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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
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 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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
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.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the report by Punch Pubs entitled Evaluating the Economic and Social Impact of Pubs, published in April 2026; and if he will publish the steps he is planning to take to support the long‑term sustainability and growth of pubs.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises the important economic and social role pubs play in communities and welcomes the Punch Pubs report, Evaluating the Economic and Social Impact of Pubs, published in April 2026.
The findings add to the wider evidence base on the value pubs bring to local economies and wellbeing. The Government is taking action to support the long‑term sustainability of pubs, including a targeted business rates support package. This includes a 15% discount on business rates bills from April 2026, and a review of how pubs are valued for business rates purposes.
The Government will continue to engage with the sector, including meeting with Punch Pubs as part of this engagement and will keep the effectiveness of existing support under review to ensure pubs can continue to thrive.
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 progress his Department is making to align the UK’s descriptor guidance for low and no alcohol products with that employed by the EU and other international trade partners.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government has committed to consult on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, which would bring the labelling guidance for no and low alcohol drink alternatives for England into alignment with international standards and several EU countries.
Departmental officials are progressing work to take forward this commitment, and we will update stakeholders in due course.
Alongside the plan, a large multi-year National Institute for Health and Care Research study is underway to examine the public health impacts of NoLo products, and we look forward to the findings the study being available later this year.
Asked by: Jacob Collier (Labour - Burton and Uttoxeter)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to answer Question 112455 on Teachers: Workplace Pensions from the Rt hon. Member for Burton and Uttoxeter.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The response to Written Parliamentary Question 112455 was published on 20 March 2026.