Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made regarding turnaround times for investigations in the recovery from estate department.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department’s Recovery from Estates process does not begin from the date of death. Before recovery activity can commence, probate or letters of administration must generally be granted, and the Department must be notified of the estate administration details. Consequently, there can be a period between notification of a death and the point at which the Department is able to begin Recovery from Estates activity.

Recovery from Estates investigations can vary significantly in complexity depending on the circumstances of the case, the availability of evidence, and the time required to obtain and review historical financial information. The Department seeks to progress cases as efficiently as possible while ensuring that all necessary enquiries are completed.

The Department has taken a number of steps to improve timeliness and customer service within the Recovery from Estates process. These include increasing resource within the service and continuing to provide training and upskilling opportunities to develop staff capability. In addition, a dedicated telephony function has been established to handle customer enquiries. This enables other staff to focus on case processing activities, helping to increase operational capacity and support the timely progression of investigations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce backlogs in the recovery from estate department.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department’s Recovery from Estates process does not begin from the date of death. Before recovery activity can commence, probate or letters of administration must generally be granted, and the Department must be notified of the estate administration details. Consequently, there can be a period between notification of a death and the point at which the Department is able to begin Recovery from Estates activity.

Recovery from Estates investigations can vary significantly in complexity depending on the circumstances of the case, the availability of evidence, and the time required to obtain and review historical financial information. The Department seeks to progress cases as efficiently as possible while ensuring that all necessary enquiries are completed.

The Department has taken a number of steps to improve timeliness and customer service within the Recovery from Estates process. These include increasing resource within the service and continuing to provide training and upskilling opportunities to develop staff capability. In addition, a dedicated telephony function has been established to handle customer enquiries. This enables other staff to focus on case processing activities, helping to increase operational capacity and support the timely progression of investigations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what target times are set for investigations in the recovery from estate department.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department’s Recovery from Estates process does not begin from the date of death. Before recovery activity can commence, probate or letters of administration must generally be granted, and the Department must be notified of the estate administration details. Consequently, there can be a period between notification of a death and the point at which the Department is able to begin Recovery from Estates activity.

Recovery from Estates investigations can vary significantly in complexity depending on the circumstances of the case, the availability of evidence, and the time required to obtain and review historical financial information. The Department seeks to progress cases as efficiently as possible while ensuring that all necessary enquiries are completed.

The Department has taken a number of steps to improve timeliness and customer service within the Recovery from Estates process. These include increasing resource within the service and continuing to provide training and upskilling opportunities to develop staff capability. In addition, a dedicated telephony function has been established to handle customer enquiries. This enables other staff to focus on case processing activities, helping to increase operational capacity and support the timely progression of investigations.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that children who didn’t reach the water safety section of national curriculum swimming lessons receive the required teaching on water safety.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The PE national curriculum makes specific reference to swimming and water safety, stating that all primary pupils must learn to swim competently and confidently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. It is for schools to ensure that pupils are taught the nation curriculum. Data suggests that 73% of children can swim 25 metres before they leave primary school.

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.

In addition, we have made changes to statutory requirements for relationships, sex and health education in both primary and secondary to ensure all pupils are taught about the water safety code, supporting them to be safe in different types of water. This requirement comes into force from September.

Oak National Academy offers swimming and water safety units as part of its PE curriculum, developed in partnership with Swim England for all age groups. We also work closely with sector organisations like Swim England and the Royal Life Saving Society UK, supporting all schools to provide swimming and water safety lessons through teacher training and resources.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate the Government has made of the number of children who didn’t reach the water safety section of national curriculum swimming lessons.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The PE national curriculum makes specific reference to swimming and water safety, stating that all primary pupils must learn to swim competently and confidently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. It is for schools to ensure that pupils are taught the nation curriculum. Data suggests that 73% of children can swim 25 metres before they leave primary school.

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.

In addition, we have made changes to statutory requirements for relationships, sex and health education in both primary and secondary to ensure all pupils are taught about the water safety code, supporting them to be safe in different types of water. This requirement comes into force from September.

Oak National Academy offers swimming and water safety units as part of its PE curriculum, developed in partnership with Swim England for all age groups. We also work closely with sector organisations like Swim England and the Royal Life Saving Society UK, supporting all schools to provide swimming and water safety lessons through teacher training and resources.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will legislate for mandatory licensing of all Houses in Multiple Occupation.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62035 on 4 July 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support private external companies that provide general curriculum PE lessons to schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Ashfield to the answer of 14 August 2026 to Question 14416.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to tackle (a) sepsis, (b) meningitis and (c) pneumonia in newborn babies.

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

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) plays a key role in tackling group B streptococcus (GBS) and other neonatal infections. Through national surveillance systems, the agency monitors the trends, characteristics, and outcomes of GBS infection, to assess risk factors and support prevention. Other severe neonatal infections are also routinely monitored and reported, and in all cases, key data is shared with relevant stakeholder groups.

Practitioners are expected to take a risk-based approach to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of GBS. Under current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, pregnant women who are known to carry GBS, or who have risk factors, should be offered antibiotics during labour to help prevent early-onset infection in their baby. NHS maternity services provide information and advice to expectant parents on the signs and symptoms of infection in pregnancy and newborn babies, including about GBS, associated risk factors, and when to seek urgent medical attention for themselves or their baby.

