Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the knife crime strategy.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We are working hard with Cabinet colleagues to deliver our goal to halve knife crime within a decade. We published youth knife possession guidance that delivers tougher consequences for knife carriers. Our May Youth Justice White Paper outlines comprehensive reforms to ensure harmful behaviours are responded to – firmly, fairly, proportionately.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2026 to WPQ 9853, when frontline services will receive funding referenced in the document entitled Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls, published on 18 December 2025.
Answered by Natalie Fleet
On 15 June 2026, the Home Office launched funding competitions for the VAWG Helplines Scheme, and VAWG Advocacy Support Fund which will strengthen support for victims, including specialist provision to address gaps in local services, and the Domestic Abuse and Stalking Perpetrator Intervention Fund, which includes for the first time ringfenced funding for interventions for children who use harm.
These competitions will deliver on the commitments we made in the VAWG Strategy. Further information can be found on ‘Find Government Grants’ - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the document entitled Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls, published on 18 December 2025, when will the new national commissioning statement be published.
Answered by Natalie Fleet
In the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, we committed to reform how victims’ services are commissioned to ensure that support is consistent, delivers what victims and survivors need, and is fit for purpose. To support this transformation, we will deliver a new national commissioning statement to replace the current National Statement of Expectations and VAWG Commissioning Toolkit. This statement will provide clear definitions of ‘by-and-for’ and specialist services, helping commissioners allocate funding more effectively.
The Police Reform White Paper, published on 26 January 2026, set out plans to abolish the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) model in May 2028 and transfer responsibility for policing governance to either Mayors or elected council leaders via Policing and Crime Boards.
Following its publication, the Home Office is working closely with the Ministry of Justice on how victims commissioning, compliance with the Victims’ Code, and the upcoming Duty to Collaborate will operate under the new arrangements. We remain focused on ensuring victims’ services and interests are protected, if not enhanced, by our changes. We have already engaged with the VAWG sector on PCC reform, and we will start work on the commissioning statement in the autumn - ensuring it reflects and supports the reformed system.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential risks associated with schools and school staff taking responsibility for healthcare activities instructed by health professionals, such as clinical and liability risks.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014, governing bodies of maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units must make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions. Statutory guidance makes clear that staff providing support should be appropriately trained and competent, and that this support is delivered in line with individual healthcare plans agreed with parents and relevant healthcare professionals.
Schools are not responsible for clinical healthcare tasks. Healthcare tasks can be delegated to staff in schools and other education settings where the responsible healthcare professional considers delegation safe and appropriate.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) both include a regulatory standard requiring registrants to delegate only when they are satisfied that the other person is competent to carry out the delegated task safely and require the healthcare practitioner to supervise and support those who are delegated to. Further information is available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ and https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics/.
The department and the Department of Health and Social Care will publish guidance on clinical healthcare in schools in due course.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
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 adequacy of NHS clinical provision for pupils with medical conditions in mainstream schools.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever.
Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies, and pupil referral units in England to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.
The Department for Education is currently updating this statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with medical conditions. More information can be found at the following link:
On 5 February 2026, the National Health Service published Standardising community health services – core component descriptions, to support ICBs in the strategic commissioning of community health services, which is available at the following link:
This document outlines the core responsibilities of special school and community children’s nursing services, including their role in supporting children with medical conditions to access education settings.
In addition, the NHS provides targeted support through school and community nursing, and through Mental Health Support teams in schools.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education on the NHS meeting responsibilities for pupils with medical conditions in schools.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever.
Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies, and pupil referral units in England to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.
The Department for Education is currently updating this statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with medical conditions. More information can be found at the following link:
On 5 February 2026, the National Health Service published Standardising community health services – core component descriptions, to support ICBs in the strategic commissioning of community health services, which is available at the following link:
This document outlines the core responsibilities of special school and community children’s nursing services, including their role in supporting children with medical conditions to access education settings.
In addition, the NHS provides targeted support through school and community nursing, and through Mental Health Support teams in schools.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered ensuring that compliant, needs-led NHS service models are delivered in mainstream schools, including adequate clinical provision and support for children and young people with medical and long-term conditions.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever.
Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies, and pupil referral units in England to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.
The Department for Education is currently updating this statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with medical conditions. More information can be found at the following link:
On 5 February 2026, the National Health Service published Standardising community health services – core component descriptions, to support ICBs in the strategic commissioning of community health services, which is available at the following link:
This document outlines the core responsibilities of special school and community children’s nursing services, including their role in supporting children with medical conditions to access education settings.
In addition, the NHS provides targeted support through school and community nursing, and through Mental Health Support teams in schools.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the publication of the APPG for Air Ambulances’ report, The Case for Safeguarded 24/7 On-Site Hospital Helipads at Major Trauma Centres and Specialist Hospitals, if he will meet with the APPG to discuss the report’s findings and recommendations, and consider potential next steps in collaboration with relevant Government departments.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We thank the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for their report, and we are considering its recommendations and analysis, and potential next steps.
The Department and NHS England engage with Air Ambulance UK and the wider sector through ongoing resilience discussions and planning, and a cross-Government hospital helipads group, the Onshore Surface Landing Group.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to facilitate library provision in every state-funded primary school.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Every Child Can will invest £132.5 million of dormant assets funding to increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the culture, sport, and wider youth sectors. This includes a £12.5 million investment to meet our commitment to provide a library in every primary school in England by the end of this Parliament.
DCMS and the National Lottery Community Fund continue to work together to develop more of the programme’s detailed design and delivery, including which schools may be eligible for funding.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to review the system of applications for government-funded childcare in order to allow parents to submit applications outside of term time.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.
Children become eligible for the working parent entitlement from 1 Sept, 1 Jan or 1 April, the term after they reach the relevant age and meet relevant eligibility criteria.
Termly deadlines enable local authorities and childcare providers to better plan and ensure sufficient early years places are available for parents each term, as there are clear periods for when children are likely to enter into a place.
Through the Childcare and Early Education Review, the department will look at how to improve access to early education and care, making the system simpler for families.