Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legal protections available to British freight drivers who travel into the Schengen Area in respect of the 90/180 rule.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Schengen 90- days in any 180-day period (“90/180”) immigration rule has been in place since 2021 and applies to all UK nationals (including British freight drivers) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory. Any amendments or exemptions to the Schengen rules are the responsibility of the EU and Member States. It is not UK Government policy.

The Department continues to encourage road haulage and coach operators to take the necessary steps to ensure their UK national drivers who work internationally remain within the 90/180 limit. Freight drivers should also ensure that they are aware of the penalty and enforcement approach for exceeding the limit in any individual EU Member States they plan to travel to or through. This is important to avoid the risk of drivers and their vehicles being turned around at the UK-EU border or being fined or suspended from re-entry. Freight drivers generally do not benefit from specific legal exemptions for border crossing under the Schengen Borders Code, unlike certain other transport-related personnel such as ship or aircraft crew.

The Government will continue to listen to concerns raised by sectors affected by these rules and will advocate for British citizens abroad.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the contribution of playtime to children’s a) social, b) emotional and c) cognitive development.

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

The early years foundation stage statutory framework is clear that play is essential for children’s wellbeing and development. Play builds confidence and enthusiasm for learning, and develops self-awareness, self-regulation and social skills. Early years practitioners should plan how to support children’s development through high quality play.

Schools are expected to organise the school day and school week in the best interests of their pupil cohort, to both provide them with a full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and ability, and to incorporate time for play and other activities.

The department commissioned the Children of the 2020s study to improve our understanding of children’s progress throughout key phases of learning and education. We will assess the findings of the study for supporting children’s holistic development including through play and other approaches.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to issue guidance encouraging schools to adopt evidence-based playtime improvement schemes.

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

Breaktimes can be an important part of a pupil’s school experience, providing opportunities to rest, play and connect with peers.

While the department has no plans to introduce dedicated guidance or measures on breaktime, we have committed to work with partners to draw up and publish a good practice framework to help schools increase pupil engagement. This will include support for schools to effectively measure the factors which contribute to children attending, achieving and thriving at school, to inform evidence-based support inside and outside of school.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will include measures related to breaktime quality within (a) school wellbeing and (b) inspection frameworks.

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

Breaktimes can be an important part of a pupil’s school experience, providing opportunities to rest, play and connect with peers.

While the department has no plans to introduce dedicated guidance or measures on breaktime, we have committed to work with partners to draw up and publish a good practice framework to help schools increase pupil engagement. This will include support for schools to effectively measure the factors which contribute to children attending, achieving and thriving at school, to inform evidence-based support inside and outside of school.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of the skills pipeline to meet projected workforce demand in the space sector during the next ten years.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) routinely contribute to cross-government work to assess future demand and the current pipeline, such as Skills England’s Sector Skills Needs Assessments (June 2025). Further insight into the space sector is provided by UKSA’s Space Sector Skills Survey. The next iteration will be launched in due course with further iterations to follow in 2028 and 2030. This provides essential insight into cross-sector workforce skills needs and challenges, building on insight from previous iterations (most recently in 2023) and informing UKSA’s Education and Future Workforce programme.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK Space Agency's report entitled Size and health of the UK space industry 2024, updated on 20 August 2025, when she will publish data on the contribution of the space industry to (a) GDP and (b) GVA for (i) 2023/24 and (ii) 2024/25.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Industry’ is an annual study published by UK Space Agency. This study includes a measure of GVA (Gross Value-Added) for the sector, as well as an estimate for the percentage share of GDP for activities underpinned by satellite services. Due to the lag in financial reporting, the 2026 report will cover 2023/24 data, and the data for 2024/25 will follow in 2027.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Clean Power 2030 target in reducing average household energy bills.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government and Prime Minister is fully committed to delivering clean power by 2030. Last December, we published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which provides the foundation for the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good, and protect them against future price shocks. For example, NESO modelling showed that if gas use for power generation remained at the levels of 2023 and gas prices were raised to the peak levels in 2022 (300 p/therm on average), this would add around £12 billion to annual electricity system costs in Great Britain. In the clean power pathways, a similar price shock would only add around £5 billion.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data she has on the number of children who are irregular migrants and enrolled in schools; and what the estimated annual cost is for educating those children.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The requested information is not held by the department.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to review the (a) length of statutory paternity leave and (b) level of pay provided during this period.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

On 1 July we launched the Parental Leave and Pay Review, which is considering all existing and upcoming parental leave entitlements, including Paternity Leave and Pay. When considering calls to increase entitlements for parents, the Government will balance the needs of families, the impact on employers, and affordability for taxpayers.

