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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether customers are entitled to reimbursement where they incur costs, including the installation of private pumping equipment, as a result of reductions in mains water pressure by water companies.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Customers are protected through statutory standards and compensation arrangements where water company service falls short. When water pressure falls below these standards and normal domestic use is impaired, customers may be entitled to compensation through the Guaranteed Standards Scheme.

Water company performance, including the reliability of supply, is subject to regulatory oversight by Ofwat, and companies are held to account where outcomes do not meet required standards.

We have strengthened these protections in recent reforms, including increasing compensation payments and ensuring customers are properly reimbursed following disruption, alongside plans for a new independent Water Ombudsman to provide binding decisions and improve access to redress where issues arise.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what rights to compensation or redress are available to customers whose mains water pressure is reduced to a level that impairs normal domestic use.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Customers are protected through statutory standards and compensation arrangements where water company service falls short. When water pressure falls below these standards and normal domestic use is impaired, customers may be entitled to compensation through the Guaranteed Standards Scheme.

Water company performance, including the reliability of supply, is subject to regulatory oversight by Ofwat, and companies are held to account where outcomes do not meet required standards.

We have strengthened these protections in recent reforms, including increasing compensation payments and ensuring customers are properly reimbursed following disruption, alongside plans for a new independent Water Ombudsman to provide binding decisions and improve access to redress where issues arise.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what oversight regulators undertake to ensure that reductions in mains water pressure are not used as an alternative to infrastructure investment by water companies.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat monitors water pressure as part of statutory service standards and can take enforcement action if companies fail to maintain adequate levels. Companies must report pressure performance annually, and Ofwat scrutinises their investment plans through the price review process to ensure they are not avoiding necessary infrastructure upgrades. The Drinking Water Inspectorate also oversees supply issues that could affect consumer protection. Regulators therefore have clear mechanisms to prevent companies using pressure reductions as an alternative to proper investment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what minimum standards apply to mains water pressure for domestic customers; and what steps are taken to ensure that water companies remain compliant with those standards when adjusting network pressure.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies must meet minimum service standards set through the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, including maintaining adequate water pressure and providing compensation where these standards are not met. The Government strengthened protections in July 2025 by increasing compensation for low water pressure incidents, with payments rising up to £250 and applied automatically to eligible customers’ accounts.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his department issues to water companies on the use of reductions in mains water pressure as a method of managing leakage or supply constraints.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government does not issue guidance to water companies to reduce mains water pressure as a method of managing leakage or supply constraints. Companies are expected to control leakage through investment and efficiency. They must also meet minimum pressure standards under the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, with compensation payable where these are not met.

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 make it his policy to remove Housing Revenue Account debt from local authorities to give them the ability to build more council housing.

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

The government has no current plans to recalculate Housing Revenue Account self-financing debt.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty on the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government remains firmly committed to the Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and has carefully considered the potential impact of electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) on consumer uptake of electric vehicles.

The rate of eVED for EVs will be half of the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that EVs are cheaper to own and run for the majority of EV drivers. Alongside eVED, the Government also announced at Budget 2025 generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the VED Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs.

The Government has set out the expected impacts of eVED and related Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK.

The Government published a consultation which provides further detail on how eVED will work and sought views on its implementation, available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved. The consultation closed on 18 March 2026 and the Government will respond to the consultation in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS Care Pathways and research funding for children and young people with Long COVID; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that paediatric Long COVID patients receive appropriate clinical investigation.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in 2025’s myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan, NHS England has been asked to produce guidance to support systems with commissioning and delivering services, in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. The scope of this work has widened to include other post-infection conditions, such as post-COVID syndrome, also known as Long Covid. Engagement with people and carers with lived experience, clinicians, and commissioners is underway.

Post-COVID commissioning guidance was last updated in 2024 and is being incorporated into this work, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/commissioning-guidance-for-post-covid-services-for-adults-children-and-young-people/

Since April 2024, in line with the National Health Service operating framework and the establishment of integrated care systems, the commissioning of services to support patients with Long Covid, including children, has been the responsibility of integrated care boards. Where local Long Covid services are not available, children and young people with Long Covid symptoms should see their general practitioner, who will be able to refer them to alternative existing services depending on their clinical needs and symptoms.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which welcomes applications for funding for research into any aspect of health and care, including Long Covid in children and young people.

