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 implications for his policies of the World Health Organisation's conclusion that accidental drowning is a preventable public health issue.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In recognition that drowning is a preventable cause of harm in recreational water settings, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as part of wider Government efforts, is helping to raise awareness of heat-health advice through national and local communication channels, particularly during the school summer holiday period. This includes partnering with charities such as the Royal Life Saving Society UK and Water Safety England to share safe swimming messages and practical actions to reduce the risk of drowning.

As part of its Beat the Heat campaign, the UKHSA includes a “stay safe when swimming” section, which provides links to advice from the Royal Life Saving Society UK on cold-water shock. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many wildfires took place in each local authority in West Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England including information on the fire type, location type and source of ignition.

However, wildfires are not currently a recorded fire type, and moorland is not a recorded location type. MHCLG does collect data on outdoor primary and secondary fires in FIRE0303. Outdoor fires by similar available outdoor location types such as “grassland, woodland and crops” are also available in this table.

MHCLG also collects data on primary fires by source of ignition in FIRE0602, which includes barbecues. Secondary fires are excluded as MHCLG does not collect details on cause of secondary fires. However, the data does not specify whether the barbecue was disposable. Therefore, MHCLG cannot provide figures specifically for fires attributed to disposable barbecues.

The number of primary fires in England where the source of ignition was recorded as “barbecue” in the last 5 years was:

• 346 in 2025/26

• 238 in 2024/25

• 267 in 2023/24

• 350 in 2022/23

• 291 in 2021/22

These figures should be interpreted as fires where “barbecue” was recorded as the source of ignition, rather than fires attributed to disposable barbecues.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many fires were caused by disposable barbecues in the last five years.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England including information on the fire type, location type and source of ignition.

However, wildfires are not currently a recorded fire type, and moorland is not a recorded location type. MHCLG does collect data on outdoor primary and secondary fires in FIRE0303. Outdoor fires by similar available outdoor location types such as “grassland, woodland and crops” are also available in this table.

MHCLG also collects data on primary fires by source of ignition in FIRE0602, which includes barbecues. Secondary fires are excluded as MHCLG does not collect details on cause of secondary fires. However, the data does not specify whether the barbecue was disposable. Therefore, MHCLG cannot provide figures specifically for fires attributed to disposable barbecues.

The number of primary fires in England where the source of ignition was recorded as “barbecue” in the last 5 years was:

• 346 in 2025/26

• 238 in 2024/25

• 267 in 2023/24

• 350 in 2022/23

• 291 in 2021/22

These figures should be interpreted as fires where “barbecue” was recorded as the source of ignition, rather than fires attributed to disposable barbecues.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many wildfires took place in moorland in the last five years.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

MHCLG collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England including information on the fire type, location type and source of ignition.

However, wildfires are not currently a recorded fire type, and moorland is not a recorded location type. MHCLG does collect data on outdoor primary and secondary fires in FIRE0303. Outdoor fires by similar available outdoor location types such as “grassland, woodland and crops” are also available in this table.

MHCLG also collects data on primary fires by source of ignition in FIRE0602, which includes barbecues. Secondary fires are excluded as MHCLG does not collect details on cause of secondary fires. However, the data does not specify whether the barbecue was disposable. Therefore, MHCLG cannot provide figures specifically for fires attributed to disposable barbecues.

The number of primary fires in England where the source of ignition was recorded as “barbecue” in the last 5 years was:

• 346 in 2025/26

• 238 in 2024/25

• 267 in 2023/24

• 350 in 2022/23

• 291 in 2021/22

These figures should be interpreted as fires where “barbecue” was recorded as the source of ignition, rather than fires attributed to disposable barbecues.

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 restore moorland damaged by wildfire.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Restoring our peatlands contributes to wildfire resilience, as restored, healthy, and functioning peatlands help to prevent the spread of wildfire.

The Government has provided significant funding of up to £3.2 million for wildfire recovery in Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, as part of the extension to the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, which is now scheduled to end in March 2027. The funding will repair 17 kilometres of firebreaks dug to contain the blaze, stabilise damaged slopes, restore key peatland species such as sphagnum moss and reinstate public rights of way across the moor.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all children have access to swimming lessons and achieve competency, including lifesaving techniques such as float to live.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The PE national curriculum requires all primary pupils to be taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

These requirements help children understand and respond to water-related risks, including those associated with open water. In addition, revised statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance will ensure that all pupils in both primary and secondary are taught about the Water Safety Code, including floating as a key lifesaving technique. These requirements will come into force from September.

Our reforms to the PE curriculum will ensure there is a clear emphasis on swimming and water safety, and our new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will bring the expertise of national governing bodies including Swim England directly into schools.

While current data shows disparities in swimming attainment, our new approach aims to ensure all children have the opportunity to develop these vital skills. Alongside a universal offer for all schools, the network will provide targeted support for schools and pupils with the greatest need.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is her Department taking to ensure that children understand the potential danger of open water swimming.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The PE national curriculum requires all primary pupils to be taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

These requirements help children understand and respond to water-related risks, including those associated with open water. In addition, revised statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance will ensure that all pupils in both primary and secondary are taught about the Water Safety Code, including floating as a key lifesaving technique. These requirements will come into force from September.

