Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to help reduce the number of children starting school without basic early-years skills.

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

The government’s Plan for Change set out our ambition for a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn in the classroom. We will measure our progress through 75% of children reaching a good level of development in the early years foundation stage profile assessment by 2028. The department will use a number of strategies to achieve this.

Firstly, we will roll out government-funded childcare support to improve access. We are delivering the expansion to 30 funded hours and have awarded 300 schools £37 million in the first phase towards 3,000 new and expanded school-based nurseries, increasing the availability of high-quality childcare places where they are needed most.

The department will also work in partnership with the sector, reforming training and support for the workforce to drive up standards. We will ensure that the reception year sets children up for success, by increasing schools’ access to evidence-based programmes that boost early literacy and numeracy skills. We are hosting a series of regional conferences focused on reception year quality starting later this month.

In addition, the department is working to strengthen and join-up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood. This includes continuing to invest in and build up Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes to support early child health, parenting and home learning programmes, and strengthening health visiting services for all families, as well as improved early identification of special educational needs and disabilities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51817 on Orphans: Databases, if she will take steps to create a register of all orphaned children which includes information on the care arrangements of each child.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department does not currently have any plans to create a new register for orphaned children. Our priority for children who have been orphaned is to find them a new, permanent, loving home as soon as we can.

Some are taken in by a member of their family in a kinship arrangement and are provided with a range of support and care from within their existing family network, with the support of the local authority where needed.

Others may be adopted and will receive support through the Regional Adoption Agencies.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient provision in their area to meet the needs of children in their care. The department is supporting them through funding and legislation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on developing a long-term housing strategy.

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

The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of (a) the adequacy of social housing provision and (b) the length of the waiting lists to access social housing.

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

With over 1.3 million people on social housing registers, the government is clear that there is a chronic shortage of social housing in England. That is why we are committed to the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding for a generation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken to reduce child poverty.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances for every child. For too many children, living in poverty robs them of the opportunity to learn and prosper.

The Child Poverty Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, is exploring all available levers to drive forward action across government to reduce child poverty. More detail on the approach and priorities for the strategy is set out in the publication ‘Tackling Child Poverty: Developing our Strategy’, which was published on 23 October and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-child-poverty-developing-our-strategy.

The department is already taking steps to reduce the cost of living through action on the high cost of branded school uniforms and commitment to roll out free breakfast clubs for primary school-aged children from the start of this summer term. The government has also extended the Household Support Fund.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to increase pre-school support for children living in disadvantaged areas.

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

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life. Low income families, children with education, health and care plans and looked after children are eligible for 15 hours funded early education from age 2. In addition, eligible disadvantaged children can get early years pupil premium (EYPP). This additional funding supports the delivery of high-quality early education improving disadvantaged children’s outcomes. In December 2024, we announced an unprecedented 45% increase to EYPP.

School-based nurseries are a key part of this government’s Opportunity Mission. We have awarded 300 primary schools £37 million to repurpose spare space for new or expanded nursery provision, which will be opening from September 2025.

In addition, from September 2026, every pupil whose household is in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.

This means that over half a million children from the most disadvantaged households will become eligible for a free nutritious lunchtime meal every school day. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 a year per child back in parents’ pockets to support parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

We are also investing an additional £126 million in 2025/26 to build up the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. The 75 local authorities on the programme have already opened more than 400 family hubs in some of the most deprived areas in the country.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51319 on Mayors: North of England, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) her Department's funding for devolved services and (b) other forms of Government support for local mayors to reduce (i) economic and (ii) health inequalities in the North West.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are giving local leaders, including mayors in the North West, the tools they need to deliver growth and raise living standards in their areas by devolving power and money from central government.

This includes strong new powers over housing, planning, transport, energy, employment support and a stronger role in joining up public services locally, backed up with integrated and consolidated funding.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to reduce (a) sewage and (b) microplastic pollution from overflows in (i) Greater Manchester and (ii) Lake Windemere.

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

Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the UK Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent macro-sized plastic litter which are sources of microplastics from reaching rivers, seas and the ocean in the first place.

As part of a historic £104 billion of investment by water companies in England and Wales in Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, United Utilities is required to improve sewage discharges within the Lake Windermere catchment. This includes reducing how often storm overflows discharge from Ambleside Waste water Treatment Works (WwTW), Elterwater Pumping Station (PS), Hawkshead PS and Near Sawrey WwTW. United Utilities will also be improving over 100 storm overflows across the river catchments of the Tame, Mersey, Roch, Croal, Irwell, Glaze and Douglas within Greater Manchester as progress towards meeting environmental targets, including those of the Environment Act 2021.

These improvements will help to reduce discharges of raw sewage which can contain organic pollutants, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nutrients, and heavy metals, as well as visible litter that is flushed down toilets.

