Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme replacement.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our deepest sympathies are with those who have experienced harm following vaccination, as well as their families.

The Government recognises that concerns have been raised in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), including during Module 4 of the COVID-19 inquiry. Following the publication of the COVID-19 Inquiry’s Module 4 report on vaccines and therapeutics on 16 April 2026, the Government will carefully consider its recommendations, including on the reform of the VDPS, and will respond formally in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the NHS Business Services Authority will begin writing proactively to eligible families about their NHS Healthy Start entitlement, encouraging them to apply and offering them support with the application process.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department continues to work with the NHS Business Services Authority on ways to encourage those eligible to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme to apply.

The Department keeps the eligibility criteria for the Healthy Start Scheme under continuous review. There are no current plans to change the eligibility for the scheme.

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 merits of revising the eligibility criteria for NHS Healthy Start cards.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department continues to work with the NHS Business Services Authority on ways to encourage those eligible to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme to apply.

The Department keeps the eligibility criteria for the Healthy Start Scheme under continuous review. There are no current plans to change the eligibility for the scheme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Local Housing Allowance in helping low-income tenants meet their housing costs.

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

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed Local Housing Allowance rates and confirmed in his written statement on 26 November 2025 (HCWS1101) that rates would be maintained at their current levels for 2026/27.

Renters facing a shortfall in meeting their housing costs can apply for discretionary support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payments from local authorities in England. In Wales and Scotland Discretionary Housing Payments apply.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of local authorities piloting community eligibility, or open access, for the Holiday Activities and Food programme in more deprived areas.

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

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides free nutritious meals, enriching activities, and safe environments to children and young people from low-income families during the school holidays, benefiting their health, wellbeing and readiness to learn.

Local authorities and their providers have flexibility in how they deliver provision to best serve the needs of young people in their area. The department’s published HAF guidance encourages all local authorities to have a varied mix of provision that caters for different ages and interests, including through collaboration with relevant local organisations. We are aware that several local authorities are utilising different delivery models for HAF to better suit the needs and interests of teenagers, including the HAF Plus model, which features an App

There have been several successful pilots within the HAF programme in collaboration with participating local authorities to further test what works in practice and develop innovative approaches to supporting children and young people We will continue to consider potential future pilots.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether local authorities in England have received from the Department for Education information on how they can implement the HAF Plus model of the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

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

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides free nutritious meals, enriching activities, and safe environments to children and young people from low-income families during the school holidays, benefiting their health, wellbeing and readiness to learn.

Local authorities and their providers have flexibility in how they deliver provision to best serve the needs of young people in their area. The department’s published HAF guidance encourages all local authorities to have a varied mix of provision that caters for different ages and interests, including through collaboration with relevant local organisations. We are aware that several local authorities are utilising different delivery models for HAF to better suit the needs and interests of teenagers, including the HAF Plus model, which features an App

There have been several successful pilots within the HAF programme in collaboration with participating local authorities to further test what works in practice and develop innovative approaches to supporting children and young people We will continue to consider potential future pilots.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether under-18-year-old recruits in Army initial training are subject to staged exit restrictions when seeking to leave service.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their first day of service, by giving at least 14 days’ written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). The CO may reduce the notice period at their discretion.

After six months, under-18s can apply to leave up to their 18th birthday but must give written notice and observe a cooling-off period of up to three months, which may be shortened by agreement. They can withdraw their notice during this period.

Commanders must ensure that under-18 recruits are fully informed of their rights to discharge and must facilitate their safe return to parents, guardians, or appropriate care arrangements. Support includes travel arrangements, accommodation if necessary, reimbursement of reasonable expenses, and follow-up to confirm safe arrival. This process safeguards both the recruit’s statutory rights and welfare.

All recruits and Junior Soldiers receive formal briefing on their right to Discharge as of Right during the Officer Commanding’s Week one induction.