We recognise that more can be done to support working families now. That is why, through the Employment Rights Bill, we are making Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ right, which will bring an extra 32,000 fathers and partners into scope of the entitlement.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish data on (a) the average waiting time from referral to first appointment and (b) other assessment capacity for ADHD in each Integrated Care Board.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

For the first time, NHS England published management information on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment waiting times at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan, and data is now released each quarter, with the latest release in August 2025.

Data on ADHD waiting times at an integrated care boards (ICB) level is not currently held centrally. NHS England has released technical guidance to ICBs to improve the recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waits and diagnosis data as well as publishing more localised data. NHS England intends to publish data at an ICB level in 2026/27.

NHS England established an independent ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. The final report was published 6 November, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the average property value under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme compared to the UK average house price.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is designed to support and sustain the availability of low deposit mortgage products for first-time buyers and home movers with a deposit as small as 5%.

All property types of any value are eligible, and the Scheme will now remain permanently available to lenders in all regions of the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the mean average value of a property purchased under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the eligibility criteria for that scheme on first-time buyers in Essex.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is designed to support and sustain the availability of low deposit mortgage products for first-time buyers and home movers with a deposit as small as 5%.

All property types of any value are eligible, and the Scheme will now remain permanently available to lenders in all regions of the UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to address the lack of growth in the 16-64 employment rate in the past year.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Our Get Britain Working White Paper set out ambitious plans to transform employment support, tackle rising levels of health-related economic inactivity and move towards an 80% employment rate .

Since publication we have made rapid progress delivering on our three key interconnected pillars which are driving change including;

• 9 place-based economic inactivity trailblazers, with 3 areas receiving additional funding for our Health Accelerators seeking to prevent economic inactivity linked to ill-health.
• 8 Youth Guarantee trailblazers, testing approaches before we roll out nationally and as part of our commitment to create a new Jobs and Careers Service we have launched our first Pathfinder in Wakefield to develop and test new services and different ways of supporting people.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 86589 on Construction: Apprentices and Training, how the Construction Support Package is being allocated by (a) region and (b) type of training.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 23 March 2025, the Government announced a construction support package worth £625 million to tackle the acute shortage of skilled workers in the construction sector.

(a) By Region
Construction Skills Package funding for initiatives including Industry Placement Support, FE Teacher Industry Exchange, and capital support to Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will be devolved to Mayoral Combined Authorities where they exist. Skills Bootcamps are delivered nationally through provider contracts.

(b) By Type of Training
The package includes a range of interventions, including:

• Skills Bootcamps: short, intensive training to meet immediate skills needs.
• Foundation Apprenticeships: funding to encourage new industry entrants.
• Uplift High Value Course Premium: paid to FE providers for eligible courses/students
• Free Courses for Jobs: Additional qualifications added to the national course list.
• Industry Placement Support: placements in industry for learners in FE on eligible courses
• Construction Technical Excellence Colleges: 10 new CTECs and associated capital investment.
• Project-Based Capital: Employer-led skills provision.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure growth of the data centre sector is compatible with (a) wider land use and (b) environmental objectives.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. In 2024, this was updated to provide particular support to key industries such as digital infrastructure, including data centres, as drivers of growth across the economy. Additionally, the government are proposing Data centres to be included as a type of development that could be capable of being directed to proceed through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime. This Government will publish a National Policy Statement (NPS) on data centres which will provide a clear policy framework for site selection, emphasising locations that minimise conflicts with housing, agriculture, and other strategic land uses.

In regard to environmental objectives, some UK data centre operators are implementing energy-efficient measures under a Climate Change Agreement, and our Clean Power Action Plan will support the growth of new energy intensive industries like data centres. As many new data centres have a large energy requirement, the AI Energy Council is working with regulators, energy firms, and tech companies to secure sustainable power. We also encourage developers to plan for water availability, prioritize non-potable use, embed efficiency and reuse, and engage early with suppliers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to align the Construction Skills Mission Board to (a) training provision and (b) (i) local and (ii) regional labour needs.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

To ensure employers can work collaboratively to secure the workforce needed to meet future demand, the Government is sponsoring a new Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB). Chaired by Mark Reynolds, Executive Chair of Mace, the Board will provide strategic leadership to the construction sector and develop an Industry led Construction Skills Action Plan.

The CSMB will work closely with Government to ensure that industry is well aligned to key initiatives within the Construction Skills Package, including Skills Bootcamps, apprenticeships, and industry placement development, ensuring these programmes reflect industry needs. It will work closely with training providers to align curricula with modern construction practices and sustainability standards.

