Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will consider the treatment of LGBTQ+ refugees when assessing enforced returns to countries with newly established regimes, particularly where a change of government has not resulted in improved protections for LGBTQ+ people.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

All asylum and human rights claims including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on Country policy and information notes - GOV.UK.

When someone applies for settlement, we review the situation in their country to assess whether they still need protection. Those who no longer need protection can return home in safety or apply to stay under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.

We will not remove anyone to any country where they will face persecution or serious harm.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that LGBTQ+ refugees will not be forcibly returned to countries where they are likely to face persecution.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

All asylum and human rights claims including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on Country policy and information notes - GOV.UK.

When someone applies for settlement, we review the situation in their country to assess whether they still need protection. Those who no longer need protection can return home in safety or apply to stay under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.

We will not remove anyone to any country where they will face persecution or serious harm.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to increase the speed of (a) award decisions and (b) reimbursement payments for the Access to Work scheme.

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

We are committed to increasing the speed of (a) award decisions and (b) reimbursement payments under the Access to Work scheme. To support this, we have increased capacity by recruiting additional staff to process applications and payments. Access to Work payments processing is currently meeting the Standard level agreement of 10 days. We also prioritise cases where customers are about to start work or require renewal of existing support.

In March 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which launched a consultation on the future of Access to Work and how the scheme can better support disabled people in employment. We are reviewing all aspects of Access to Work as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of socioeconomic inequality on (a) stillbirth and (b) neonatal mortality rates; and what cross-government action is being taken to address this.

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

The Department recognises that there are stark inequalities for women and babies, and that they should receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background, location, or ethnicity. Stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates remain higher for mothers in more deprived areas.

A number of interventions specifically aimed at addressing maternal and neonatal inequalities are underway. These include the Perinatal Equity and Anti-Discrimination Programme, delivery of an inequalities dashboard, and projects on removing racial bias from clinical education and embedding genetic risk equity. Additionally, all local areas have published Equity and Equality action plans to tackle inequalities for women and babies from ethnic minorities and those living in the most deprived areas.

We are putting in place immediate actions to improve safety across maternity and neonatal care, which includes the implementation of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle. This bundle is a package of evidence-based interventions to support staff to reduce stillbirth, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and pre-term births. It includes guidance on managing multiple pregnancies to ensure optimal care for the woman and baby.

NHS England is also introducing a Maternal Mortality Care Bundle to set clear standards across all services and address the leading causes of maternal mortality. Women from black and Asian backgrounds are more at risk of specific clinical conditions that are the leading causes of death. This bundle will target these conditions, and we expect a decline in deaths and harm.

To further target disparities in maternal care, Baroness Amos is chairing the National Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The investigation aims to identify the drivers and impact of inequalities faced by women, babies, and families from black and Asian backgrounds, those from deprived groups, and those from other marginalised groups when receiving maternity and neonatal care.

The Government is also setting up a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to address inequalities in maternal and neonatal care and to promote health equity in the delivery of those services.

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 disparities in maternal mortality rates between women from different ethnic backgrounds.

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

The Department recognises that there are stark inequalities for women and babies, and that they should receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background, location, or ethnicity. Stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates remain higher for mothers in more deprived areas.

A number of interventions specifically aimed at addressing maternal and neonatal inequalities are underway. These include the Perinatal Equity and Anti-Discrimination Programme, delivery of an inequalities dashboard, and projects on removing racial bias from clinical education and embedding genetic risk equity. Additionally, all local areas have published Equity and Equality action plans to tackle inequalities for women and babies from ethnic minorities and those living in the most deprived areas.

We are putting in place immediate actions to improve safety across maternity and neonatal care, which includes the implementation of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle. This bundle is a package of evidence-based interventions to support staff to reduce stillbirth, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and pre-term births. It includes guidance on managing multiple pregnancies to ensure optimal care for the woman and baby.

NHS England is also introducing a Maternal Mortality Care Bundle to set clear standards across all services and address the leading causes of maternal mortality. Women from black and Asian backgrounds are more at risk of specific clinical conditions that are the leading causes of death. This bundle will target these conditions, and we expect a decline in deaths and harm.

To further target disparities in maternal care, Baroness Amos is chairing the National Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The investigation aims to identify the drivers and impact of inequalities faced by women, babies, and families from black and Asian backgrounds, those from deprived groups, and those from other marginalised groups when receiving maternity and neonatal care.

The Government is also setting up a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to address inequalities in maternal and neonatal care and to promote health equity in the delivery of those services.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending ring-fenced support for (a) nutritious meals and (b) food education to all early years settings.

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

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. Our landmark Child Poverty Strategy tackles the root causes of poverty by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes and improving local services so that every child can have the best start in life.

Removing the two-child limit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures, such as expanding free school meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit from September 2026.

This will deliver the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began and will also apply to children in school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.

Under the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, any meals, snacks and drinks provided must be healthy, balanced and nutritious. The department has published new EYFS nutrition guidance, and the ‘Help for early years providers’ website offers resources on food activities and sensory food education. The EYFS guidance is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6839b752210698b3364e86fc/Early_years_foundation_stage_nutrition_guidance.pdf.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has sought assurances from the BBC on how it is ensuring that individuals with a history of antisemitic statements do not appear on (a) BBC Arabic and (b) other BBC channels.

