Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will take steps to ensure the revised Equality Act code of practice for services, public functions and associations allows organisations, such as Girl Guides, to operate on a trans-inclusive basis.

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

We have just received the updated draft Code of Practice from the EHRC. We cannot comment on the contents of the Code during the pre-election period, but we intend to lay it as soon as practicable after the elections in May.

We have always been clear that associations should set their policies in line with the law. If associations are uncertain as to how to apply the Equality Act 2010, they should obtain specialist legal advice.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that children receive a minimum of two hours of high-quality physical education per week; and are supported to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Spen Valley to the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 128860.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the introduction of School Sports Partnerships and the new Enrichment Framework is supported by sustained levels of funding.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced in June 2025 the establishment of a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network to ensure all children and young people have access to high quality PE and extracurricular sport. Details on the PE and School Sports Partnerships funding will be confirmed in due course.

The Enrichment Framework will be published this academic year, accompanied by a range of support to help schools’ enrichment offers. We will work with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the National Youth Strategy implementation, including the £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme and £132.5 million through the ‘Every Child Can’ Dormant Assets funding. This is in addition to international enrichment opportunities through the UK’s association to the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, continuing investment in our national network of Music Hubs, a new £750,000 chess support programme, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s flagship ‘TechYouth’ programme.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that public investment in sports facilities supports a balanced range of sports, including court-based activities such as tennis and padel, to maximise participation among women, disabled people, and inactive communities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, including by removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls and people with disabilities.

£15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in their chosen sports. At least £2.5 million of that will be invested through the Lawn Tennis Association into covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, and additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the risks to trans-inclusive third sector organisations from potential increases in levels of litigation following the For Women Scotland v. The Scottish Ministers Supreme Court judgement.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the accessibility and effectiveness of the Personal Independence Payment system for carers supporting disabled family members; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays, the number of repeated assessments, and improve administration, including communication with claimants on the progress of applications.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

It is important that all claimants can access our services and that they do not face obstacles in applying and communicating with the Department and its providers, either personally or through a third party such as a carer.

We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through PIP in a timely manner.  Reducing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the Department and we are working constantly to make improvements to our service.  We always aim to make an award decision as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to review all available evidence, including that from the claimant and claimants are kept informed and updated at each stage of the process, including through our improved text message service.

Since 6 April 2026, we have reduced the frequency of repeated assessments in PIP. For most claimants over 25, their first review will be after a minimum of 3 years and, assuming they remain entitled, 5 years for their next review.

Found: Given the low usage of the gym among female Members and staff, we invited Kim Leadbeater MP, Hannah

Found: Canterbury) Dame Nia Griffith (Labour; Llanelli) Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat; Edinburgh West) Kim Leadbeater

Found: Canterbury) Dame Nia Griffith (Labour; Llanelli) Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat; Edinburgh West) Kim Leadbeater

Found: Q71 Kim Leadbeater: Thank you for coming in today.

Found: This is a private member’s bill that was introduced to Parliament on 16 October 2024 by Kim Leadbeater

Found: This is a private member’s bill that was introduced to Parliament on 16 October 2024 by Kim Leadbeater

Submit Evidence (by 26 Jun 2026)

The Women and Equalities Committee is examining disabled workers’ and jobseekers’ access to flexible working arrangements. The inquiry is considering experiences of flexible working across different groups of disabled people and sectors of the labour market. It will examine associated schemes, such as Access to Work. It is considering the effectiveness of the law in this area, including employers’ duties to provide “reasonable adjustments” under the Equality Act and changes, set out in the Employment Rights Act 2025, intended to widen access to flexible working arrangements.