The Board will work collaboratively with Mayoral Combined Authorities and local partners to support the effective use of devolved funding and ensure interventions reflect regional priorities. Skills England will take a national view of skills gaps and work with local partners including Mayoral Strategic Authorities to ensure provision meets the needs of learners and employers. This approach ensures national programmes remain responsive to local priorities while maintaining consistency in quality and outcomes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87663, what first degree subjects have the lowest share of learners entering priority occupations; and what steps he is taking to improve alignment in those areas.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The proportion of first degree (level 6) higher education learners entering priority occupations by subject is published in the Accompanying tables for the Assessment of priority skills to 2030. This table is copied below.

The DfE and Skills England are working closely together to publish labour market information and support informed student choice, helping provision respond to economic demand and maintaining the breadth of provision needed for a strong and flexible workforce. Many jobs outside the priority occupations are highly productive and needed for the wider economy.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the health of the labour market, in light of the number of unemployed people and job vacancies.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Economic growth is a priority for this Government. Building a thriving and inclusive labour market and increasing the number of people in work is central to achieving the Government’s number one mission to grow the economy, and delivering our missions to spread opportunity and improve the health of the nation.

In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three main pillars:

• Reforming Jobcentre Plus into a Jobs and Careers Service which is more focused on skills and career progression, responsive to the needs and challenges of local labour markets and aligned with the needs of employers.
• Tackling economic inactivity due to ill health through joined up work, health and skills support and our Pathways to Work guarantee of tailored support for those with health conditions
• Delivering a Youth Guarantee so that all young people have access to education, training or help to find a job or apprenticeship.

Since the start of the year, over 329,000 more people have moved into employment. Rising employment and falling inactivity have also contributed to there now being a record number (34.3 million) of working-aged people who are economically active. The UK has the 3^rd highest employment rate in the G7 and had the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half the year. Since July 2024, real wages have risen more than in the first ten years of the previous government.

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 National Planning Policy Framework, updated on 12 December 2024, what steps he is taking to support local planning authorities in assessing the impact of data centre development on (a) electricity grid capacity, (b) land availability and (c) other local infrastructure.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should pay particular regard to facilitating development to meet the needs of a modern economy, including by identifying suitable locations for uses such as data centres.

The Framework also makes clear that Planning policies and decisions should recognise and address the specific locational requirements of different sectors.

The availability of land for specific uses and developments is a matter to be considered locally though plan and decision-making.

A policy paper on delivering AI Growth Zones was published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 November 2025. The paper sets out actions that the government is taking to support proposals for data centres, including through the provision of additional planning capacity, forthcoming updates to national planning policy and a new National Policy Statement for Data Centres to support NSIP applications. The policy paper can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that halal and kosher products are clearly labelled in supermarkets.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way.

There are no regulations that require the labelling of religiously slaughtered meat, but where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer. The Government respects religious freedoms and expects the industry, whether food producer or food outlet, to provide consumers with all the information they need to make informed choices.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that businesses are compliant with food labelling requirements in regard to halal and kosher products.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way.

There are no regulations that require the labelling of religiously slaughtered meat, but where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer. The Government respects religious freedoms and expects the industry, whether food producer or food outlet, to provide consumers with all the information they need to make informed choices.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of community safety events at level crossings in reducing incidents of misuse a) in East Tilbury and b) nationally.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail are responsible for determining the measures required at level crossings to create a safe environment. They regularly engage with local communities to provide information and briefing on the safety risks associated with misuse and undertake research to understand public and passenger safety attitudes and behaviour towards the railway, which helps to refine their messaging. Network Rail will continue to engage with the community in East Tilbury to ensure safety levels at the crossing are maintained.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that schools have adequate time for play during the school day.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Play is an essential part of children’s development and learning, as recognised in the early years foundation stage statutory framework. Schools, governing bodies and academy trusts are responsible for ensuring the school day includes opportunities for social interaction, physical activity and enrichment activities.

Government guidance sets out an expectation that the school week in all state-funded mainstream schools should be at least 32.5 hours including breaks, providing opportunity for schools to incorporate time for play and other enrichment activities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms she uses to monitor and evaluate the return on investment generated by British International Investment.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 May in response to Question 49375.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of Question 21 October 2025 to Question 84026 on housing prices, what data he uses to inform targeted housing policy.

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

My Department uses a wide range of data sources to inform the development of policy.

Public sources include the English Housing Survey; ONS datasets on house prices, rents and affordability; and Departmental statistics on housing supply, affordable housing, and homelessness and rough sleeping.

Local Authority Housing Statistics provide information on waiting lists, allocations, and lettings, while programme delivery data from Homes England and the Greater London Authority track outputs under the Affordable Homes Programme.