The NIHR has funded research specifically focused on Long Covid in children and young people, including the approximately £1.9 million CLoCk study jointly funded by the NIHR and the Medical Research Council. Other research projects supported through the NIHR’s infrastructure schemes are investigating the neurological impacts of Long Covid in children and young people and the biological characterisation of Long Covid in this population.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential role of nature based solutions, including beaver-led wetland restoration, in reducing storm flows and improving drought resilience.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government supports nature‑based solutions, such as beaver‑led wetland restoration, to sustainably address environmental challenges and improve flood and drought resilience for nature and society.

The Government’s new flood funding policy, and the Environment Agency’s Position Statement and guidance, reinforce the Government’s commitment to working with nature alongside traditional infrastructure, with investment in flood risk management supporting opportunities likely to deliver the greatest benefits.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of departmental savings on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

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

My Department assesses budgets annually as part of the business planning process with any departmental savings distributed appropriately. The budget for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme remains the same as previously announced.

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 ensure that Parliament is informed of material changes to data access arrangements under the NHS Federated Data Platform.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care better to improve outcomes for patients.

The NHS FDP is delivering for the NHS, helping people get the care they need quicker and more efficiently. Since March 2024, more than 100,000 additional patients have been supported to undergo procedures in theatres partly by increasing theatre utilisation. Nearly 94,000 people have been supported on their cancer journey, with 7% seeing a reduction in the time it took to diagnose their cancer. There has been a 14% decrease in delays discharging patients staying in hospital for more than seven days, freeing up beds for those who need them most. NHS England publishes quarterly information on the benefits realised from the FDP, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/impact/fdp-uptake-and-benefits/

To date, 24 integrated care board clusters and 168 NHS trusts have signed up to the NHS FDP, including the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The NHS FDP operates under established NHS England governance and assurance arrangements, including oversight of how data is accessed and used.

Changes to data access arrangements are managed through these existing governance processes, including the review and approval of Data Protection Impact Assessments and other information governance documentation.

NHS England is committed to transparency and publishes information about its use of data and associated safeguards through its transparency materials, in line with legal and policy requirements.

Ministers and the Department are kept informed of the programme and any material developments through routine accountability and reporting mechanisms.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Ministers were informed before May 2026 that staff employed by Palantir and external consultants had been granted administrative access to identifiable patient data within the National Data Integration Tenant of the NHS Federated Data Platform prior to pseudonymisation.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care better to improve outcomes for patients.

The NHS FDP is delivering for the NHS, helping people get the care they need quicker and more efficiently. Since March 2024, more than 100,000 additional patients have been supported to undergo procedures in theatres partly by increasing theatre utilisation. Nearly 94,000 people have been supported on their cancer journey, with 7% seeing a reduction in the time it took to diagnose their cancer. There has been a 14% decrease in delays discharging patients staying in hospital for more than seven days, freeing up beds for those who need them most. NHS England publishes quarterly information on benefits realised from the FDP, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/impact/fdp-uptake-and-benefits/

To date, 24 integrated care board clusters and 168 NHS trusts have signed up to the NHS FDP, including Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Ministers and the Department are kept informed of the NHS FDP and any material developments through routine reporting and accountability mechanisms. Operational arrangements are managed through established governance and assurance processes. Ministers were not informed of routine access arrangements operating in the National Data Integration Tenant of the NHS FDP before May 2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Oral Statement of 21 May 2026 on Middle East: Economic Response, Official Report, columns 731-733 and Ofgem's press release entitled Energy price cap will rise by 13% from July, published on 27 May 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of support for fuel poor households.

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

Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for this Government. That is why we recently published a new fuel poverty strategy for England alongside the Warm Homes Plan.

With this new strategy, Government is determined to double the pace at which we slash fuel poverty.

We are also investing £15 billion through the Warm Homes Plan – the biggest home upgrade plan in British history – to help lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.

The Government acted in the Autumn Budget to reduce electricity costs by scrapping the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and moving 75% of the domestic costs of the Renewables Obligation to the Exchequer.