We are also taking forward investigations through the water industry’s Chemical Investigations Programme, to understand how we can reduce the levels of microplastics entering the water environment through treated wastewater. Microplastics have been recognised as a significant standalone issue and the water industry are funding six further investigations between 2025 and 2030.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken towards achieving good (a) ecological and (b) chemical status in water bodies within Gorton and Denton constituency.

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

In his first week, the Secretary of State announced a series of initial steps, which will improve environmental management and protections, also introducing the Water Act 2025 and launching the Independent Water Commision already producing its interim findings to help restore our rivers, lakes and seas to good health.

Within the Gorton and Denton constituency there are five surface water bodies. The main pressures to achieving good status are urbanisation, sewage discharge, industrial or transport discharge, and physical modification of the channel. Specific chemical pollutants such as mercury, PBDEs and the “forever chemical” PFOS are also key concerns.

In accordance with the Water Framework Directive, all five water bodies have mitigation measures to improve their ecological and chemical status and address specific chemical pollutants.

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 help reduce the number of housing developers that deliver less affordable housing than initially promised when awarded contracts.

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

The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions, including section 106 planning obligations, to ensure that new developments provide appropriate affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.

We are also reviewing the planning practice guidance on viability to ensure that the viability system works to optimise developer contributions, allowing negotiation only where genuinely necessary. We intend to provide a further update before the end of the spring.

Prior to new viability guidance being published, site specific viability assessment should not be used where development is subject to the ‘Golden Rules’ as set out in paragraph 156 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the adequacy of (a) the current Free School Meal eligibility criteria and (b) the per-pupil funding available for Free School Meals.

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

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. It will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

Providing over half a million additional children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

It is important that these meals follow the latest nutritional guidance. We are currently engaging with stakeholders on revising the School Food Standards, to ensure they support our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) schools and (b) school leaders have engaged with A whole-school approach to food e-learning module that was launched 28 October 2024; and whether her Department is collecting data to measure the effectiveness of this training.

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

Since its launch, 903 users have engaged with the ‘A whole-school approach to food’ e-learning module.

The department receives evaluation data of the training from post-completion user-assessments. 99% of users said they were satisfied with the module and 87% of users felt their knowledge had increased as a result of completing the training.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to (a) increase monitoring of sewage pollution and (b) improve compliance with regulations by water companies.

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

Since 1 January 2025, water companies are required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. The Secretary of State has authorised Ofwat to carry out enforcement action for this duty, in accordance with the powers conferred under sections 18 and 141DA (4) of the Water Industry Act 1991.

Ofwat is currently developing guidance, which it will publish in due course, to ensure water companies are meeting this duty. In addition to this, the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 will introduce a matching duty for water companies to publish data related to discharges from all emergency overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. Once commenced, this duty will be enforced in the same way, further enhancing our monitoring of the storm overflow network and increasing transparency.

Furthermore, the Water (Special Measures) Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. This includes powers for Ofwat to set rules on remuneration and governance, and financial reporting, and new powers for the Environment Agency (EA) to impose automatic penalties, and penalties to the lower, civil standard of proof.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on incidents between 1 and 3 June 2025 near aid distribution sites in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely challenging. We are appalled by repeated reports of mass casualty incidents in which Palestinians have been killed when trying to access aid sites. We call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events, and for the perpetrators to be held to account. The UK will not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or puts vulnerable civilians at risk. We have repeatedly and publicly called on Israel to urgently engage with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to help increase the effectiveness of Sure Start for reducing (a) child hospitalisations and (b) overall child health.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The long-term evaluations of Sure Start show large-scale, holistic interventions can be effective in improving children’s health, reducing hospitalisations, and delivering positive impacts on long-term health and development outcomes.

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme builds on lessons learned from Sure Start about the benefits of integrated, multi-agency workforce and place-based support to improve baby and child health outcomes. The programme places health services at the heart of support for families, particularly for babies, from conception to the age of two years old.

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is being extended in 2025/26, with £126 million being made available for families to deliver on the Plan for Change and to give every child the best start in life.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether kinship carers will be included within the scope of the parental leave review.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I recognise the vital role that Kinship Carers play in caring for vulnerable children, and the need to support Kinship Carers in the workplace.

As part of our broader commitment to working families, we are conducting a comprehensive review of the parental leave system. Planning work is underway.

The Employment Rights Bill is also making Parental Leave a day one right. This will help kinship carers who have parental responsibility, for example, through a legal guardianship order.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle disparities in (a) financial allowances, (b) access to legal aid and (c) other forms of support available to kinship carers arising from (i) different kinship care arrangements, (ii) the level of social services involvement and (iii) levels of kinship care support between local authorities.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance, which will begin in autumn 2025. We will evaluate the pilot to build an evidence base on how best to deliver financial support for kinship families.

Through the Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill, we are enshrining the first definition of kinship care in law and mandating local authorities to publish their kinship local offer, increasing their accountability for ensuring all kinship families are getting the information they need.

