Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the response given on 10 June 2026 to WPQ 6383, when in the autumn can local highway authorities expect to learn the outcome of the Department's review of proposals to the Structures Fund.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding of the Technological Cooperation Programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department recognises the importance of openness and transparency and has carefully considered whether the Technical Cooperation Programme (TTCP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) can be made publicly available.
Having considered the relevant factors, the Department does not intend to publish the MOU for the TTCP.
The Ministry of Defence considers that maintaining the confidentiality of the MOU is appropriate, reflecting the basis on which it was agreed and supporting the UK’s valued international relationships.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made towards publishing records about Nuclear Test Veterans from The Technical Cooperation Programme.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Ministry of Defence wrote to the hon. Lady in March explaining the challenges associated with locating, accessing and searching TTCP information held in a variety of archives, both electronic and paper. Since sending that letter, the department has identified and examined a number of TTCP files to determine whether they are in scope of her enquiry. A review of these documents has found no mention of data pertaining to experiments on British Servicemen. Work is ongoing to identify and review other TTCP records for anything within scope. These activities are separate from efforts which were previously the subject of a Written Ministerial Statement, titled 'Nuclear Test Veterans Report', released in July.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2026 to Question 6751, what sanctions are placed on water companies if they do not provide Ofwat with their regular monitoring reports.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the agreed undertakings, Northumbrian Water must provide Ofwat with regular monitoring reports on progress, including an initial report in June 2026 and further updates every six months. The company is also required to publish progress updates for customers and stakeholders on its website.
If Northumbrian Water fail to comply with this undertaking, Section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991 gives Ofwat the power of further enforcement, which could include the issuing of an enforcement order and/or penalty.
More broadly, water companies are required to comply with their statutory and licence obligations, including providing information to Ofwat, and where they fail to do so, Ofwat has powers to take enforcement action.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the role of updated School Food Standards in supporting children’s health, wellbeing and readiness to learn.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
A good meal or a nutritious breakfast can set a child up for the day. The department is consulting on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school better reflects current nutritional guidance, supports our work to raise the healthiest generation ever, and ensures children are given the very best start in life.
Evidence shows that access to nutritious school meals is associated with higher attainment, improved behaviour, and better health and economic outcomes, factors that contribute to improved life chances for children.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide a breakdown of the amounts paid by different local authorities across the country for the procurement of external bookings systems which allow families to access the holiday activities and food programme.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
The eligibility for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme in 2026 to 2027 continues to be children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM) up until September 2026
Local authorities will continue to have flexibility to use up to 15% of their funding to support other children and young people who may benefit from HAF in line with local need and priorities
Some local authorities procure the use of bespoke booking systems from relevant organisations for parents and families to book places on the HAF programme. The department does not hold data on the amounts that individual local authorities pay for procurement of booking systems.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to remove means-testing for families to access the holiday activities and food programme.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
The eligibility for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme in 2026 to 2027 continues to be children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM) up until September 2026
Local authorities will continue to have flexibility to use up to 15% of their funding to support other children and young people who may benefit from HAF in line with local need and priorities
Some local authorities procure the use of bespoke booking systems from relevant organisations for parents and families to book places on the HAF programme. The department does not hold data on the amounts that individual local authorities pay for procurement of booking systems.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the characteristics of people living in Houses in Multiple Occupation in England by a) age, b) gender, c) employment status, d) ethnicity, e) care status, f) immigration status and g) criminal record.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the information requested.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation were being used to provide a) social housing and b) temporary accommodation funded by local authorities in each region of England in the last year for which data is available.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the information requested.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people living in licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in England in the last 5 years by region.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not hold the information requested.