Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of heatwaves on schools and pupils’ learning.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises that heatwaves can disrupt pupils’ learning, attendance and wellbeing, and we are committed to supporting schools and responsible bodies to maintain a safe learning environment during periods of extreme heat. While high temperatures can cause discomfort, reduced concentration and, in some cases, lower attendance, these impacts can usually be managed through practical and proportionate steps.
Schools are encouraged to adapt their arrangements in hot weather, for example by adjusting timetables, limiting strenuous activities, and ensuring classrooms are well ventilated and kept as cool as possible. Where attendance in person is not safe or reasonable, schools can provide high-quality remote education to maintain continuity of learning.
The department has published guidance for schools and other educational settings on hot weather and heatwaves, which is available at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/hot-weather-and-heatwaves-guidance-for-schools-and-other-education-settings/.
In most cases, schools remain the safest place for children during hot weather, as staff can monitor pupils, encourage hydration and take steps to keep them comfortable. Evidence also shows many homes are prone to overheating, affecting around 1.6 million children.
Maintaining attendance where possible therefore supports both educational outcomes and pupil wellbeing during heatwaves.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to answer 10459, whether she has had discussions with technology companies on bereaved adult partners accessing data on the deceased's devices.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
This is a complex issue that engages a range of policy areas across Government, including intestacy and probate, intellectual property rights and privacy. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 clarifies that certain digital assets can attract personal property rights under English and Welsh, and Northern Irish law.
My officials have met technology companies in the past to discuss the issue. Some digital services have added functionality that allow users to nominate legacy contacts, enabling them to make certain account changes and, where selected by the user, access data that has been designated for sharing following the user's death.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure biophilic design is embedded into neighbourhood health centres.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
The neighbourhood health centres guidance and specification, published on 15 April 2026, sets out both the strategic framework and the planning requirements for how providers, integrated care boards, and NHS England regions should organise their estates to support neighbourhood health.
As set out in the Neighbourhood Health design specifications, it is expected that new build neighbourhood health centres will meet the Net Zero Building Standard and provide exemplars for low carbon construction and operation. Centres are also required to be healthy buildings, providing well-tempered and well-designed environments.
Beyond this, we expect neighbourhood health teams and services will be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While there will be a consistent focus on personalised coordinated care, the centres will look different in different places, and this could include biophilic design.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
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 heatwaves on farming, food production and animal welfare.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Dry weather in 2025 placed increasing demand on irrigation reservoirs and impacted crop and grass growth. More severe droughts linked to climate change are set to leave parts of our country facing significant water shortages by 2050. Defra actively monitors farm impacts through AHDB surveys such as the Crop Development Survey, published in June 2026 and official statistics from farm-based surveys which tracks yields, and other indicators impacted by weather conditions.