As set out in statutory guidance, local authorities must publish the support and services available to kinship families in a clear, accessible way. This includes the legal support that may be available to kinship carers and potential kinship carers, including the eligibility and extent of that support.

The government also created the National Kinship Care Ambassador role to advocate for kinship families. The appointee, Jahnine Davis, works with local authorities to help them improve their kinship practice and local policies and ensure they are following national guidance.

The department funds the charity ‘Kinship’ to deliver over 140 peer support groups and a training package that all kinship carers across England can access for free.

UK Government recognition of the state of Palestine

Israel’s interception of the British-flagged Madleen boat

Found: Answering member: Andrew Gwynne | Department: Department of Health and Social Care As of 1 December

Found: Burton-Sampson Cat Eccles Tom Gordon Jo White Euan Stainbank Adrian Ramsay Helen Hayes Andrew Gwynne

Found: Burton-Sampson Cat Eccles Tom Gordon Jo White Euan Stainbank Adrian Ramsay Helen Hayes Andrew Gwynne

Found: Burton-Sampson Cat Eccles Tom Gordon Jo White Euan Stainbank Adrian Ramsay Helen Hayes Andrew Gwynne

HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found:  for  Liverpool  Riverside  Kirsten  Oswald  MP  for  East  Renfrewshire  Andrew  Gwynne

HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Bradshaw MP, Exeter Andy Slaughter MP, Hammersmith Catherine McKinnell MP, Newcastle North Andrew Gwynne

Beer APPG
Tuesday 10th June 2025

Found: Roundtable – Beer Leading the Way, with a contribution from Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne

University APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Research: North West Andrew Gwynne (Independent): To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The 25-page report was published in December, at which point then lead Minister, Andrew Gwynne, signalled

Freight and Logistics APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: views expressed in this report are those of the group.Members Amanda Martin MP – Portsmouth North Andrew Gwynne

Adult Social Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Professor Julienne Meyer, Chair of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, and Shadow Minister for Care Andrew Gwynne

Young Carers and Young Adult Carers APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: that this included the Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately, Shadow Minister for Social Care, Andrew Gwynne

Adult Social Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Professor Julienne Meyer, Chair of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, and Shadow Minister for Care Andrew Gwynne

Cats APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Andrew Gwynne MP- elected to position of Vice Chair 3.

Adult Social Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Summary of Adult Social Care APPG Working Group Meeting with Andrew Gwynne MP 121223

Young Carers and Young Adult Carers APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: its mailing list from across both houses of Parliament: Afzal Khan MP Alistair Carmichael MP Andrew Gwynne

Cats APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: of Vice Chair Mark Tami MP- elected to position of Vice Chair Officers elected in absentia Andrew Gwynne

Motor Neurone Disease APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Emma McLellan MND Association- Secretariat Apologies: Lord Hunt Marion Fellows MP Andrew Gwynne

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: to the Attorney General, APPG on PDRH member Ruth Cadbury MP, along with Kate Osborne MP and Andrew Gwynne

Kinship Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Cover photo: Humphrey Muleba at Unsplash.com Contents Foreword by Andrew Gwynne MP 5 1 Executive Summary

Kinship Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Evidence Session 2 Wednesday 9th March – 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Zoom Attended: Parliamentarians: Andrew Gwynne

Kinship Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Evidence Session 1 Wednesday 23rd February – 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Zoom Attended: Parliamentarians: Andrew Gwynne

Kinship Care APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The APPG is chaired by Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish.

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Justice, Wera Hobhouse MP asked what steps are being taken to support prosecutions for VAWG and Andrew Gwynne

HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Apologies Steve Brine MP Stephen Doughty MP Lord Black Lord Collins Alison Thewliss MP Andrew Gwynne

HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Via Zoom Attendees: Stephen Doughty, Sir Peter Bottomley, Virendra Sharma, Dr Lisa Cameron, Andrew Gwynne

Cats APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Rogers, Cats Protection Emma Tipton, PDSA Anna Wade, Blue Cross Apologies Patricia Gibson MP Andrew Gwynne

Cats APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Day MP Stephen Doughty MP James Duddridge MP Rosie Duffield MP Bill Esterson MP Baroness Gale Andrew Gwynne

Motor Neurone Disease APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Rosie Duffield MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP Mark Fletcher MP Mary Glindon MP Nia Griffith MP Andrew Gwynne

Cats APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found:  James Duddridge MP  Kevin Foster MP  Yvonne Fovargue MP  Lord Goddard of Stockport  Andrew Gwynne

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: appendix 220 Female Genital Mutilation, 21st July 2016 Lilian Greenwood MP, Vicky Foxcroft MP, Andrew Gwynne

Beyond Pills APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Flynn MP Debbie Abrahams MP Peter Bottomley MP Baroness Finlay of Llandaff The Baroness Goudie Andrew Gwynne