Planning and housing supply data, including starts, completions and permissions, are published quarterly.

Certain proprietary data cannot be published due to contractual restrictions and commercial sensitivities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with Network Rail on delays experienced by a) motorists and b) pedestrians at East Tilbury level crossing due to freight movement.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail is responsible for managing safety at East Tilbury Level Crossing as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways and has a statutory duty to ensure all users can use the crossing safely. Network Rail will continue to engage the local community to understand these concerns and consider how they can be mitigated, whilst ensuring the safety of all users is upheld, as this is a priority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to commission a review into the impact of waiting times at level crossings on a) road congestion, b) emergency vehicle access and c) safety in East Tilbury.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail are well aware of the current issues with waiting times and congestion at East Tilbury Level Crossing, and understand these concerns. As the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways with statutory safety duties to the public, Network Rail continue to monitor and keep the protective arrangements at East Tilbury Level Crossing under review, so that these safety risks can be managed, and any impacts mitigated accordingly.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish information on (a) investigations and (b) enforcement action taken in relation to breaches involving (i) seasonal and (ii) temporary workers over the Christmas period in each of the last three years.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 potential risks associated with non-compliance with employment law as a result of the rapid recruitment of temporary workers in the postal sector during the Christmas period.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 adequacy of enforcement capacity during periods of high-volume seasonal recruitment.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 impact of accident and emergency capacity pressures on patient safety at Basildon Hospital.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We acknowledge that accident and emergency care performance has not consistently met expectations in recent years, and we are taking serious steps to address this.

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26, backed by almost £450 million of capital investment, commits to at least 78% of accident and emergency patients being admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours by March 2026.

We are putting significant funding into expanding urgent and emergency service access for those most in need, including new Urgent Treatment Centres and Same Day Emergency Care facilities. This will mean 800,000 fewer accident and emergency patients waiting over four hours this year.

In July 2025, we published our 10-Year Health Plan which commits to reducing accident and emergency waiting times in the longer-term, by shifting care into the community with Neighbourhood Health Services.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help ensure that employers recruiting large numbers of temporary staff over the Christmas period comply with employment law.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

All employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their staff receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled, including when recruiting temporary or seasonal staff during periods of high demand such as Christmas.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate regulates the recruitment sector and has extensive legal powers to address non-compliance and offending. Temporary and seasonal workers are also entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), and NMW enforcement officers in HMRC can and do take action where employers fail to meet their legal obligations.

The Government will establish the Fair Work Agency (FWA) in April 2026. This will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights and will bring together the important work EAS and HMRC-NMW are doing. The Government is committed to giving the FWA the resources it needs to do its job.

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 impact of care being delivered in (a) temporary and (B) non-purpose built environments on patient outcomes.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so patients can be treated with dignity. We recognise that the practice of providing clinical care in corridors is unacceptable and are committed to eradicating it from our NHS.

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, sets out steps we are taking to achieve this. Backed by a total of nearly £450 million of capital funding, we are expanding Same Day Emergency Care and Urgent Treatment Centres, helping to avoid unnecessary overnight admissions to hospital and supporting more efficient diagnosis, treatment and discharge for patients.

The plan also includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care. NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to UIN 89916, whether elections for (a) Basildon Council, (b) Essex County Council and (c) other councils in Essex will be cancelled in 2026.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As I made clear in my answer to Question UIN 87207 on 10 November 2025, our starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise. No local elections in Essex were cancelled in 2025. Elections to Essex County Council and to Thurrock Council were postponed for one year, to 2026. There are no plans to cancel any May 2026 elections except in Surrey where elections to the new councils of East Surrey and West Surrey will replace scheduled council elections, subject to Parliament.

Postponements have previously occurred in areas undergoing local government reorganisation only where councils requested or agreed to the postponement.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of fuel duty rates on (a) households that rely on vehicles for work, or in areas with limited public transport, and (b) small businesses, the logistics sector and supply chains.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to previous levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government uprating fuel duty rates by RPI from April 2027. This will save the average car driver £49 next year compared to previous plans.

The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many NSIP applications for data centres have been approved since January 2020 where the relevant local authority submitted a report raising concerns about the development.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 90592 on 21 November 2025.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure employers are supported to provide entry-level roles suitable for young people under the Youth Guarantee.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government is taking clear steps to ensure employers are supported to provide entry-level roles for young people.

