Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to protect workers' rights to flexible working.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Through the Employment Rights Act 2025, the government is strengthening the flexible working framework. We are introducing a new requirement that employers must only reject requests where it is reasonable to do so and the Act provides powers to set out a statutory process employers must follow before rejecting a request. These changes are intended to improve transparency and accountability by ensuring employees receive a clear explanation of decisions while supporting more meaningful discussion about whether flexibility can be accommodated. The government intends to bring these measures into effect in Autumn 2027.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the quality of water for recreational use.

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

The Clean Water Bill will deliver cleaner rivers, lakes, and seas by providing the legislative tools to ensure targets are ambitious, enabling pre-pipe solutions to reduce spills, and consolidating and strengthening agricultural pollution rules.

The Public Health Water Taskforce, a scientific and technical advisory group with expertise in public health and water, will provide independent advice to Government on public health risks associated with recreational water quality and opportunities for mitigation. This work will inform future policy.

The EA has action plans in place to identify and deliver cross-sector improvements where bathing water quality is not meeting satisfactory standards.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve access to mental health services for adopted children and their families.

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

The department is investing £55 million in 2026/2027, a 10% increase, in the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, which provides support to address mental health challenges.

We are considering responses to our consultation ‘Adoption Support that Works for All’, which closed on 5 May and asks what works to improve adopted children’s mental health.

The consultation explains that we are funding Regional Adoption Agencies to pilot multi-disciplinary teams that bring together social care, health and educational partners to deliver assessment and support to adopted children and families, including access to mental health services.

We are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to pilot mental health support, including support for adoptive families. This will test a fully integrated model of mental health support for all children and families involved with children’s social care when they need it. Expressions of interest were invited from Integrated Care Boards by 1 September.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to help protect jobs from emerging technologies, including driverless cars.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Emerging technologies, including AI and self-driving vehicles, will change some jobs but also create new opportunities, boost productivity and improve working lives.

Self-driving vehicle deployment will be gradual and subject to robust regulation. Automated Passenger Services pilot permits require the consent of the relevant local licensing authority or franchising body and the Government will build the evidence base through small-scale deployments, while supporting innovation and economic growth.

The Government will continue to engage closely with industry and the workforce to manage the potential risks and maximise the opportunities created by new technologies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to safeguard UK food supply from salmonella outbreaks.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Food Standards Agency's (FSA) is responsible for food safety and food hygiene. One of the FSA’s primary objectives is to control foodborne disease, and the FSA collaborates across the food system to identify and manage risks. The food hygiene legislation, official controls, surveillance of foodborne disease, outbreak investigation, and consumer advice are focused on reducing foodborne illness.

Food businesses are required to comply with food hygiene legislation and implement food safety management procedures based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point principles to identify and control food safety risks, including microbiological hazards such as Salmonella. Local authorities and the FSA deliver official controls to verify compliance with food hygiene requirements and take enforcement action where necessary.

The United Kingdom also operates Salmonella National Control Programmes in poultry populations, including breeding flocks, laying hens, broilers, and turkeys. These programmes require routine testing and surveillance to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella at primary production level and minimise the risk of contaminated food entering the supply chain.

The FSA works closely with the UK Health Security Agency, local authorities, and other partners to monitor and investigate foodborne disease outbreaks. Where food safety risks are identified, the FSA can issue Food Alerts and support product withdrawals or recalls to protect consumers.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to safeguard the right to privacy in relation to emerging technologies such as smart glasses.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The UK's data protection legislation applies to the processing of personal data regardless of the technology being used, including connected and AI-enabled devices such as smart glasses.

The Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's independent data protection regulator, has published guidance to support organisations in complying with their obligations.

Organisations that process personal data online, including social media platforms, must comply with the UK's data protection legislation. In addition, the Online Safety Act places duties on platforms to protect users from illegal content and activity, and platforms must have effective systems for reporting and addressing concerns raised by users.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to protect online privacy.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The UK's data protection legislation applies to the processing of personal data regardless of the technology being used, including connected and AI-enabled devices such as smart glasses.

The Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's independent data protection regulator, has published guidance to support organisations in complying with their obligations.

Organisations that process personal data online, including social media platforms, must comply with the UK's data protection legislation. In addition, the Online Safety Act places duties on platforms to protect users from illegal content and activity, and platforms must have effective systems for reporting and addressing concerns raised by users.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help improve preparation for droughts and wildfires in woods and forests in the context of the recent extreme temperatures.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Forestry Commission works with woodland owners and managers to improve resilience to droughts and wildfires through its practice guidance, Lantra accredited training, communications and financial support. The Government funds measures through Countryside Stewardship to improve woodland resilience, including support for fire and fuel breaks and wildfire management. It also supports climate-resilient woodland creation through appropriate species selection, woodland design and long-term management.

Forestry England works closely with Fire and Rescue Services and landowners to prevent and prepare for wildfires through vegetation management, fire and fuel breaks, emergency response planning, weather monitoring and public awareness campaigns, while the Forestry Commission provides advice and communications during periods of high wildfire risk.

Found: Norfolk BV2012028/1 Andrij Werenicz 04/04/2001 Huddersfield West Yorkshire BV22005970/1 Barbara Catherine West

Found: Norfolk BV2012028/1 Andrij Werenicz 04/04/2001 Huddersfield West Yorkshire BV22005970/1 Barbara Catherine West

Found: Norfolk BV2012028/1 Andrij Werenicz 04/04/2001 Huddersfield West Yorkshire BV22005970/1 Barbara Catherine West

Found: Norfolk BV2012028/1 Andrij Werenicz 04/04/2001 Huddersfield West Yorkshire BV22005970/1 Barbara Catherine West

Found: Norfolk BV2012028/1 Andrij Werenicz 04/04/2001 Huddersfield West Yorkshire BV22005970/1 Barbara Catherine West

Found: Norfolk BV2012028/1 Andrij Werenicz 04/04/2001 Huddersfield West Yorkshire BV22005970/1 Barbara Catherine West