Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of childcare support for PhD researchers on the demographics of people who take up studentships.

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

Student parents are eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education which is available to all 3 and 4-year-olds regardless of family circumstances. Students who work in addition to studying may be eligible for 30 hours free childcare if they meet the income requirements.

The government recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides a range of support for students in higher education to support them with childcare. Further information on the childcare offers available to parents can be found at: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/.

The government introduced new support packages for students starting postgraduate master’s degree courses from the 2016/17 academic year onwards and postgraduate doctoral degree courses from 2018/19 onwards. These loans are not based on income and are intended as a contribution to the cost of study. They can be used by students according to their personal circumstances to cover the costs of fees and living costs including childcare. The new support packages have provided a significant uplift in support for postgraduate students while ensuring the student support system remains financially sustainable.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support available to PhD researchers with the costs of childcare.

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

Student parents are eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education which is available to all 3 and 4-year-olds regardless of family circumstances. Students who work in addition to studying may be eligible for 30 hours free childcare if they meet the income requirements.

The government recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides a range of support for students in higher education to support them with childcare. Further information on the childcare offers available to parents can be found at: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/.

The government introduced new support packages for students starting postgraduate master’s degree courses from the 2016/17 academic year onwards and postgraduate doctoral degree courses from 2018/19 onwards. These loans are not based on income and are intended as a contribution to the cost of study. They can be used by students according to their personal circumstances to cover the costs of fees and living costs including childcare. The new support packages have provided a significant uplift in support for postgraduate students while ensuring the student support system remains financially sustainable.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training on employment law do Access to Work case managers receive in order to determine whether a requested adjustment is reasonable.

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

Access to Work case managers do not receive training in employment law. Instead, they are trained to apply the Principles of Access to Work, which are designed to ensure that support provided:

• Goes above and beyond what is considered a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010; and
• Complements but does not replace or subsidise an employer’s legal duty to make reasonable adjustments.

Access to Work support is therefore not intended to determine legal obligations, but to provide additional assistance where appropriate, once an employer’s responsibilities have been met.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there has been a change in guidance for decision makers looking at Attendance Allowance applications in the last 12 months.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Attendance Allowance guidance is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it reflects current policy and operational processes.

Sodium valproate and surgical mesh redress

1,900th anniversary of Chester-le-Street

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mary Glindon; Alison Hume;

Found: Members present: Nick Smith (Chair); Mr Alex Barros -Curtis; Bob Blackman; Bambos Charalambous; Mary Glindon

Found: Members present: Nick Smith (Chair); Mr Alex Barros -Curtis; Bob Blackman; Bambos Charalambous; Mary Glindon

Submit Evidence (by 9 Jan 2026)

The Administration Committee will look at support for Members during the General Election and provisions for newly inducted Members, splitting into split into two different work streams: support for newly elected Members and support for departing Members after the General Election.