In addition, the Warm Home Discount scheme will continue until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

The rise in the price cap reconfirms the importance of the Government’s mission to get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices and onto clean, homegrown power we control.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what incentives are available to support rewilding projects that aim to (a) reduce flood risk, (b) mitigate extreme weather impacts, and (c) address soil erosion and agricultural runoff into rivers.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government supports rewilding principles that prioritise natural processes and reduce intervention, leading to larger, better-connected habitats, with benefits for flood mitigation and water quality.

These principles are reflected in nature-based solutions such as natural flood management. We have committed to invest £300 million in natural flood management by 2036.

Defra has also set out a new approach to beavers, including a licensing scheme for wild release, recognising their role in slowing and storing water.

We are supporting farmers to address soil erosion and agricultural run‑off, including through Environmental Land Management schemes which support farmers to work with natural processes.

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 impact of the closure of applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on farmers seeking to undertake (a) nature recovery, (b) habitat restoration and (c) regenerative farming projects.

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

The Government is backing farmers with a record £11.8 billion for sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

This is funding Defra’s agri-environmental schemes, currently including over 44,500 multi-year live SFI agreements.

Defra will open the SFI2026 offer to small farms and farms not yet in ELM agreements later this month, and to everyone in September.

SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. Defra opened the rolling application window for the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) in September 2025. The application window for the ELM capital grants offer will open in July.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to review licensing arrangements for the reintroduction of native species, including beavers and lynx.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are no plans to review licensing arrangements for the reintroduction of native species.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to increase long term public and private investment in rewilding and nature restoration projects.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management schemes in the most recent Spending Review.

One of these schemes, Landscape Recovery, is supporting larger, more ambitious projects to restore nature across England, with long-term agreements lasting over 20 years. Landscape Recovery combines private finance with Government funding to allow these projects to deliver a suite of critical ​environmental outcomes."

Defra has also recently announced £30 million for the new Wildlife Rich Habitat Fund, expected to deliver thousands of hectares of new habitat across England’s protected landscapes over three years, helping to bring nature back to the places people love most.

We committed in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan in December 2025 to mobilise private investment and finance to restore and protect nature in England. This includes our £30 million investment in a new investment fund for nature: the Big Nature Impact Fund.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support is available for land managers seeking to transition to rewilding based approaches, including advisory services and payment schemes.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra has recently announced £30 million for the new Wildlife Rich Habitat Fund, expected to deliver thousands of hectares of new habitat across England’s protected landscapes over three years, helping to bring nature back to the places people love most.

We committed in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan in December 2025 to mobilise private investment and finance to restore and protect nature in England. This includes our £30 million investment in a new investment fund for nature: the Big Nature Impact Fund.

The Government has also reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management schemes in the most recent Spending Review.  One of these schemes, Landscape Recovery, whilst not a rewilding scheme, is designed to support larger, more ambitious projects to restore nature across England, with long-term agreements lasting over 20 years. Landscape Recovery combines private finance with Government funding to allow these projects to deliver a suite of critical ​environmental outcomes.

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 a) support and b) incentivise large scale rewilding projects in Britain.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra has recently announced £30 million for the new Wildlife Rich Habitat Fund, expected to deliver thousands of hectares of new habitat across England’s protected landscapes over three years, helping to bring nature back to the places people love most.

We committed in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan in December 2025 to mobilise private investment and finance to restore and protect nature in England. This includes our £30 million investment in a new investment fund for nature: the Big Nature Impact Fund.

The Government has also reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management schemes in the most recent Spending Review.  One of these schemes, Landscape Recovery, whilst not a rewilding scheme, is designed to support larger, more ambitious projects to restore nature across England, with long-term agreements lasting over 20 years. Landscape Recovery combines private finance with Government funding to allow these projects to deliver a suite of critical ​environmental outcomes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what incentives there are to support rewilding projects.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra has recently announced £30 million for the new Wildlife Rich Habitat Fund, expected to deliver thousands of hectares of new habitat across England’s protected landscapes over three years, helping to bring nature back to the places people love most.

We committed in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan in December 2025 to mobilise private investment and finance to restore and protect nature in England. This includes our £30 million investment in a new investment fund for nature: the Big Nature Impact Fund.

