Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

We are working closely with the music industry, and engaging with the EU and EU Member States to tackle the challenges facing UK musicians and their support staff, including reduced access due to restrictions on the number and type of permitted transport movements when touring in the EU. Our aim is to identify practical solutions to ensure that UK artists can continue to perform across Europe with minimal barriers while respecting the regulatory frameworks on both sides.

On 7 April, Sir Chris Bryant attended the Informal Meeting for EU Culture Ministers in Warsaw as a guest of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is the first time a UK minister has been invited to such a meeting since the UK’s exit from the EU. The Minister used the opportunity to forge closer, more cooperative ties with his EU counterparts, including on matters related to touring. The Minister and senior DCMS officials have previously engaged the EU on this matter bilaterally, including during an introductory call with EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport Glenn Micallef and in recent engagements with Polish, French, German, Italian, Danish and Swedish counterparts.

The UK Government remains in constructive dialogue with the EU on this and other EU reset priorities. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and Maroš Šefčovič have been tasked with moving discussions forward and leaders will take stock at the UK-EU Summit in May.

As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation on the statutory levy, further consideration of the evidence is needed in order to appoint an appropriate body to lead the prevention strand of the levy system. We will confirm our decisions in due course. Prevention is a critical part of the government’s approach to tackling gambling-related harm and we need to take the time to get the policy right whilst ensuring that necessary legislation is passed to meet our commitment to having the levy in place by April 2025.

The Government is committed to strengthening protections to ensure that people can continue to enjoy gambling, without the risks that can ensue from harmful gambling. We are acutely aware of the impact harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families. We are committed to reviewing the best available evidence from a wide range of sources and working with all stakeholders in order to support the industry and ensure there are robust protections in place to protect those at risk, and we have noted the Lancet Public Health Commission’s report. We will provide further updates to the House soon.

The Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey of Great Britain collects official statistics on gambling behaviour in Great Britain including participation rates of bet in play and participation rates and Problem Gambling Survey Index scores for online instant win games (online and in person), betting on sports and racing (online and in person) and fruit and slots games (online and in person).

The Gambling Commission is responsible for the implementation of a number of the regulatory reforms set out in the white paper, such as introducing new regulations to make online games safer. This has included introducing a limit on spin speeds for online slots games in 2021, with additional rules coming into force from January 2025 to reduce the speed and intensity of online products.

The Government is committed to strengthening protections to ensure that people can continue to enjoy gambling, without the risks that can ensue from harmful gambling. We are acutely aware of the impact harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families. We are committed to reviewing the best available evidence from a wide range of sources and working with all stakeholders in order to support the industry and ensure there are robust protections in place to protect those at risk, and we have noted the Lancet Public Health Commission’s report. We will provide further updates to the House soon.

The Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey of Great Britain collects official statistics on gambling behaviour in Great Britain including participation rates of bet in play and participation rates and Problem Gambling Survey Index scores for online instant win games (online and in person), betting on sports and racing (online and in person) and fruit and slots games (online and in person).

The Gambling Commission is responsible for the implementation of a number of the regulatory reforms set out in the white paper, such as introducing new regulations to make online games safer. This has included introducing a limit on spin speeds for online slots games in 2021, with additional rules coming into force from January 2025 to reduce the speed and intensity of online products.

For students starting in the 2024/25 academic year, the department estimates the average loan balance at the point of repayment to be £45,600, including interest accrued during study. This data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/student-loan-forecasts-for-england/2024-25.

Under Plan 5 loan terms, 56% of these borrowers are expected to repay their loans in full and had assumed inflationary fee increases. Figures include balance associated with both maintenance and fee loans.

Borrowers will be liable to repay at a fixed percentage of earnings only when earning above the applicable student loan repayment threshold. Repayments are linked to the earnings, and not the rate of interest or the amount borrowed. Those earning below the student loan repayment threshold repay nothing. Where a borrower does not repay their loan in full by the end of the loan term, the remaining balance is cancelled, with no detriment to the borrower.

This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected.

The department continues to follow up on the 2022 Joint Committee on Human Rights report, including improving access to adoption records, enhancing intermediary services and preserving historical records. Regulations have been amended to make it easier for adults to access adoption support, and local authorities have been encouraged to retain records for at least 100 years.

The department is also working with Adoption England, which recently published new guidance to support consistent and legally compliant practice across adoption services. Adoption England continues to fund the pilot initiative Family Connect, a national advice line designed to provide support to adopted adults, birth parents, relatives and professionals. Officials remain in contact with the Scottish and Welsh governments to understand and learn from their approaches.

Academy trusts hold reserves, as part of good financial management, for a range of reasons. This will include:

• Ensuring sufficient cashflow and contingency funds.
• Maintenance and improvements to existing buildings, and construction of new buildings.
• Investment in IT and systems, and pupil and staff provision.
• The trust’s wider financial management strategy.

Academy trusts must be accountable and transparent on how they manage their reserves. The Academy Trust Handbook requires trusts to have a reserves policy in place, explain their policy in their published annual report and include a clear plan for managing the reserves they hold.