At Budget the government announced that £820 million has been committed to the Youth Guarantee over the next three years to support all young people aged 16 to 24 to earn or learn. This includes the previously announced Jobs Guarantee, which is guaranteeing six-months of paid work for every eligible 18-21 year old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. Under the Jobs Guarantee we are committing to ensuring that businesses can take on these young people by funding 100% of the wages for the six months (up to 25hrs/week at the relevant minimum wage), as well as the additional employment costs and a budget for wrap around support. We recognise that the Jobs Guarantee can only succeed if businesses are part of it. That is why we will work closely with employers to develop a programme which works for businesses and young people.

More broadly this government is supporting employers to offer apprenticeships to young people. In August we introduced new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors which are underpinned by an employer incentive payment of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. In addition, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced at the Budget, this government will now fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible people aged 16-24, to boost small business starts and prioritise funding to young people, starting from the next academic year.

Employers also continue to benefit from existing employer National Insurance (NICs) reliefs for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. This means employers pay no employer NICs for apprentices under 25 or employees under 21 on earnings up to £50,270. These reliefs were worth over £1.3bn to employers in 2024/25.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer given to UIN 89924 on 19 November 2025, whether his Department will require a request from local councils to postpone elections in 2026 to be made before a decision can be taken by his Department to cancel further elections.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As I made clear in my answer to Question UIN 87207 on 10 November 2025, our starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise. No local elections in Essex were cancelled in 2025. Elections to Essex County Council and to Thurrock Council were postponed for one year, to 2026. There are no plans to cancel any May 2026 elections except in Surrey where elections to the new councils of East Surrey and West Surrey will replace scheduled council elections, subject to Parliament.

Postponements have previously occurred in areas undergoing local government reorganisation only where councils requested or agreed to the postponement.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent data he holds on Accident and Emergency attendance levels at Basildon Hospital and associated patient safety indicators.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The data is not available in the format requested. NHS England collects and publishes monthly data on the total number of attendances for all accident and emergency types, including Minor Injury Units and Walk-in Centres. The total number of accident and emergency attendances at Basildon Hospital in October 2025 was 12,475. Please note this data is provisional, and that finalised figures will be published next month. The data is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that local communities affected by waiting times at level crossings, including East Tilbury, are consulted when freight timetables and volumes are expanded.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager for Britain’s railways, are responsible for ensuring the safety of the public at level crossings across the network, including East Tilbury Level Crossing. This is in accordance with their statutory safety duties to manage risks on the railways.

As part of this process, Network Rail will engage local communities to inform them of any potential changes to timetabling that could affect the operation of level crossings in their area, particularly those that could have an impact on safety.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with police forces on trends in reported incidents involving trespassers attempting to enter residential properties.

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

It is important that the police have the power to tackle trespassing where there is intent to commit an offence.

On 10th June, the Government announced its intention to repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824.

We have introduced targeted replacement measures in the Crime and Policing Bill to ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe, including a criminal offence of trespassing with intent to commit a criminal offence, an offence which was previously provided for under the 1824 Act, and for which the police have told us is useful to retain.

As is currently the case in the 1824 Act, it will be an offence for a person to trespass on any premises, meaning any building, part of a building or enclosed area, with the intention to commit an offence.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure consistency of support offered by local authorities for children receiving cancer treatment who cannot attend school.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

If a child is too unwell to attend school, local authorities have a duty under Section 19 of the Children's Act 1996 to provide suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education.

Where full-time education is not possible due to a child’s health needs, local authorities must arrange part-time education on whatever basis they consider to be in the child's best interests. Full and part-time education should still aim to be equivalent to the education the child would receive in their mainstream school. Any part-time education should be reviewed regularly, with the aim of eventually increasing the number of hours up to full-time as soon as the child’s health allows.

The department does not routinely collect or hold data on the outcomes of children who have missed periods of schooling due to ill health.

The department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings, for example through our recently published evidence reviews on the best available evidence on the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for staff in mainstream settings to identify and support children and young people (0-25) with different types of needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data she holds on educational outcomes for children who miss substantial schooling due to cancer treatment.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

If a child is too unwell to attend school, local authorities have a duty under Section 19 of the Children's Act 1996 to provide suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education.

Where full-time education is not possible due to a child’s health needs, local authorities must arrange part-time education on whatever basis they consider to be in the child's best interests. Full and part-time education should still aim to be equivalent to the education the child would receive in their mainstream school. Any part-time education should be reviewed regularly, with the aim of eventually increasing the number of hours up to full-time as soon as the child’s health allows.

The department does not routinely collect or hold data on the outcomes of children who have missed periods of schooling due to ill health.

The department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings, for example through our recently published evidence reviews on the best available evidence on the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for staff in mainstream settings to identify and support children and young people (0-25) with different types of needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of local authority provision for children who miss substantial periods of school due to cancer treatment.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

If a child is too unwell to attend school, local authorities have a duty under Section 19 of the Children's Act 1996 to provide suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education.