The Government has also reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management schemes in the most recent Spending Review.  One of these schemes, Landscape Recovery, whilst not a rewilding scheme, is designed to support larger, more ambitious projects to restore nature across England, with long-term agreements lasting over 20 years. Landscape Recovery combines private finance with Government funding to allow these projects to deliver a suite of critical ​environmental outcomes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of long-term unemployment among people aged over 50.

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

DWP published information on the economic labour market status of individuals aged 50 and over in September 2025. That can be found here: Economic labour market status of individuals aged 50 and over, trends over time: September 2025 - GOV.UK . More recent information on unemployment by age and duration is published by the ONS and can be found here: UNEM01 SA: Unemployment by age and duration (seasonally adjusted) - Office for National Statistics

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of employment support available to jobseekers aged over 50, including access to tailored guidance and skills programmes.

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

DWP provides a range of policies that deliver enhanced support to jobseekers over 50 years old. The “50PLUS” package includes access to additional work coach appointment time, access to free training such as Skills Bootcamps, careers advice, Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP); local and national skills offers and access to the DWP Midlife MOT group sessions and the on-line DWP Midlife MOT website, both of which provide help with issues around health, finances, work and pensions. 50PLUS Champions are also embedded within Jobcentres to strengthen the support available for older claimants.

A synthesis of evidence was published on 28 May 2026 (Evaluation evidence from policies targeted at claimants aged 50 plus - GOV.UK) which includes evaluation findings on the Evaluation of the Additional Work Coach Time, 50PLUS Champions and the DWP Digital Midlife MOT website.

The Private Sector Midlife MOT pilots, as well as the JobCentre Plus Midlife MOT’s have also had evaluations (Private Sector Midlife MOT pilots, Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT).

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what strategies his Department has in place to tackle unemployment among people aged over 50.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 March 2026 to Question UIN 119633.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of different and overlapping family court orders in practice; and what steps his Department is taking to improve clarity and consistency for those affected.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

When applying to the Family Courts, applicants are asked to provide details of any previous or concurrent proceedings. In private law proceedings, HMCTS court staff will also undertake a search of case management systems to identify any linked proceedings, including any existing orders, and bring these to the attention of the judge or the justices’ legal adviser on the case. In public law children proceedings, the local authority will be asked to state on their application form if there are any other related proceedings.

The court will then consider the application. It is a matter for the court to determine whether that or any other orders ought to be made, remain in place, be varied or discharged.

We are seeking to improve the range and detail of data we publish, including about cases which return to court. Some of this work will be captured in the Family Justice Strategy, which will be published later this year.

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 impact of Post Office closures on elderly and digitally excluded residents in rural communities.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My Department conducted social value research into the most frequent users of the Post Office to feed into the Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office, which we published last year. This research showed that the most frequent users are typically older, from more rural areas, or less confident using digital technology. In the Government’s Response to the Green Paper, we committed to protecting access to services for these and other users by retaining the minimum requirement of 11,500 Post Office branches and all six geographical Access Criteria. This means, for example, that 99% of the UK population must be within three miles of a Post Office.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of current arrangements for dividing maintenance responsibilities on trunk roads between National Highways and local authorities.

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

National Highways is responsible for the routine maintenance and renewal of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), and funding for this is provided through the third Road Investment Strategy, published in March 2026. The Department expects National Highways to work with local authorities on the upkeep of the network, including maintaining a safe and smooth interface for road users between local roads and the SRN.

On litter, responsibilities are split between National Highways and local authorities. National Highways is responsible for clearing litter on motorways and some trunk roads, and local authorities are responsible for litter collection on other trunk roads and their associated lay-bys in England. Where local authorities are responsible for litter collection, National Highways works in partnership with them to ensure that activities are coordinated where possible, including, for example, allowing authorities to collect litter when roads are closed for other planned maintenance work. The Government is also exploring options to give National Highways new powers as a litter enforcement authority when Parliamentary time permits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensuring that local active travel funding is targeted towards communities most affected by transport poverty.

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

Active travel funding is provided as part of long-term consolidated transport settlements over the period 2026/27 to 2029/30. This flexible funding allows authorities to invest in line with local priorities, including to increase connectivity and reduce deprivation and transport poverty.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what evidence underpins the current proposal to remove insured tenancy deposit schemes from the reformed tenancy deposit protection system.

