Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides on safe levels of fluoride in drinking water.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water and some foods. The amount of naturally occurring fluoride in water varies across the United Kingdom due to geological differences. Drinking water regulations contain a standard for fluoride which is a maximum of 1.5 milligrams per litre. This is the same level as the World Health Organisation health-based guideline value for fluoride in drinking water. If the standard of 1.5 milligram per litre is breached, the Drinking Water Inspectorate has the power to take enforcement action to require the water company to rectify the breach.

In some areas of England, the level of fluoride is adjusted through a water fluoridation scheme to improve dental health. In these areas, the target level for fluoride is one milligram per litre, well within the regulatory limit. There is a legal duty to monitor the effects of water fluoridation schemes on health and report on it every four years. Previous reports are available at the following link, with the next due to be published in 2026:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-fluoridation-health-monitoring-report-for-england-2018

The Drinking Water Inspectorate has published an advice leaflet on fluoridation of drinking water which can be found here:

https://www.dwi.gov.uk/consumers/learn-more-about-your-water/fluoridation-of-drinking-water/

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for the implementation of changes to permitted development rights for air source heat pumps.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Further announcements on permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points will be made in the coming months.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what safeguards her Department has put in place to help protect unaccompanied children from Ukraine through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Homes for Ukraine scheme supports eligible unaccompanied minors to safely arrive, and to live and thrive in the UK without their parent or legal guardian, supported by a sponsor that they know and trust.

Eligible Minors are protected by robust safeguarding measures. Parental or legal guardian consent is required before a sponsorship arrangement is agreed, and sponsors must pass safeguarding checks before a visa is issued. Councils must comply with safeguarding responsibilities and statutory duties. Local authorities receive an enhanced tariff for each eligible minor arrival, recognising the increased safeguarding support needed.

Detailed guidance for councils, sponsors, and parents/legal guardians must be adhered to, is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians#eligibility-criteria

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-sponsors-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians#sponsor-eligibility:~:text=Must%20agree%20to,to%20adult%20life

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for (a) restructuring HM Land Registry fees, (b) tabling secondary legislation to restructure fees, prioritising free access to data and (c) ensuring HM Land Registry makes rapid progress towards enabling others to map land ownership data by linking title numbers with INSPIRE IDs.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

HM Land Registry (HMLR) is reviewing how fees can be made simpler, fairer and enable better access to data.

HMLR intends to launch a public consultation on the design of a new fees and charging structure and to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to effect changes with the aim of implementing the new structure in 2026.

HMLR is currently exploring how best to make the data it holds more accessible, interoperable and geospatially enabled, in line with the priorities set out in my recent letter to the HMLR Board Chair as well as the government’s blueprint for a modern digital government. This includes reviewing and improving the interoperability of published datasets, for example, adding INSPIRE IDs where appropriate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of waiving the written aspect of the English Language Test requirement for the Skilled Worker Visa where the role is manual.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The English language requirements for the Skilled Worker visa route are not only concerned with the level of English needed to do the job; they are fundamental to successful integration into British society, helping migrants to participate in community, life and work.

In its 2022 annual report, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) emphasised the importance of the English language in helping workers understand their rights and protect themselves against exploitation. The MAC strongly recommend against lowering or removing the English language requirement.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the period product scheme will continue within schools in the year 2025-26.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The period products scheme is confirmed for the 2024/25 academic year. The department will make further announcements on the scheme soon.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to (a) advise and (b) safeguard British-based (i) businesses and (ii) people operating in Hong Kong.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Department provides a range of services and advice to assist companies doing business in Hong Kong, through our extensive network, both in the UK and at our Consulate. Additionally, the Overseas Business Risk (OBR) service provides information on the political, economic and security risks to support and guide businesses when trading overseas.

FCDO Travel Advice provides information to help British nationals make informed decisions about foreign travel. Travel Advice for Hong Kong remains under regular review to ensure it reflects the latest assessment of risks to British nationals.

Refusal of Citizenship to refugees who have made irregular crossings

Found: Resolved, That Alex Ballinger, Juliet Campbell, Afzal Khan and Alex Sobel be Members of the Joint Committee

Found: Stephen Doughty: We have appointed a new trade envoy, Alex Sobel MP, from the other place.

Found: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon; Lord Murray of Blidworth; Alex Sobel

Found: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon; Lord Murray of Blidworth; Alex Sobel

Found: II: Alex Sobel. III: Melanie Onn, Jess Asato and Linsey Farnsworth. IV: Caroline Voaden.

Found: Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon (Labour; Life peer) Lord Murray of Blidworth (Conservative; Life peer) Alex Sobel

Found: Alex Sobel Graeme Downie Rachael Maskell Afzal Khan Sir Iain Duncan Smith Ms Marie Rimmer Carolyn

Found: Alex Sobel Graeme Downie Rachael Maskell Afzal Khan Sir Iain Duncan Smith _LA2(b) .

Found: Alex Sobel _LA2(b) ★.

Found: Not called_NC72 Alex Sobel Cat Smith Jon Trickett Grahame Morris Anna Dixon Mr Alistair Carmichael

Found: _NC72 Alex Sobel Cat Smith Jon Trickett Grahame Morris Anna Dixon Mr Alistair Carmichael John McDonnell

Found: _NC72 Alex Sobel Cat Smith Jon Trickett Grahame Morris Anna Dixon Mr Alistair Carmichael John McDonnell

Found: _NC72 Alex Sobel Cat Smith Jon Trickett Grahame Morris .

Found: _NC72 Alex Sobel Cat Smith Jon Trickett .

Found: _NC72 Alex Sobel Cat Smith Jon Trickett .

Found: _NC72 Alex Sobel ★.

Submit Evidence (by 25 Apr 2025)

The Joint Committee on Human Rights is conducting legislative scrutiny of the Crime and Policing Bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards. 

Submit Evidence (by 11 Apr 2025)

The Joint Committee on Human Rights is conducting legislative scrutiny of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards.