networks (DMHNs) are located across the UK and are improving access to specialist mental health services for Personnel. These specialist community mental health services provide enhanced access to expert assessment and treatment for those experiencing mental health disorders.

Defence Mental Health Services are subject to ongoing review and assurance to ensure that provision remains safe, effective, accessible and responsive to the needs of Service personnel. Service performance and quality are monitored through established governance and assurance arrangements, including Internal Assurance Reviews (IARs), which provide structured assessment of service delivery, clinical governance and compliance with required standards. Services are also subject to independent scrutiny by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with findings and recommendations used to inform continuous improvement.

Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they are fit to fight and can fight back to fitness.

Veterans’ healthcare is the responsibility of the NHS; however, where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, Defence Medical Services works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.

In England, Op COURAGE provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for service leavers, reservists and veterans, with similar services available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing unused journeys within flexible season tickets to be carried forward rather than expiring.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential merits of allowing unused journeys within Flexible Season Tickets to be carried forward beyond their validity period.

Flexible Season Tickets were introduced to support flexible commuting patterns and provide eight days’ travel within a 28-day period. The Government aims to review the overall cost-effectiveness of Flexible Season Tickets as part of its wider work to ensure that fares and ticketing continue to reflect changing travel patterns and passenger needs. Through Great British Railways, passengers will benefit from a more consistent offer across the network, with reforms to simplify fares, expand Pay As You Go ticketing and make rail travel better suited to modern travel patterns, while balancing affordability for passengers with value for taxpayers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of rail fares and ticketing products designed specifically for hybrid-working.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Flexible Season Tickets were introduced to support flexible commuting patterns and provide eight days’ travel within a 28-day period.

The Department has previously published its Evaluation of the Flexible Season Rail Ticket which considered whether Flexible Season Tickets supported hybrid and part-time commuting patterns, encouraged demand, retained passengers and provided value to people whose travel needs had changed.

Passengers were generally very supportive of the product, whether they use it or not, noting, in particular, that it provides a better option for part-time workers and meets the needs of new commuting patterns.

We will ask DfTOperator and in due course GBR to review the continuing cost-effectiveness of Flexible Season Tickets as part of its wider work to ensure that fares and ticketing continue to reflect changing travel patterns and passenger needs.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage employers to provide work experience opportunities for young people.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

DWP works with employers across Great Britain to encourage the provision of high-quality work experience opportunities for young people. Through Jobcentre Plus, the Department helps employers offer voluntary work experience placements that enable young people to develop skills, confidence and valuable workplace experience.

As part of the Government's Youth Guarantee, DWP is engaging employers, industry bodies and other partners to expand opportunities for young people to access work experience, training and employment.

The Department's Recruitment and Partnership Consultants work directly with employers to develop suitable opportunities and connect young people with placements that reflect their aspirations and local labour market opportunities.

DWP also supports employers through initiatives such as Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, which combine training, work experience and a guaranteed job interview, helping young people gain the skills and experience needed to move into work.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of Access to Work claimants who have experienced a reduction in their award value at renewal in the last 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The information requested is not available. Access to Work awards are assessed on the basis of an individual's current circumstances and support needs. Where an award value is lower at renewal than in a previous award period, this will reflect a reassessment of the customer's needs and the support required at that time. We aim to improve the consistency and fairness of award outcomes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of community-based models of care for children aged 0-2 on children's long terms outcomes.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government recognises that experiences during the critical 1,001 days from conception to age two lay important foundations for children’s health, development and future learning.

Best Start Family Hubs and ‘Healthy Babies’ provide a community-based, prevention-led model that brings together health, parenting and early years support, helping families access services earlier and supporting early identification and intervention.

They help parents and carers build confidence and strengthen the home learning environment through chatting, playing and reading, supporting children’s language, communication and readiness to learn. These universal activities complement evidence-based parenting and home learning interventions, evaluations of which show positive impacts. The department does not currently hold a separate assessment of the educational impact of baby groups alone.

The department will monitor and evaluate delivery to strengthen the evidence on its longer-term impact. Baby groups, including stay-and-play, story and rhyme sessions and play-based early language activities, form part of the wider Best Start Family Hub offer.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment the Government has made of the impact of baby groups on children's educational outcomes.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government recognises that experiences during the critical 1,001 days from conception to age two lay important foundations for children’s health, development and future learning.