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

The proposed removal of the insured schemes is based on the objective of ensuring that tenant deposits are as safe as possible.

Under the custodial system, money is held by the Tenancy Deposit Protection provider as a neutral third party. Under the insured scheme, there is an inherent power imbalance against tenants given the landlords and letting agents hold the deposit.

The custodial scheme provides tenants with more confidence to challenge deposit deductions and use the Alternative Dispute Resolution service provided.

There is growing evidence that the insured model also carries a higher fraud risk, with incidents of exploiting insured registration being reported. When agents fail to maintain insurance or Client Money Protection cover, reimbursement for losses can also be delayed, leaving tenants exposed.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of funding apprenticeship training for under-22s in SMEs on apprenticeship starts prior to announcing an expansion to under-25s.

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

Employers who do not pay the levy, typically SMEs, are vital to the economy and to apprenticeships; they provide valuable opportunities for younger apprentices and apprentices from disadvantaged areas.

That is why from the next academic year, we will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers for all eligible people aged 16-24, to boost small business starts and prioritise funding for young people. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16-21, and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care.

To further support non-levy paying employers with the additional costs associated with employing young people, we are also introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees.

These changes are part of our plan to deliver 50,000 more apprenticeship opportunities for young people and are supported by £1bn of additional investment over the next three years.

In addition, we provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25, when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year.

The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which comprises around 3,000 employers and apprentices who volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. It operates across all parts of England through nine regional networks which provide buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance his Department provides to Post Office Ltd on public consultation and communication with local communities ahead of planned branch closures.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Public consultation and communication with local communities ahead of planned branch closures is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd and Government does not provide guidance on this matter.

Post Office is committed to consulting on any proposed branch changes as set out in the ‘Principles of Community Engagement’, which is published on Post Office’s website. These are a set of guidelines agreed with the statutory consumer advocacy bodies – Citizens Advice, Consumer Scotland and the Consumer Council Northern Ireland. These consultations focus on customers’ access to Post Office products following any proposed change.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Department has to expand marine rewilding.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We recognise rewilding and restoration of habitats and species plays a role in supporting thriving and productive seas. In the Environment Improvement Plan, through the Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef (ReMeMaRe) programme we aim to restore at least 15% of priority habitat, such as saltmarsh, seagrass and oyster reefs along the English coast by 2043.

Our Marine Protected Area network review is exploring ways to better address biodiversity loss, recover our seas and improve climate change resilience. We are exploring how Highly Protected Marine Areas can be used to support goals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made on the relative speed of deposit returns and alternative dispute resolution rates between insured and custodial tenancy deposit schemes.

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

My Department receives data from Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) providers regarding the speed of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in respect of both custodial and insured schemes.

My Department also receives information about how quickly a deposit is returned to a tenant upon conclusion of ADR, and for the custodial scheme it receives data on how quickly a deposit is returned if there is no dispute.

Due to the nature of the insured scheme, where the landlord or agents keeps possession of deposit monies, if no dispute is raised there is no official record of how long it takes for the deposit monies to be returned to tenants. Based on recent Key Performance Indicator (KPI) figures for the custodial schemes, over 95% of disputed or undisputed deposits are returned to tenants within two days of notification of the conclusion of a dispute or agreement of any deductions.

However, a recent report from Citizens Advice states that 55% of tenants surveyed reported waiting longer than two weeks to have all or some of their deposit returned. Given the most recent KPI data shows custodial deposit returns are shorter than this, we have concluded that the insured scheme can create unnecessary delays to the detriment of tenants.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the comparative effectiveness of insured and custodial tenancy deposit schemes in ensuring that tenants' deposits are fully protected and landlords remain compliant with statutory requirements.

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

My Department engages regularly with stakeholders to discuss the operation and efficacy of the Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) system.

This engagement includes gathering information about the difference in service quality between the two types of TDP schemes, and issues that service users may have with these schemes and how they can be addressed.

My Department also receives Key Performance Indicator data from all TDP providers across both types of schemes. Where reporting shows that there are performance issues, we actively escalate matters with the relevant scheme and require them to take corrective action if necessary.

