Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of mandating extended online consultation use at GP surgeries on the availability of face-to-face appointments.

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

The changes to the 2025/26 GP Contract that came into force on 1 October requires practices to make all routes for contacting the practice, including online consultations, available throughout core hours, 8:00am to 6.30pm. This is intended to provide more consistent access for patients and help manage the 8:00am scramble.

In 2024/25, 85% of primary care networks reported that all their practices already provided online consultations during core hours and did not raise concerns about an impact on the availability of face-to-face appointments. Online consultation systems support triage so patients can be directed to the most appropriate response, including face-to-face appointments where clinically necessary

In July 2024, only 61% of patients found it easy to access their GP. Today, it’s nearly 77%.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will introduce supplementary grants for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who seek to participate in Erasmus + projects in line with the provision in other associated countries.

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

As set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, additional funding is available for participants with fewer opportunities, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to support them to travel abroad on an Erasmus+ placement.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people migrating to Universal Credit who lack digital skills and are unable to complete online requirements, including accepting their claimant commitment.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department recognises that not all people moving to Universal Credit have the confidence or ability to use digital services independently. Universal Credit is designed to be “digital-first”, but not “digital‑-only”,‑ and a range of support is already in place to ensure that claimants who lack digital skills, or who cannot complete online actions such as accepting their Claimant Commitment, are fully supported.

All Jobcentres provide free access to WiFi and computers, alongside Work Coach support, so claimants can get help using online services if they need it. For those who cannot use digital channels at all, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available by telephone, and Work Coaches can accept Claimant Commitments verbally where appropriate. If a claimant is unable to accept their commitments digitally, agents may record verbal consent and accept the commitment on their behalf, ensuring no‑-one‑ is disadvantaged because of low digital capability.

Additional help is available through the Citizens Advice “Help to Claim” service, which provides independent support for people moving to Universal Credit, including navigating digital requirements.

These measures ensure that claimants who lack digital skills continue to receive tailored support throughout their migration journey, and that no-one‑ is prevented from accessing Universal Credit because they cannot complete online actions.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how UK institutions will be able to participate in Erasmus+ if they do not get accredited by the deadline of 24 March 2026.

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

Higher education (HE) institutions must successfully apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) before applying for funding for any project, whether they are applying for mobilities or partnerships, or as an individual organisation or consortium. Signing the charter means committing to providing participants with all the necessary support for their placements, including linguistic preparation.

The deadline for submitting applications for the ECHE has been extended to 24 March 2026 for HE institutions intending to participate in the 2027 funding call.

The ECHE is a mandatory prerequisite for participating in Erasmus+ activities related to HE, so any HE institutions wishing to participate in Erasmus+ in 2027 must ensure they meet the 24 March deadline. Applications can be made on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the national UK agency for Erasmus+ will be in place and where it will be hosted.

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

The department has commenced discussions with the British Council with a view to them being appointed as the National Agency for Erasmus+.

The National Agency will be set up in time to accept bids for the 2027 Erasmus+ funding call which opens in November 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which types of UK institutions and organisations will be eligible to participate in the Erasmus+ programme.

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

Erasmus+ is open to learners, trainees and staff in higher education, further education, vocational education and training, schools and adult education. It is also open to young people and youth workers in the youth sector, as well as staff in sports organisations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of food purchased through the NHS Supply Chain is classified as Nova Group 4; and what plans he has to incentivise NHS Trusts to move toward minimally processed alternatives.

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

Data is currently not collected centrally on National Health Service food purchases which would identify NOVA Group four foods.

The United Kingdom’s national food model is the Eatwell Guide. The principles of the Eatwell Guide underpin the Government’s Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF), which help to ensure public sector food is procured to higher sustainability and nutritional standards. The GBSF include mandatory nutrition standards intended to reduce the intake of salt, sugar, and saturated fat, and to increase consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, and fibre. They also include standards that limit the availability and portion size of soft drinks, confectionery, and savoury snacks.

Hospitals, the Government, and their agencies are required to apply the GBSF, with other public sector settings also encouraged to follow.

NHS England’s National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink (2022) state that all NHS trusts are expected to follow the published NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink. This document makes clear that organisations must implement the GBSF minimum mandatory standards for healthier and more sustainable retail, staff, and visitor food and drink.

The document recommends that NHS trusts should prioritise healthier, seasonal, and locally sourced food and adopt more environmentally sustainable menus that use:

- fewer processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fats;

- a wide variety of protein sources including beans, pulses, nuts, and soya; and

- a choice of seasonal, locally sourced fruits and vegetables.

The standards can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-standards-for-healthcare-food-and-drink/

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 ensure that all eligible claimants are made aware of the forthcoming proposed removal of the two-child limit on Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government has announced that the two child‑ limit in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit will be removed from 6^th April 2026.

For Universal Credit, the Department is contacting customers who are expected to benefit from the removal of the two child limit directly, ensuring that families are aware of the additional support they will be entitled to. Eligible customers will automatically receive the increased child element from April 2026, provided the number of children in their household is correctly recorded on their Universal Credit claim.

The Universal Credit service will be updated to reflect the policy change, and agents will receive updated guidance and communications to support them in responding to claimant enquiries. Customers can also receive additional support through Jobcentres, by telephoning the Universal Credit helpline, or via their online Universal Credit account.

HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for managing any remaining Child Tax Credit claims and will lead on communications with their affected customers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to update the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services to include a mandatory limit on the procurement of ultra-processed foods across the public estate, including prisons and government departments.

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

Defra continues to engage with actors across public sector supply chains and are carefully considering possible policy options, including the potential for updating the government buying standards for food and catering services (GBSF). We will continue to work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), who own the nutritional elements of the GBSF, to ensure healthier options are widely accessible in all public sector settings including prisons and government departments.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what specific nutritional and processing specifications are included in contracts for the National Breakfast Club programme to help ensure that the £100m+ of annual public spend is not directed toward ultra-processed cereals and breads.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The National School Breakfast Programme is an inherited scheme from the previous government and the contract will end in July 2026. The contract with the supplier, Family Action, stipulates that all food available for schools to purchase must meet the School Food Standards. ​

The School Food Standards already restricts foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods. However, to ensure quality and nutrition in meals for the future, we are revising the School Food Standards. We are engaging experts across the sector, such as nutritionists, and are developing our plans to consult on the changes.  ​

This government is committed to delivering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England. Since April 2025, we have funded 750 schools to offer a free breakfast club as early adopters, delivering seven million meals so far. We are moving into national rollout, investing a further £80 million into the programme to fund an additional 2,000 schools between April 2026 and March 2027. Schools delivering free breakfast clubs have autonomy in how they procure their breakfast food, which must meet the School Food Standards.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will introduce a maximum 5 per cent threshold for ultra-processed foods (Nova Group 4) in the updated School Food Standards, in line with the successful 2025 implementation by the Isle of Man Government; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Chelsea and Fulham to the answer of 7 April 2026 to Question 121632.

Found: Liberal Democrat; Oxford West and Abingdon) (Chair) Danny Beales (Labour; Uxbridge and South Ruislip) Ben Coleman

Found: Liberal Democrat; Oxford West and Abingdon) (Chair) Danny Beales (Labour; Uxbridge and South Ruislip) Ben Coleman

Found: Q28 Ben Coleman: Thank you all for coming.