Where full-time education is not possible due to a child’s health needs, local authorities must arrange part-time education on whatever basis they consider to be in the child's best interests. Full and part-time education should still aim to be equivalent to the education the child would receive in their mainstream school. Any part-time education should be reviewed regularly, with the aim of eventually increasing the number of hours up to full-time as soon as the child’s health allows.

The department does not routinely collect or hold data on the outcomes of children who have missed periods of schooling due to ill health.

The department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings, for example through our recently published evidence reviews on the best available evidence on the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for staff in mainstream settings to identify and support children and young people (0-25) with different types of needs.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of limited bus routes in rural areas of South Basildon and East Thurrock on social isolation among residents who do not drive.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government knows that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing essential services, including healthcare and education, as well as other modes of public transportation such as rail links. The Government is taking action to help improve local bus services across the country and encourage greater integration between transport modes.

We have introduced the Bus Services Act 2025 to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £1 billion for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Essex County Council and Thurrock Council have been allocated £17.8 million and £2 million of this funding respectively, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across these areas.

The Government also intends to publish its integrated national transport strategy soon to set the long-term vision for domestic transport across England. It will focus on creating a transport network that works well for people, including those in rural areas.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effect of reduced rural bus services on access to essential services, such as a) GP appointments, b) hospitals and c) educational facilities.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government knows that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing essential services, including healthcare and education, as well as other modes of public transportation such as rail links. The Government is taking action to help improve local bus services across the country and encourage greater integration between transport modes.

We have introduced the Bus Services Act 2025 to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £1 billion for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Essex County Council and Thurrock Council have been allocated £17.8 million and £2 million of this funding respectively, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across these areas.

The Government also intends to publish its integrated national transport strategy soon to set the long-term vision for domestic transport across England. It will focus on creating a transport network that works well for people, including those in rural areas.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve public transport connectivity in rural communities where residents have no alternative to driving.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government knows that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing essential services, including healthcare and education, as well as other modes of public transportation such as rail links. The Government is taking action to help improve local bus services across the country and encourage greater integration between transport modes.

We have introduced the Bus Services Act 2025 to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the Government has confirmed over £1 billion for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Essex County Council and Thurrock Council have been allocated £17.8 million and £2 million of this funding respectively, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across these areas.

The Government also intends to publish its integrated national transport strategy soon to set the long-term vision for domestic transport across England. It will focus on creating a transport network that works well for people, including those in rural areas.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of whether road maintenance issues contribute to the pattern of road-traffic collisions in South Basildon and East Thurrock.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department has not made an assessment of whether road maintenance issues contribute to the pattern of road-traffic collisions in South Basildon and East Thurrock.

This Government takes the condition of our country’s roads very seriously and is committed to supporting local authorities in maintaining and renewing the local highway network. At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that by 2029-30, the Government will commit over £2 billion annually for local authorities to repair and renew their roads and fix potholes – doubling funding since coming into office. This record level of funding is enough to fill millions of potholes each year, enabling the Government to exceed its commitment to fix an additional one million potholes per year.

Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area. The Act does not set out specific standards of maintenance, as it is for each individual local highway authority to assess which parts of its network need repair and what standards should be applied, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of temporary workers employed across the UK during the Christmas period in the a) postal and b) courier sectors.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question's of 21st November is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish data on the most recent estimate of Christmas seasonal vacancies in the postal sector.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question's of 21st November is attached.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of homes under the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme have been bought by first-time buyers.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the difficulties some prospective first-time buyers face in buying a home and is committed to helping them get on the housing ladder.

The new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is now permanently available to lenders, and is designed to support and sustain the availability of low deposit mortgage products for credit-worthy borrowers. 95% loan-to-value mortgage products can be particularly important for first-time buyers who may struggle to raise larger deposits, and the scheme aims to support this segment of the UK mortgage market.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 84028, what the 18-week referral-to-treatment performance is for each integrated care board (ICB); and which ICBs are off-trajectory for meeting the March 2026 target.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

18-week referral-to-treatment (RTT) performance data for all integrated care boards (ICBs) is available at the following link:

https://data.england.nhs.uk/dashboard/rtt

This data is publicly available and can be used to make performance comparisons between ICBs.

NHS England’s Operational Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement. This is against the November 2024 position, with all providers required to increase their RTT performance to a minimum of 60%.

To support this improvement across all trusts, there is a robust performance management process in place. The new NHS Oversight Framework 2025/26 ensures that there is public accountability for performance and NHS England works with systems and providers to support improvement.