Tenant representative groups consistently report low awareness of the difference between custodial and insured schemes. Under the insured model, tenants who dispute a landlord’s deduction can feel pressured to accept a deduction, rather than pursue Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Where ADR is used, feedback from tenant representative groups report that it operates effectively and the impartial service provided by TDP providers is valued.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken analysis of user experience differences between insured and custodial tenancy deposit schemes, including on (a) awareness of dispute rights and (b) ease of navigating end-of-tenancy processes.

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

My Department engages regularly with stakeholders to discuss the operation and efficacy of the Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) system.

This engagement includes gathering information about the difference in service quality between the two types of TDP schemes, and issues that service users may have with these schemes and how they can be addressed.

My Department also receives Key Performance Indicator data from all TDP providers across both types of schemes. Where reporting shows that there are performance issues, we actively escalate matters with the relevant scheme and require them to take corrective action if necessary.

Tenant representative groups consistently report low awareness of the difference between custodial and insured schemes. Under the insured model, tenants who dispute a landlord’s deduction can feel pressured to accept a deduction, rather than pursue Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Where ADR is used, feedback from tenant representative groups report that it operates effectively and the impartial service provided by TDP providers is valued.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of whether Financial Risk Assessments under the Gambling Commission's pilot remain aligned with the policy intent set out in the 2023 gambling white paper; and whether she will publish that assessment.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DCMS supports the policy intent behind Financial Risk Assessments, as set out in the white paper. We have taken note of the Gambling Commission’s pilot and its published findings, and have had regular engagement with the Commission on this issue.

DCMS believes that the pilot indicates Financial Risk Assessments should be a useful tool in efforts to tackle gambling-related harm, should the Commission decide to implement them. Findings from the pilot suggest that they target and identify customers who are both experiencing high losses and are in financial difficulties. We also believe that Financial Risk Assessments will not be intrusive. The white paper estimated that only 3% of active gambling accounts would be expected to undergo an assessment; and the pilot indicated that 97% of those assessments would be completed frictionlessly, within seconds and conducting a check would not interrupt the customer experience.

It is for the Gambling Commission to decide whether to implement Financial Risk Assessments. The Commission has committed to ongoing review, evaluation and adaptation over time if Financial Risk Assessments are introduced.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will update the House on the progress of Financial Risk Assessments after the Gambling Commission Board meeting on 21 May.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

It is for the Gambling Commission to decide whether to implement Financial Risk Assessments. DCMS supports the policy intent behind Financial Risk Assessments, and has had regular engagement with the Gambling Commission on this issue.

The Gambling Commission has confirmed that its Board met at the end of May and the agenda included consideration of the extensive evidence base connected with financial risk assessments. The Commission Board has not yet fully completed its assessment of that evidence. The Commission has confirmed that it will communicate further in due course.

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 his Department's joint consultation entitled Reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure, published on 18 December 2025, what progress his Department has made on reforming permitted development rights for telecommunications infrastructure.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124803 on 20 April 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to extend permitted development rights for routine upgrades to existing telecommunications infrastructure in order to support the rollout of standalone 5G.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124803 on 20 April 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has plans to make education about antisemitism mandatory in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Newbury to the answer of 04 June 2026 to Question 4398.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework gives sufficient weight to the need to maintain, upgrade and expand telecommunications infrastructure.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124377 on 17 April 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to promote greater consistency by local planning authorities in decisions relating to telecommunications infrastructure.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124377 on 17 April 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the National Planning Policy Framework to state that digital connectivity is essential infrastructure.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124377 on 17 April 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of re-orienting the further education funding system to rewards outcomes rather than headcounts.

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

We use the 16 to 19 funding formula to calculate and allocate funding to each institution, each academic year. Basic funding for institutions is calculated using lagged student volumes and funding rates, which depend on the size of their students' study programmes or T Levels. These rates are regardless of the type of institution they attend or what they study

The 16 to 19 funding formula ensures that additional support is placed where it is most needed, ensuring all young people have a place in a study programme which can equip them with the skills they need to seize opportunities.

We announced in the Post-16 education and Skills White Paper that we will undertake a 16 to 19 funding formula review to maximise the impact of funding. As part of that review, we will consider evidence and recommendations from numerous sources, including the ‘Young people and work: interim report’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-people-and-work-interim-report.

