Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure access to humanitarian aid for women and children in Gaza.

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

The UK is actively supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups including women and children. In August, the UK announced £3 million funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to contribute to UNFPA's response and early recovery results under four key pillars: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Gender-Based Violence; Adolescents and Youth; Interagency Coordination. This funding addressed the urgent needs of women and girls facing violence within Gaza. The UK has also funded United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) with £9.7 million to support provision of ready-to-use infant formula, water, sanitation and hygiene services, psychosocial services for children, and social protection to children. We continue to call on Israel to fully enable the UN and other humanitarian organisations to be able to deliver humanitarian aid in Palestine.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve children's access to orthodontic treatment in Hornsey and Friern Barnet constituency.

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

National Health Service orthodontic treatment is free for people under the age of 18 years old with a clear health need for treatment. Adult patients, and patients under the age of 18 years old who do not qualify for NHS orthodontic treatment, may choose to pay for private orthodontic treatment. Further information can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/orthodontics/#:~:text=Taking%20care%20of%20your%20teeth,of%20your%20teeth%20and%20gums

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry and orthodontic services, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Hornsey and Friern Barnet constituency, this is the North Central London ICB.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the University and College Union news item entitled New analysis shows over 15,000 university job cuts as UCU launches UK wide strike ballot, published on 10 October 2025, what steps she is taking to help prevent job reductions in higher education.

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

Higher education (HE) providers are independent. This means government is not involved in workforce matters as it is in other education sectors.

While government understands that HE providers must make difficult business decisions to safeguard their financial sustainability, we encourage providers to work with their staff to develop sustainable models that retain talent and expertise and provide stability for the workforce and the institution. All efficiency measures taken by the sector should provide a better long-term future for staff, students and the country.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that asylum seekers are living in (a) safe and (b) suitable accommodation.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is firmly committed to ensuring that destitute asylum seekers are provided with safe, secure, and appropriate accommodation, and that they are treated with dignity throughout the asylum process. As part of its assurance processes, the Home Office conducts regular inspections and monitoring of asylum accommodation sites to ensure compliance with contractual and safety standards, including security arrangements. Feedback from local authorities and asylum seekers is also considered and informs improvements.

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) Requirements (AASC Schedule 2 - Statement of Requirements) gives a detailed breakdown of all the services to be undertaken by Home Office accommodation providers and to the standards expected.

Found: Glasgow East) Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Labour; Mitcham and Morden) Luke Murphy (Labour; Basingstoke) Catherine West

Found: Chair); Chris Coghlan; Bobby Dean; Jim Dickson; John Glen; John Grady; Dame Siobhain McDonagh; Catherine West

Found: Baldwin; Chris Coghlan; Bobby Dean; Jim Dickson; John Glen; John Grady; Dame Siobhain McDonagh; Catherine West

Found: Baldwin; Chris Coghlan; Bobby Dean; Jim Dickson; John Glen; John Grady; Dame Siobhain McDonagh; Catherine West

Found: IV: Catherine West. V: Sonia Kumar. VI: Josh Newbury.

Found: Baldwin; Chris Coghlan; Bobby Dean; Jim Dickson; John Glen; John Grady; Dame Siobhain McDonagh; Catherine West

Found: Return Nil Return Chris Elmore Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Catherine West

Found: Return Nil Return Nil Return Chris Elmore Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Catherine West

Found:

Found:

Found: On 4 June, the then-Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, the Hon Catherine West