Best Start Family Hubs and ‘Healthy Babies’ provide a community-based, prevention-led model that brings together health, parenting and early years support, helping families access services earlier and supporting early identification and intervention.

They help parents and carers build confidence and strengthen the home learning environment through chatting, playing and reading, supporting children’s language, communication and readiness to learn. These universal activities complement evidence-based parenting and home learning interventions, evaluations of which show positive impacts. The department does not currently hold a separate assessment of the educational impact of baby groups alone.

The department will monitor and evaluate delivery to strengthen the evidence on its longer-term impact. Baby groups, including stay-and-play, story and rhyme sessions and play-based early language activities, form part of the wider Best Start Family Hub offer.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what timelines and safeguards are in place to ensure that the Government meets its targets for the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

On 30 March 2026, the government announced that more than 200 Best Start Family Hubs had opened in newly funded areas, bringing the total to around 800. By the end of 2028, the government’s ambition is to have up to 1,000 hubs and 2,000 network sites, with a Best Start network operating in every local authority in England.

The rollout is backed by over £900 million between 2026 and 2029. All local authorities will receive dedicated grant funding and are expected to share delivery plans, report management information and demonstrate progress to show that funding is being used to expand their hub network and transform services. Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care regional teams will support and monitor delivery. Local authorities will also be expected to review and republish their Best Start plans annually and provide regular updates to their Best Start Family Hub plans. Where delivery is off track, the departments will work with local authorities to address barriers and ensure funding delivers the expected improvements for families.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that young people have access to mentors who can support them in finding and sustaining employment.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. Thanks to this funding, every young person on Universal Credit (UC) who is looking for work will benefit from the new expanded, tailored employment support from their first appointment in the Jobcentre. We are giving young people more time with work coaches and are bringing more local work and training opportunities into jobcentres by actively working with employers and training providers. Work coaches will be working with each eligible young person to identify which opportunity is right for them, including access to specialist Youth Employability Coaches to help address complex barriers to work.

If a young person is not earning or learning after 13 weeks, they will have a Youth Guarantee Gateway meeting followed by four weeks of intensive support. Young people will receive tailored guidance and be offered up to six options (which could be: work, work experience, Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), apprenticeship, training or learning) from their first appointment in the Jobcentre, to help them progress into employment.

We are also expanding our Youth Hubs to more than 360 locations across Great Britain, ensuring that every young person including those not receiving benefits can access opportunities and comprehensive support in their local area. This includes mental health, housing, essential and vocational skills, and employer engagement at every Hub.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many pensioners have become liable to pay income tax in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of frozen income tax thresholds on pensioners.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The number of individual income tax payers over State Pension Age over time can be seen in Table 2.1 of the Income Tax liabilities statistics: tax year 2023 to 2024 to tax year 2026 to 2027 - GOV.UK

The effect of threshold freezes on the number of people forecast to pay tax can be found in the OBR’s March 2026 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below.

https://obr.uk/download/march-2026-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1772624887

The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028 and this is reflected in HMRC’s statistics and in OBR’s forecasts.

The tax information and impact note on Maintaining the Personal Allowance and the basic rate limit for Income Tax, and equivalent National Insurance contributions thresholds until 5 April 2031 can be found linked below:

Maintaining Income Tax and equivalent National Insurance contributions thresholds until 5 April 2031 - GOV.UK

The Government intends to ease the administrative burden for pensioners so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 27/28. The Government will set out more details in due course.

Employer National Insurance contributions

Political donations and campaign finance regulation

World Suicide Prevention Day 2026

Support for hospices

Road fuel prices

Contribution of women to the Bayeux Tapestry

Second Reading of the Mental Capacity (Duty to Assess) Bill

Support for retired service animals

Cosmetic specifications for fresh produce and national food security

Essential energy guarantee

Miscarriage care

Furniture poverty and access to essential household goods

Military housing

Carers Week 2026

VAT for UK hospitality

Indefinite Leave to Remain changes

Right to work

Local Housing Allowance rates

This is a follow-up evidence session to the Committee's report on 'Cosmetic procedures' published in February 2026.