There is a process in place to identify and support the providers whose performance on elective waiting lists is most challenged, led by NHS England national and regional teams.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients that have received clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas in NHS hospitals in the last year.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises that the practice of providing clinical care in corridors or other non-designated areas is unacceptable and is committed to eradicating it from our National Health Service.

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, sets out the steps we are taking to achieve this, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care. NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the long-term affordability of prescription medication for people with chronic illnesses.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible.

Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have another qualifying medical condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

Depending on their condition, patients with chronic conditions may be able to apply for a medical exemption certificate which entitles the holder to free National Health Service prescriptions.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme, which provides help based on a comparison between a person’s income and their requirements. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. 12-month PPCs can be paid for in ten monthly instalments, allowing the holder to get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.

To further support patients with the costs of prescriptions, this year the prescription charge was frozen at 2024/25 rates.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve NHS medication procurement processes.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines Procurement and Supply Chain (MPSC) is part of the NHS Medicines Value and Access Directorate and establishes the commercial arrangements to enable the purchasing of medicines prescribed in National Health Service hospitals in England. The MPSC manages a number of Medicines Framework agreements that define how to ensure continuity of supply for:

• generic medicines including newly available generic medicines used in hospitals;
• branded medicines, biosimilar medicines, and intravenous fluids; and
• blood products and dose banded chemotherapy and flu vaccines for hospitals.

The MPSC constantly review the commercial pipeline to ensure procurement strategies are fit for purpose, promote resilience in the supply chain and achieve value for money for the NHS.

Since the introduction of the new Procurement Act in February 2025, each procurement strategy has been reviewed to understand what process, including the new processes now available under the new act, would be most effective to use. The MPSC is currently working to implement value-based procurement into the broad portfolio categories to move the focus to achieving value, rather than just lowest price, whilst ensuring continuity of supply.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce short-term readmissions following mental health inpatient discharge.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In 2023, NHS England published guidance on the commissioning and delivery of acute inpatient mental health care for adults and older adults, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/acute-inpatient-mental-health-care-for-adults-and-older-adults/

This encourages integrated care boards and mental health providers to monitor the length of hospital stay, the number of people who are clinically ready for discharge and who have not been discharged, reasons for delayed discharges, and reasons for readmission within six months, in order to monitor the effectiveness of local discharge arrangements and to identify improvements.

NHS England is also delivering a universal culture of care improvement programme, which all National Health Service and major independent providers are participating in. The programme is based on co-produced standards for high quality inpatient care, which include commitments to improve discharge and follow up support.

Improving access to high quality community mental health care is critical to reducing the number of avoidable admissions to hospital and supporting people in community settings following a hospital spell. Since 2019, NHS England has invested significant additional funding to support services to transform and expand services in line with the vision set out in the Community Mental Health Framework. The new approach integrates community mental health services with primary care, whilst also improving partnerships with voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations, local authorities, and other local organisations to offer people holistic and personalised care for both their clinical and social needs, with both a ‘need-led’ and ‘no wrong door’ approach.

NHS England continues to prioritise improving services for people with mental health problems, including through the development of new guidance on delivering personalised care and support, for instance the Personalised Care Framework: a Modern Care Programme Approach, the piloting and rollout of 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres across the country, and the development of a new modern service framework for severe mental illness expected in 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve post-discharge support for mental health patients.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The first statutory guidance on discharge from mental health hospitals, published in 2024 under the NHS Act 2006, emphasised the importance of communication and collaboration between responsible agencies to ensure the patient’s safe and timely discharge and continued care and support after hospital.

This is underpinned by the Community Mental Health Framework, which sets out a vision for new models of integrated primary and community mental health services to address longstanding challenges in mental health services, including maximising continuity of care. Neighbourhood mental health centres build on this model, bringing together a range of community mental health services under one roof, including crisis services and short-stay beds, ensuring people’s holistic needs can be met. To ensure that people are provided with the right support to live successfully and safely in the community after discharge, section 117 of the Mental Health Act places a duty on the National Health Service and local social services authorities to provide after-care to eligible patients who have been detained in hospital for treatment, under certain sections of the act.

We know there are sometimes disagreements between local authorities over who should be paying for a persons’ after-care and what services should be provided. The Mental Health Bill seeks to address these issues and bring clarity, mitigating delays to the provision of aftercare services.