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 access to maternity pathways, including tailored support for pregnant people experiencing homelessness.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to improving outcomes for women and babies from vulnerable and underserved groups, including those experiencing homelessness, to ensure access to safe, personalised, and equitable maternity care.

That is why the Government has committed to ending the practice of discharging newborn babies into bed and breakfast or other unsuitable shared accommodation through the Child Poverty Strategy.

The Neighbourhood Health Framework sets an ambition to improve coordination of services for people with the most complex needs, working jointly with key partners including local authorities and community organisations. The Neighbourhood Health Framework is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-health-framework/neighbourhood-health-framework#introduction-to-neighbourhood-health

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration he has given to introducing a graded model of miscarriage care across England.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need. As part of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to closely reviewing the findings presented in the Tommy’s graded model of care study, as part of a broader range of measures under consideration to improve miscarriage care for women and families.

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 Centrepoint's report entitled The Youth Homelessness Databank 2024-2025, what information his Department holds on the reasons behind the percentage of young people who approached a local authority for homelessness support who did not receive a homelessness assessment.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL526.

Local authorities have a duty to provide support to people at risk of homelessness, including young people, and must have regard to the Homelessness Code of Guidance, which sets out that housing authorities must assess all eligible applicants who are at risk of or are homeless.

We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the proportion of young people approaching local authorities for homelessness support who receive a homelessness assessment.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL526.

Local authorities have a duty to provide support to people at risk of homelessness, including young people, and must have regard to the Homelessness Code of Guidance, which sets out that housing authorities must assess all eligible applicants who are at risk of or are homeless.

We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to local authorities to help increase the availability of stepping stone accommodation for young people.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL526.

Local authorities have a duty to provide support to people at risk of homelessness, including young people, and must have regard to the Homelessness Code of Guidance, which sets out that housing authorities must assess all eligible applicants who are at risk of or are homeless.

We have also committed to develop a national Youth Homelessness Prevention Toolkit and develop a dedicated chapter of the Homelessness Code of Guidance on young people, to support councils to work collaboratively with other public services to prevent youth homelessness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help tackle the substandard temporary accommodation.

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

This Government is committed to improving standards across all types of housing, including temporary accommodation, to ensure that it is safe, decent, and stable. Councils must already ensure that temporary accommodation is suitable for the needs of the household and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review.

Housing authorities must also, as a minimum, ensure that all temporary accommodation is free of Category 1 hazards as identified by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

To increase protections against poor quality, this government has committed to introducing the reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) and to consulting on introducing Awaab’s Law across temporary accommodation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help local authorities reduce their number of out of area placements in temporary accommodation.

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

Legislation and statutory guidance sets out that local authorities should, wherever possible, place homeless households within their own area. However, in some areas where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, it is sometimes necessary to place households in temporary accommodation outside the local area. This should be as near as possible to the original placing local authority.

The National Plan to End Homelessness sets out our commitment to taking action on out of area placements and driving out unsuitable practice. We are engaging with stakeholders including local authorities sending or receiving large numbers of placements to understand the issues and how best to tackle unsuitable practice, making expectations on councils clear.

As also set out in the National Plan, this Government is focused on tackling the root causes of homelessness by delivering 1.5 million homes, reforming the private rented sector and raising living standards. We will be providing £3.6 billion in funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services from 2026/27 to 2028/29, to ensure councils have the funding they need to prevent homelessness, helping to reduce demand for temporary accommodation.

We are also increasing the supply of good-quality temporary accommodation, both through the £950 million fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund, and through exploring options for partnerships with social impact and institutional investors, which will help local authorities make suitable local placements.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce legally binding targets for the restoration of Sites of Special Scientific Interest to favourable condition.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has no plans to introduce legally binding targets for the restoration of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) to favourable condition.

The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 sets a non-legally binding interim target for 50% of SSSI features to have actions on track to achieve favourable condition by December 2030, supporting the wider ambition for 75% of protected sites to be in favourable condition by 2042.

The Department is focused on action to improve protected sites and does not consider a separate statutory target necessary.

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 potential impact of blanket age-based restrictions on children who benefit from online spaces, including children with additional needs.