Our reforms to the PE curriculum will ensure there is a clear emphasis on swimming and water safety, and our new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will bring the expertise of national governing bodies including Swim England directly into schools.

While current data shows disparities in swimming attainment, our new approach aims to ensure all children have the opportunity to develop these vital skills. Alongside a universal offer for all schools, the network will provide targeted support for schools and pupils with the greatest need.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will have discussions with the Prime Minister on appointing a minister responsible for drowning prevention.

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

Water safety and drowning prevention are of critical importance and involve a range of organisations and government departments. Defra works with navigation authorities, regulators, water companies and other government departments to improve coordination, information sharing and preparedness.

In July, I convened a cross-government roundtable to discuss water safety and ensure departments and key partners are working together to reinforce the importance of water safety and strengthen collaboration to help keep people safe around water.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to undertake a coordinated response to prevent avoidable deaths due to drowning.

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

Responsibility for water safety and drowning prevention is shared across government, local authorities, emergency services, regulators, education partners and asset owners.

I convened a roundtable in July with ministers and representatives from across government to reinforce the importance of keeping people safe around water. I was clear that all organisations must keep working to reduce risks.

The Government recognises the importance of working collectively to reduce drowning. It supports collaborative efforts through organisations such as the National Water Safety Forum, which brings together partners to reduce water-related deaths and associated harms.

The Government will carefully consider the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy 2026–2036 to identify that we are collectively doing all we reasonably can to support this vital work.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help improve terms and conditions for social care workers.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed to improve recruitment and retention in the social care sector, and this will be a key focus of the reform programme announced by the Prime Minister on 29 July. As a first step, we are establishing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for social care workers in 2028, backed by £500 million of funding to improve pay and conditions for the current workforce. This Fair Pay Agreement process will strengthen the voice of the workforce through unions, helping to secure fair pay and better conditions that truly reflect the value of their work. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fair-pay-agreement-process-in-adult-social-care

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Yorkshire Water’s policy of not providing information signage or lifesaving equipment near open water.

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

I convened a roundtable in July with ministers and representatives from across government to reinforce the importance of keeping people safe around water. I was clear that all organisations must keep working to reduce risks.

Following the roundtable, I wrote to water companies, Defra’s arm’s-length bodies and local authorities responsible for designated bathing waters, reiterating the importance of taking appropriate steps to keep people safe around water and seeking further information about their ongoing work.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that social care is an attractive career for young people.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed to improve recruitment and retention in the social care sector, and this will be a key focus of the reform programme announced by the Prime Minister on 29 July. As a first step, we are establishing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for social care workers in 2028, backed by £500 million of funding to improve pay and conditions for the current workforce. This Fair Pay Agreement process will strengthen the voice of the workforce through unions, helping to secure fair pay and better conditions that truly reflect the value of their work. Further details are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fair-pay-agreement-process-in-adult-social-care

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is she taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle drowning among children from lower socioeconomic areas.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department works closely with other government departments to support drowning prevention activity and ensure that all children gain the skills and knowledge they need. The PE national curriculum requires all primary pupils to be taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

In addition, revised statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance will ensure that all pupils in both primary and secondary are taught about the Water Safety Code, including floating as a key lifesaving technique. These requirements will come into force from September.

Our reforms to the PE curriculum will ensure there is a clear emphasis on swimming and water safety, and our new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will bring the expertise of national governing bodies including Swim England directly into schools.

The network will provide targeted support where needed to close gaps in attainment and participation, including for pupils from disadvantaged and ethnic minority backgrounds.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Fire and Rescue Services on statutory funding for inland water rescues.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is working closely with the fire and rescue sector as part of its wider programme of reform. This includes considering roles and responsibilities such as flooding and inland water rescues.

Fire and rescue authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies. They also have discretionary powers to respond to incidents under their general powers in the Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) and in response to the risks set out in their Community Risk Management Plans prepared under the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government recently conducted a Rapid Flood Review alongside the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs that looked to gather evidence around expansion of flood capacity in the sector. Recommendations from this work will help inform future decisions in this area.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help tackle the rate of drowning for black children, in the context of an increase of 35% since 2020, given black children are three times more likely to drown than white children.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department works closely with other government departments to support drowning prevention activity and ensure that all children gain the skills and knowledge they need. The PE national curriculum requires all primary pupils to be taught to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

In addition, revised statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance will ensure that all pupils in both primary and secondary are taught about the Water Safety Code, including floating as a key lifesaving technique. These requirements will come into force from September.

Our reforms to the PE curriculum will ensure there is a clear emphasis on swimming and water safety, and our new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will bring the expertise of national governing bodies including Swim England directly into schools.

The network will provide targeted support where needed to close gaps in attainment and participation, including for pupils from disadvantaged and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Found: Jamie Hynes (JH), Vice President, Member Standards, Royal College of General Practitioners  MP Josh Fenton-Glynn

Found: Q162 Josh Fenton-Glynn: Can I just pause you, to clarify the terms?