NHS England works closely in this area with the Group B Strep Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, including supporting their work to provide resources for health care practitioners. NHS England is also leading the national rollout of early warning systems across maternity services, designed to improve early detection and management of unwell babies, and support their long-term health and wellbeing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to improve prevention of (a) Group B Strep and (b) serious infections in newborn babies.

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

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) plays a key role in tackling group B streptococcus (GBS) and other neonatal infections. Through national surveillance systems, the agency monitors the trends, characteristics, and outcomes of GBS infection, to assess risk factors and support prevention. Other severe neonatal infections are also routinely monitored and reported, and in all cases, key data is shared with relevant stakeholder groups.

Practitioners are expected to take a risk-based approach to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of GBS. Under current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, pregnant women who are known to carry GBS, or who have risk factors, should be offered antibiotics during labour to help prevent early-onset infection in their baby. NHS maternity services provide information and advice to expectant parents on the signs and symptoms of infection in pregnancy and newborn babies, including about GBS, associated risk factors, and when to seek urgent medical attention for themselves or their baby.

NHS England works closely in this area with the Group B Strep Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, including supporting their work to provide resources for health care practitioners. NHS England is also leading the national rollout of early warning systems across maternity services, designed to improve early detection and management of unwell babies, and support their long-term health and wellbeing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to raise awareness of (a) Group B Strep and (b) severe infections in newborn babies.

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

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) plays a key role in tackling group B streptococcus (GBS) and other neonatal infections. Through national surveillance systems, the agency monitors the trends, characteristics, and outcomes of GBS infection, to assess risk factors and support prevention. Other severe neonatal infections are also routinely monitored and reported, and in all cases, key data is shared with relevant stakeholder groups.

Practitioners are expected to take a risk-based approach to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of GBS. Under current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, pregnant women who are known to carry GBS, or who have risk factors, should be offered antibiotics during labour to help prevent early-onset infection in their baby. NHS maternity services provide information and advice to expectant parents on the signs and symptoms of infection in pregnancy and newborn babies, including about GBS, associated risk factors, and when to seek urgent medical attention for themselves or their baby.

NHS England works closely in this area with the Group B Strep Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, including supporting their work to provide resources for health care practitioners. NHS England is also leading the national rollout of early warning systems across maternity services, designed to improve early detection and management of unwell babies, and support their long-term health and wellbeing.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of preventing asylum seekers in Home Office supported accommodation from being able to go out into the community freely.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

In accordance with current legislation, people with a valid pending claim for asylum are permitted to remain in the UK while their claim is being processed, and as they have permission to remain in the UK during that time, they cannot be routinely detained. Detention is primarily used to facilitate removal of those who have no lawful right to remain in the UK, and who refuse to leave voluntarily.

Those in the asylum system who have valid leave may be subject to conditions under section 71 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Asylum Seekers who have no leave to be in the UK, who are not detained, will be placed on immigration bail with strict conditions set under Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016.

The conditions imposed are considered on a case-by-case basis and can include requirements on where a person must live, as well as obligations to maintain regular contact with the Home Office. This may include reporting in person, by telephone or digitally, and notifying the Home Office of any changes to contact details. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in further immigration enforcement action including immigration detention.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools with the costs of providing high quality PE.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Ashfield to the answer of 21 August to Question 11573.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to cut waiting times for referrals to mental health support.

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

Too many people have waited too long for the mental health support they need. The Government is determined to transform mental health services so that people can access high-quality care when and where they need it.

We are working with NHS England to improve access to mental health services across the country, including by establishing 159 new mental health centres in local communities. Since taking office, the Government has also added thousands of staff to the mental health workforce, helping services to provide timely, high-quality care.

Later this year, we will publish a new mental health strategy for England. It will set out how we will widen access, intervene earlier, reduce waiting times, and ensure that more people receive the right support in their local communities.

We are also strengthening support in schools, primary care, and local communities so that people can get help earlier and closer to home. Alongside expanding the mental health workforce, NHS England is working with local systems to improve referral pathways, make better use of service capacity, and reduce unwarranted variation in access and waiting times.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to increase access to mental health support services.

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

Too many people have waited too long for the mental health support they need. The Government is determined to transform mental health services so that people can access high-quality care when and where they need it.

We are working with NHS England to improve access to mental health services across the country, including by establishing 159 new mental health centres in local communities. Since taking office, the Government has also added thousands of staff to the mental health workforce, helping services to provide timely, high-quality care.

Later this year, we will publish a new mental health strategy for England. It will set out how we will widen access, intervene earlier, reduce waiting times, and ensure that more people receive the right support in their local communities.

We are also strengthening support in schools, primary care, and local communities so that people can get help earlier and closer to home. Alongside expanding the mental health workforce, NHS England is working with local systems to improve referral pathways, make better use of service capacity, and reduce unwarranted variation in access and waiting times.

Found: Golocal and Shireoaks post Office Shireoaks Worker (A rating) Skilled Worker MS WENDY PRINCE-BROWN, LEE ANDERSON

Found: Golocal and Shireoaks post Office Shireoaks Worker (A rating) Skilled Worker MS WENDY PRINCE-BROWN, LEE ANDERSON

Found: Golocal and Shireoaks post Office Shireoaks Worker (A rating) Skilled Worker MS WENDY PRINCE-BROWN, LEE ANDERSON