In exceptional cases where family or welfare circumstances necessitate an under-18 recruit’s early release, the CO may apply to the competent Service authority to terminate the soldier’s service without requiring the usual 14 days’ notice or adherence to the six-month period. This provision allows for immediate discharge on safeguarding or welfare grounds, ensuring the recruit’s welfare is prioritised.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether provisions allow the immediate discharge of an under-18 year old recruit from Army training on safeguarding or welfare grounds, including where there are allegations of abuse; and whether such discharge can occur without the requirement to complete notice periods or cooling-off periods.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their first day of service, by giving at least 14 days’ written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). The CO may reduce the notice period at their discretion.

After six months, under-18s can apply to leave up to their 18th birthday but must give written notice and observe a cooling-off period of up to three months, which may be shortened by agreement. They can withdraw their notice during this period.

Commanders must ensure that under-18 recruits are fully informed of their rights to discharge and must facilitate their safe return to parents, guardians, or appropriate care arrangements. Support includes travel arrangements, accommodation if necessary, reimbursement of reasonable expenses, and follow-up to confirm safe arrival. This process safeguards both the recruit’s statutory rights and welfare.

All recruits and Junior Soldiers receive formal briefing on their right to Discharge as of Right during the Officer Commanding’s Week one induction.

In exceptional cases where family or welfare circumstances necessitate an under-18 recruit’s early release, the CO may apply to the competent Service authority to terminate the soldier’s service without requiring the usual 14 days’ notice or adherence to the six-month period. This provision allows for immediate discharge on safeguarding or welfare grounds, ensuring the recruit’s welfare is prioritised.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information is provided to under-18-year-old recruits in Army training regarding their right to leave service, and at what point in training this information is communicated.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their first day of service, by giving at least 14 days’ written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). The CO may reduce the notice period at their discretion.

After six months, under-18s can apply to leave up to their 18th birthday but must give written notice and observe a cooling-off period of up to three months, which may be shortened by agreement. They can withdraw their notice during this period.

Commanders must ensure that under-18 recruits are fully informed of their rights to discharge and must facilitate their safe return to parents, guardians, or appropriate care arrangements. Support includes travel arrangements, accommodation if necessary, reimbursement of reasonable expenses, and follow-up to confirm safe arrival. This process safeguards both the recruit’s statutory rights and welfare.

All recruits and Junior Soldiers receive formal briefing on their right to Discharge as of Right during the Officer Commanding’s Week one induction.

In exceptional cases where family or welfare circumstances necessitate an under-18 recruit’s early release, the CO may apply to the competent Service authority to terminate the soldier’s service without requiring the usual 14 days’ notice or adherence to the six-month period. This provision allows for immediate discharge on safeguarding or welfare grounds, ensuring the recruit’s welfare is prioritised.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many under-18-year-old recruits in Army initial training have (a) requested to leave service, (b) been required to observe a cooling-off period, (c) had their discharge delayed beyond 14 days, and (d) been refused discharge, in each year since 2016.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence holds data on the number of under-18-year-old recruits in Army initial training who have requested to leave service only from Training Year 2023-24 onwards. Data prior to this period is not available.

(a) Number of under-18 recruits who requested to leave service:

*Training Year 2026-27 is ongoing; figures are correct as of 15 May 2026.

Data on the number of recruits required to observe a “cooling-off” period is not held, nor do we hold data on the number of under-18 discharges delayed beyond 14 days. Recruits are formally interviewed to confirm their reasons for requesting discharge and may be encouraged to reflect; however, if a recruit elects to proceed with Discharge As of Right (DAOR), their statutory entitlement is enacted without delay.

There are no recorded instances of under-18 recruits being refused discharge within the DAOR window.

Orgreave Inquiry

Retirement of Tracy Thirlwall

Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on communication of changes to women’s state pension age

VAT for UK hospitality

Burnhope Miners' Gala Centenary Celebration

Hillsborough Law

Found: Q327 Emma Lewell: I was more interested in the MOD lessons learned.

Found: Labour; Leyton and Wanstead) Alex Baker (Labour; Aldershot) Lincoln Jopp (Conservative; Spelthorne) Emma Lewell