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

This Government will not tolerate antisemitism, which has no place in our society.

The BBC is an incredibly important institution, it plays a crucial role in ensuring all communities are heard and feel valued as part of our public life. That is the standard that we expect the BBC to be held to. The BBC itself has rightly acknowledged where coverage, standards and enforcement of those standards has fallen short.

The Secretary of State has had regular conversations with the Chair to understand the BBC’s plans to address concerns that have emerged in recent months, including how the BBC is approaching the issue of antisemitism.

In particular, the Government welcomes the actions taken by the BBC to strengthen editorial quality and standards for the BBC Arabic Service, as set out in the BBC Chair’s letter to the Media, Culture and Sport Committee of 10 November.

What is important moving forward, is that the BBC continues to demonstrate how it is working diligently to maintain the high standards for which it is rightfully recognised.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the BBC's procedures for (a) identifying and (b) addressing antisemitic (i) content and (ii) tropes in its programming.

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

This Government will not tolerate antisemitism, which has no place in our society.

The BBC is an incredibly important institution, it plays a crucial role in ensuring all communities are heard and feel valued as part of our public life. That is the standard that we expect the BBC to be held to. The BBC itself has rightly acknowledged where coverage, standards and enforcement of those standards has fallen short.

The Secretary of State has had regular conversations with the Chair to understand the BBC’s plans to address concerns that have emerged in recent months, including how the BBC is approaching the issue of antisemitism.

In particular, the Government welcomes the actions taken by the BBC to strengthen editorial quality and standards for the BBC Arabic Service, as set out in the BBC Chair’s letter to the Media, Culture and Sport Committee of 10 November.

What is important moving forward, is that the BBC continues to demonstrate how it is working diligently to maintain the high standards for which it is rightfully recognised.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on setting a target to reduce maternal health inequalities.

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

The Department recognises that there are stark inequalities for women and babies, and that they should receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background, location, or ethnicity.

The Government is committed to setting an explicit target to close the maternal mortality gap. We are ensuring that we take an evidence-based approach to determining what targets are set, and that any targets set are women and baby-centred. It is crucial that we also ensure the system is supported to achieve any target set.

Baroness Amos is chairing a national independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. The investigation aims to identify the drivers and impact of inequalities faced by women, babies, and families from black and Asian backgrounds, those from deprived groups, and those from other marginalised groups when receiving maternity and neonatal care. The Government is currently establishing a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, to be chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, that will then develop a national action plan based on the recommendations of the investigation.

A number of interventions specifically aimed at addressing maternal and neonatal inequalities are now underway. These include an anti-discrimination programme, which aims to ensure that all service users and their families receive care free from discrimination and racism, and that all staff will experience a work environment free from discrimination and racism. We are also developing an inequalities dashboard and projects on removing racial bias from clinical education and embedding genetic risk equity.

Additionally, all local areas have published equity and equality action plans to tackle inequalities for women and babies from ethnic minorities and those living in the most deprived areas.

We are also putting in place wider actions to improve safety across maternity and neonatal care, which will also contribute to reducing inequalities. This includes the implementation of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, a package of evidence-based interventions to support staff to reduce stillbirth, neonatal brain injury, neonatal death, and pre-term births. It includes guidance on managing multiple pregnancies to ensure optimal care for the woman and baby. NHS England is also introducing a Maternal Mortality Care Bundle to set clear standards across all services, and to address the leading causes of maternal mortality. Women from black and Asian backgrounds are more at risk of specific clinical conditions that are the leading causes of death. This bundle will target these conditions, and we expect a decline in deaths and harm.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people born with cleft (a) lips and (b) palates have access to appropriate dental care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Eastleigh on 21 November 2025 to Question 89684.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in Integrated Care Board funding on their ability to establish and run Women’s Health Hubs.

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

The 10-Year Health Plan set out the ambition for high autonomy to be the norm across every part of the country. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population and have the freedom to do so, which includes women's health hubs and delivering the direction of women's health strategy. The Government is backing ICBs to do this through record funding. The Spending Review 2025 prioritised health, with record investment in the health and social care system.

We have heard from integrated care systems the positive impacts that women’s health hubs have on both women's access to care in the community and their experience. Our cost benefit analysis demonstrated £5 benefit for every £1 spent on women’s health hubs.

The Women’s Health Programme Board provides direction and strategic oversight to NHS England’s Women’s Health Programme. It monitors progress and delivery of the programme, and delivers the ambitions of the Women’s Health Strategy, reflecting the vision to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities and amplify women’s voices in healthcare.

The board is also responsible for ensuring alignment with wider interdependencies including the 10-Year Health Plan, and neighbourhood health models, as well as ensuring the delivery, oversight, and performance management of women’s health provision are consistent across the seven regions of England.

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Found: ) The following Members were members of the Committee during the inquiry: Rt Hon Lucy Powell, Marie Goldman

Found: Harlow) The following Members were members of the Committee during the inquiry: Rt Hon Lucy Powell, Marie Goldman