Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that 16 to 18-year-olds leave school with access to employment, apprenticeships or training opportunities.

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

We are supporting young people to stay on and succeed in education and training until at least age 18, and ensure they can take up opportunities to move into work and/or further study. For example, eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, backed by £90 million, are helping young people access support for training, apprenticeships or work.

We have introduced foundation apprenticeships and are expanding them into more sectors, like hospitality and retail.

We will ensure that a post-16 destination is identified for every year 11 pupil, and those most at risk of becoming NEET receive personalised transition support

We are piloting the automatic allocation of a place at a further education (FE) provider for anyone aged 16-17 who doesn’t already have one.

We are also investing in improved Risk of NEET Indicator tools and attendance tracking in FE, so that young people at risk of falling out of education are identified and supported.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of careers advice and post-16 employment support provided by secondary schools to pupils who do not intend to follow a further education or college route.

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

Through our commitments to improve careers advice in schools and to deliver two weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person, we are bridging the gap between the curriculum and the world of work.

The updated Gatsby Benchmarks have been adopted into statutory guidance. The benchmarks provide a framework for good career guidance, tailored to meet each pupil’s needs, with insights into a broad range of career pathways.

Our ambition for a minimum of two week’s worth of work experience by year 11 will further improve employability. Pupils from all backgrounds will be given access to progressive, high quality workplace experiences throughout their education journey.

Evidence shows that these measures will support pupils to make successful transitions from education into training or employment. There is an established link between schools that achieve higher Gatsby Benchmark scores and improved education, employment and training rates for their pupils at post-16 and post-18.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the planned measures in chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on preventing rental discrimination of people in receipt of welfare benefits, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) insurance companies and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority on the (i) availability and (ii) price of (A) landlord, (B) buildings and (C) contents insurance policies for properties rented to people claiming welfare benefits; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the home insurance market on the ability of people in receipt of welfare benefits to rent property in accordance with that Act.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 44561 on 22 April 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to protect the tax relief available to childminders under the current HMRC expenses agreement in light of the move Making Tax Digital, including the wear-and-tear allowance; and whether prior consultation will be issued before any changes.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Budget 2025 the Government confirmed that the standard rules for calculating income tax would apply to childminders who are mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD). We will phase in this change between 2026 and 2028, in line with the MTD income thresholds.

Childminders can continue to claim tax relief for wear and tear by deducting the actual cost of buying, repairing or replacing items. They can also deduct the cost of business expenses such as utilities, cleaning and equipment. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.

HMRC engaged with stakeholders, including Coram PACEY, on these changes before the Budget, and are actively working with them to help childminders with the transition, answer any queries they may have, and produce updated guidance in early 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure United States' military aircraft operating from UK military sites are operating in line with international law.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Any United States' operation from a base in the UK is considered on a case-by-case basis, and this includes appropriate consideration of the legal basis for any proposed activity.

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 28 January 2025 to Question 26922 on Waste Disposal: Monitoring, what progress she has made on the introduction of the Digital Waste Tracking Service.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra has made good progress on implementing Digital Waste Tracking.

As announced in July 2025 Defra is implementing digital waste tracking through a phased approach beginning with a service for permitted waste receiving site operators.

• This service is now live for selected software developers and permitted waste receiving site operators to test the service and provide feedback.
• In spring 2026 the service will be available publicly to software developers and all permitted site operators to submit information on a voluntary basis.
• In April Defra plans to lay the legislation to support this first phase, and this will come into force in October 2026.
• The service will then be further developed to encompass full end to end waste movement information and expanded to other waste operators from April 2027.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Public Order Act and the proposed designation of “life sciences” as key national infrastructure, what evidence was used to conclude that existing police powers are inadequate to address disruptive protest activity affecting life sciences sites, including animal research and testing facilities.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On Thursday 27 November 2025, the Home Office laid an affirmative Statutory Instrument in Parliament to amend Section 7 and Section 8 of the Public Order Act 2023. This will amend the list of key national infrastructure within Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, to add the Life Sciences sector and define the Life Sciences sector in Section 8 of the Act.

To ensure these powers are workable and proportionate, the Home Office undertook targeted engagement with the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Office for Life Sciences as the relevant government unit between the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and authorities with executive responsibility in their respective fields. This engagement provided a broad and comprehensive understanding of the challenges being managed by the Life Sciences Sector.

The government remains committed to safeguarding the right to peaceful protest while ensuring that public order and safety are maintained. The amendments to the Public Order Act 2023 reflect the balance between these priorities, responding directly to the evidence gathered from those responsible for maintaining public safety and order.

Earth Action North Devon

UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

Gambling harms

Import of illegal meat

Public health campaign on tackling stigma towards suicide

Brain cancer

Iran protests

Nuclear Regulatory Review and habitats regulations

Somerset Bus Partnership and Bus Users UK Awards 2025

Use of UK bases by the United States and international law in relation to Greenland

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

Homelessness support in Eastbourne

Bake Shop, Ely named Best Bakery in Cambridgeshire

Detainment of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya

Tribute to Lance Corporal George Thomas Hooley

Found: Q82 Ian Roome: Where does it sit, from your advice and your interpretation?

Submit Evidence (by 25 Mar 2026)

The inquiry will examine the current and emerging threats in the region. It will ask what the UK’s defence and security interests are, and whether we have the correct strategies, capabilities and alliances to counter these threats, particularly from Russia.