The department engages with academy trusts on their reserves to ensure they have plans in place to use their funds to deliver outcomes that benefit pupils, effectively mitigate against unforeseen issues, and invest in their current and future pupils’ education.

Statutory guidance on the current relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum, published on GOV.UK states that by the end of secondary education, pupils should know the facts about reproductive health, including fertility, and the potential impact of lifestyle on fertility for men and women and menopause. This guidance is attached and is also available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education. While endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are not mentioned specifically in the statutory guidance, it is open to schools to include it as part of this education.

To support schools further, in 2020 the department developed teacher training modules which are freely available to download from GOV.UK and are attached and is also available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health. This included working with Endometriosis UK when developing the ‘changing adolescent body’ module, which references endometriosis. In addition, the ‘intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health’ module refers to endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, fertility and menopause.

The department is currently reviewing the RSHE statutory guidance. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance for schools and as such we will talk to stakeholders, analyse consultation responses and consider relevant evidence before setting out next steps. This will include assessing whether amended content on reproductive health issues is needed.

The department recognises that access to green space has been shown to have a positive impact on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of young people, but children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to spend time regularly outside than those from more affluent backgrounds. That is why we are inviting all nurseries, schools and colleges to register with the National Education Nature Park and offering grants to support participation from eligible settings.

Participating in Nature Park activities will support and encourage all children, and young people will benefit from spending time in nature. It will also support teachers to build confidence to deliver effective outdoor learning.

Bio-beads must comply with all material content regulations and standards when supplied.

The Environment Agency (EA) is working alongside the water sector on an ongoing research project, led by UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), looking at the complex issue of the impact of microplastics generated by wastewater treatment works.

In the event of any escape of bio media from wastewater treatment works above permitted controls or that may cause significant pollution, Water Companies must immediately report this as a pollution incident to the EA, which will investigate and take necessary enforcement action. The Secretary of State for Defra has written to Water Companies to reiterate how unacceptable the pollution incident at Camber Sands is, and to stress the positive action Water Companies must take to ensure their infrastructure is functioning correctly.

The Environment Agency (EA) has declared this case as a critical incident and is leading the multi-agency emergency response with the local police, fire services and Oxfordshire County Council following several lines of inquiry. Specialist officers are investigating the site so that the individuals responsible are caught, prosecuted, and made to pay for the damage including the clear up. We cannot commit to a timescale at this stage. While this investigation takes place the EA is taking robust steps to prevent contamination of the River Cherwell.

Separate to the incident in Oxfordshire the Government is making policy and regulatory reforms to close loopholes exploited by criminals - fundamentally reforming the waste carriers, brokers and dealers system, tightening waste permit exemptions and introducing digital waste tracking.

We recognise increasing concerns about the environmental impact of spot-on parasiticide treatments for companion animals. Research funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has improved understanding of how substances such as fipronil and imidacloprid enter the environment, but further evidence is needed to address gaps around contamination sources, behavioural influences, and effective monitoring. To strengthen this evidence base, the VMD has launched a national survey to gather data on pet owner behaviours. In parallel, exposure modelling is being explored to support potential future regulatory decisions. These initiatives aim to safeguard animal health while reducing environmental impacts.

On 14 August 2025, the cross-Government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group convened its first stakeholder workshop on the ‘Appropriate and Practical Use of Topical Pet Parasiticides’, engaging a wide range of stakeholders from the companion animal sector. The workshop focused on developing educational messaging for pet owners on the correct use and disposal of parasiticides, which is now being refined and is expected to launch in spring. Additional measures to promote responsible parasiticide use were also explored and will be taken forward by other stakeholder groups, with the VMD helping to facilitate collaboration where appropriate.

As of 17 November 2025, the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) has received 1 formal complaint relating to areas of a milk purchase contract that was alleged to be not compliant with the requirements of the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024. ASCA led an informal resolution which was fully agreed between the complainant and the processor resulting in an amended milk purchase contract being provided to the producer. No formal intervention was required from the ASCA as the complaint was withdrawn by the producer.

The ‘in confidence’ ASCA email channel was established to ensure producers could raise issues to the ASCA without fear of identification or reprisal. This was identified as a key barrier for producers to raise their concerns in an earlier ASCA survey. No formal complaints have been raised via this channel, but the ASCA has received over 15 separate issues in confidence. The confidential feedback has been used by ASCA to raise specific and anonymised issues with industry where possible.

As of 17 November 2025, the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) has received 1 formal complaint relating to areas of a milk purchase contract that was alleged to be not compliant with the requirements of the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024. ASCA led an informal resolution which was fully agreed between the complainant and the processor resulting in an amended milk purchase contract being provided to the producer. No formal intervention was required from the ASCA as the complaint was withdrawn by the producer.

The ‘in confidence’ ASCA email channel was established to ensure producers could raise issues to the ASCA without fear of identification or reprisal. This was identified as a key barrier for producers to raise their concerns in an earlier ASCA survey. No formal complaints have been raised via this channel, but the ASCA has received over 15 separate issues in confidence. The confidential feedback has been used by ASCA to raise specific and anonymised issues with industry where possible.