There is also the NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is a package of NHS-funded ongoing care for adults with the highest levels of complex, intense, or unpredictable needs, who have been assessed as having a primary health need, to meet needs that have arisen as a result of disability, accident, or illness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to UIN 89916, whether Thurrock's 2026 local elections will be to elect all councillors; and whether he plans to amend the Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The May 2026 elections to Thurrock Council are for all councillors. We have no plans to amend the 2025 Order.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the UK’s ranking within the G7 in terms of a) space sector growth, and b) global market share in each of the past three years.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As part of its ongoing space policy development, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is currently performing comparative analysis of the UK’s position in the global space sector. This involves the use of commercial data (primarily from Novaspace) to bring together economic data from a wide range of nations and international space organisations. Under our data access agreements, we cannot share any assessment using this data publicly. In its 2023 report Expanding Frontiers, the UKSA estimated that the UK accounted for 5% of global revenue in the space sector but has not published any data on the assessment of growth or market share in the context of other G7 countries.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of whether the UK’s global market share in the space sector is increasing or decreasing relative to other G7 countries.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As part of its ongoing space policy development, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is currently performing analysis of the UK’s global market share in the space sector. This involves the use of commercial data (primarily from Novaspace) to bring together economic data from a wide range of nations and international space organisations. Under our data access agreements, we cannot share any assessment using this data publicly. In its 2023 report Expanding Frontiers, the UKSA estimated that the UK accounted for 5% of global revenue in the space sector but has not published any data on the assessment of if the UK’s global market share is increasing or decreasing relative to other G7 countries.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current interventions aimed at reducing the attainment gap between boys and girls at a) primary and b) secondary school.

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

All children and young people should have every opportunity to achieve and thrive. However, the department knows that on average attainment for boys is lower than girls.

Although the gap between boys and girls at both primary and secondary has narrowed from 2024, there is more to do, and the department continues to monitor this at all key stages.

High and rising standards across education are key to strengthening outcomes and closing these gaps.

The department is driving improvements through new regional improvement for standards and excellence teams, a refreshed high quality curriculum and assessment system, and recruiting 6,500 additional teachers in schools and colleges over the course of this parliament. We have also committed £27.7 million to drive standards in reading and writing and will launch the National Year of Reading 2026 with a focus on teenage boys.

Building on this, the upcoming Schools White Paper will set out the department’s vision for a school system that drives educational excellence for every child regardless of background or circumstance.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87663, what assessment he has made of whether the proportion of recent higher education leavers entering priority occupations is sufficient to meet forecast labour market needs in 2030.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Skills England analysis in the Assessment of priority skills to 2030 sets out that two thirds of the projected additional employment demand in priority occupations require workers with a qualification at level 4 or above.

In England, over a quarter of a million (285,000) people enter priority occupations from the skills system each year. Around two thirds (65%) of these are learners with qualifications at level 4 and above, broadly matching the expected education requirements for the priority occupations.

Skills England will continue to develop and refine this analysis further, establishing a process and methodology for assessing skills needs. We are aiming to widen the scope of the analysis, covering skills needs at a national, sectoral, and regional level.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 91083, on Young People: Unemployment, what assessment she has made of the reasons the UK has above-OECD average youth unemployment in the context of careers guidance pupils receive.

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

The department is committed to improving careers advice in schools and colleges and to delivering two weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person, with a particular focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This will mean improved work readiness and clearer progression routes to ensure young people remain engaged in education, training or employment.

This is part of a package of reforms that will expand opportunity for young people including Youth Hubs, Youth Guarantee trailblazers, expanded Foundation Apprenticeships and a job guarantee for young people. Building on this, the department have asked Alan Milburn to lead an independent investigation to tackle the persistently high numbers of young people out of work, education and training.

Pink Ladies of Essex

Reports of funding for performance poetry workshops in Colombian prisons

Reports of UK funding of Ethiopian tax collectors

Freezing tax thresholds

Gig economy and illegal workers

National debt

Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief in the Autumn Budget 2025

Acquittal of Shaun O’Sullivan, free speech and religious freedom

Christmas (No. 2)

Tackling Islamist extremism

Injury on Duty Award Scheme

Kidnapping of school children in Nigeria

International Day of Human Rights and the persecution of Christians

Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

Cancer waiting times

Volumetric Concrete Mobile Plants and Vehicle Weight Restrictions

Collection and publication of nationality data by Government Departments

Lisa Petrie's response to her son's fatal stabbing

Thanking postal workers

Jury trial rights

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

International Day of People with Disabilities

Movember

Literacy and the criminal justice system

Accessible healthcare for deaf people and those with hearing loss

BBC and pro-trans ideologies

Mouth Cancer Action Month

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

20th anniversary of the death of George Best

Sara Cox’s challenge for Children in Need

Safeguarding pubs, brewers and one million jobs

Royal Kennel Club

Tackling van and tool theft

Trial by jury

Welfare benefits for foreign nationals

Autumn Budget 2025 tax increases

Sodium valproate and surgical mesh redress