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

Protecting children online is a priority for the Secretary of State. Through our recent consultation, we heard directly from 14000 children and especially reached out to voices that are sometimes missed.

Following this, on 15 June, the government published a progress statement announcing a ban on social media services from providing their services to under 16s as well as targeted functionality restrictions on a wider range of online services. We recognise the need to support those with additional needs and the government is continuing to strengthen wider support for children. Our approach will reduce serious harms while preserving safe, positive online spaces.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to enable data sharing between Government departments and the Child Maintenance Service for the purposes of locating a non-resident parent.

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

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) have access to a wide range of information providers including HM Revenue and Customs, local authorities and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, which will help establish the correct last known or notified address of a parent.

The Child Support Information Regulations 2008 provides a legal requirement for certain individuals and bodies to provide information needed to determine child maintenance applications and decisions. Please see link with further information on certain individuals and bodies: The Child Support Information Regulations 2008.

Any person requested to provide information must provide the information or evidence if it is in their possession or if they can reasonably be expected to obtain it. The information requested must be provided to the CMS as soon is reasonably practicable.

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 reduce the number of women waiting for NHS treatment.

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

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health. This includes ensuring women get equal access to high quality elective care, and tackling long waits for gynaecology services.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy was published on 15 April 2026 and sets out a bold, long‑term plan to transform how the health and care system listens to, supports and delivers for women and girls across all regions in England. It puts women’s voices and choices at the centre of care, drives faster improvements in services and outcomes that matter most to women, and tackles long‑standing health inequalities across the life course. The strategy aligns with the 10-Year Health Plan to shift care into the community, harness digital innovation and strengthen prevention so women can live healthier, more fulfilled lives.

The Elective Reform Plan sets out our approach to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment across all patient groups and specialities, including women waiting for gynaecological care. Performance against this standard across gynaecology services is up 6 percentage points since July 2024. Gynaecology waiting lists are down by over 24,000 over the same period.

We are implementing measures to improve gynaecology services and improve women’s access to care. This includes innovative models of care that offer care closer to home and in the community, piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding, and increasing the relative funding available to incentivise providers to take on more gynaecology procedures.

We are also introducing an “online hospital”, NHS Online. From 2027, people on certain pathways, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will have the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, providing additional appointments to cut waiting times.

Support for pubs

Christine Belcher’s charity wing walk for the RAF Wings Appeal

Hartley Pensions and FCA enforcement action (No. 2)

Improving access to elected office for disabled candidates

Duty to assess mental capacity

Protections for UK egg producers

Visibility, marketing and public safety of vaping products

Work of physician associates and the Leng review

National Fish and Chip Day

Social Care and Community Integrated Care’s Unfair to Care Report 2026

Responsible use of pesticides in pet flea and tick treatments

Outdoor learning specialist apprenticeships

Farmgate milk price reduction

Cost of red diesel

A new growth and defence partnership with Europe

Free court transcripts

Infected Blood Inquiry compensation

Wellbeing support for fire and rescue services

Infill of former mineral extraction sites in floodplains

Camberley men's breakfast club

Close season for hare shooting

Approval of teplizumab for Type 1 diabetes on the NHS

Brexit and Wales 10 years on

Armed Forces Week

Deaths of humanitarian de-miners from Norwegian People's Aid

Hartley Pensions and FCA enforcement action

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

Domestic abuse and the FIFA World Cup

VAT for UK hospitality

Drug education in independent schools

Payment of employment tribunal awards (No. 2)

Reform of the asylum system

Right to work

Indefinite Leave to Remain changes

British citizens' right to a family life with spouses in the UK

Dual nationals without British passports

UK trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

South Western Railway and zero waste to landfill

Future of children’s palliative care

Public disorder in Southampton and Belfast

Risk of AI chatbots to children

Palestinian children in Israeli military detention

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications

Prosecution of parents of children with SEND for school absence

England men's football team

Reducing trade and mobility barriers between the UK and EU

Touring artists mobility arrangements

Public health campaign on the dangers of swimming in open water

Found: (96.4%) Jonathan Davies (Labour, Mid Derbyshire) (added 3 Mar 2025) 40 of 42 (95.2%) Mr Lee Dillon