Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanisms are in place for housing providers to report the end of a tenancy where Universal Credit Housing Element is paid directly to landlords; and what steps his Department is taking to prevent and recover overpayments made in such circumstances.

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

Landlords can report changes of this nature through a range of routes, including by email and via the Department’s Employment and Partnership Manager network. However, Universal Credit is designed around the principle that claimants are responsible for reporting changes of circumstance. For that reason, while information from landlords can trigger checks and investigation, claimants are still required to make a declaration through “report a change”.

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 adequacy of current what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the absence of mandatory carbohydrate labelling in restaurants on the safety and clinical outcomes of people with Type 1 diabetes.

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

Legislation requiring large businesses in England, those with 250 or more employees, to display calorie information on non-prepacked food and soft drinks came into force in April 2022.

The Department carefully considered the views of a wide range of experts in response to the public consultations on calorie labelling, including expert advice from organisations such as Diabetes UK. A careful balance needed to be struck between making calorie labels as accessible and informative as possible for consumers while not disproportionately impacting businesses. It was decided that large businesses, who are responsible for nearly half of all food and drink sales, would only be required to display calorie information. This ensures that the regulations deliver the projected health benefits while minimising the risk of disproportionately burdening smaller businesses who might find the new requirement more challenging to implement. It is at the discretion of an individual business if they choose to display additional nutritional information, such as carbohydrates, on their menus.

We continue to evaluate the impact of the Out of Home Calorie Labelling Regulations and will publish a post-implementation review within five years of implementation which will consider the effectiveness and impact of the policy.

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 adequacy of current requirements for the provision of carbohydrate and nutritional information in restaurants and other out-of-home food settings for people living with Type 1 diabetes.

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

Legislation requiring large businesses in England, those with 250 or more employees, to display calorie information on non-prepacked food and soft drinks came into force in April 2022.

The Department carefully considered the views of a wide range of experts in response to the public consultations on calorie labelling, including expert advice from organisations such as Diabetes UK. A careful balance needed to be struck between making calorie labels as accessible and informative as possible for consumers while not disproportionately impacting businesses. It was decided that large businesses, who are responsible for nearly half of all food and drink sales, would only be required to display calorie information. This ensures that the regulations deliver the projected health benefits while minimising the risk of disproportionately burdening smaller businesses who might find the new requirement more challenging to implement. It is at the discretion of an individual business if they choose to display additional nutritional information, such as carbohydrates, on their menus.

We continue to evaluate the impact of the Out of Home Calorie Labelling Regulations and will publish a post-implementation review within five years of implementation which will consider the effectiveness and impact of the policy.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the decision to allocate £126 million to kinship care pilot schemes.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

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 kinship care preventing children entering the statutory care system on Bedford Borough Council; and how this informs funding policy for kinship carers.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's timeline is for national implementation of kinship care financial support; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken on kinship carers in Bedford Borough.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with Bedford Borough Council on the financial support needs of kinship carers; and whether Bedford has been considered for inclusion in kinship care pilot schemes.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that kinship carers in Bedford Borough and other local authority areas do not wait for financial reform while kinship care pilot schemes are evaluated.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that evidence gathered from kinship care pilot areas is representative of kinship carers, including in Bedford Borough and neighbouring local authorities.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to kinship carers in (a) Bedford Borough and (b) Bedfordshire not participating in the kinship care pilot programme.

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

Kinship care plays a vital role in keeping children safe within their wider family networks, helping to provide stability and loving homes while reducing the need for statutory care.

The department has launched the kinship allowance pilot in seven local authority areas, known as Kinship Zones, with £126 million of funding confirmed for the first two years. This level of funding reflects the investment required to test the provision of an allowance paid at the Fostering National Minimum Allowance rate and to support a robust evaluation at scale.

The pilot areas were selected to reflect a mix of geographies and service models so that findings are informative nationally. Those local authorities that are not currently Kinship Zones either did not apply to participate or were unsuccessful.

The pilot has been designed as a test‑and‑learn programme to understand what support works best for kinship families and to build strong evidence on impact, implementation and value for money of the pilot, including whether it improves outcomes for children, supports stable placements and reduces pressure on the care system and other public services. This will inform future policy decisions, including for areas outside the pilot such as Bedford. No decisions have been taken on national rollout.

While the pilot is underway, all kinship carers can continue to access support through their local authority and department funded national provision, including advice, training and peer support. We encourage local authorities to review their local offer and learn from best practice across the country.

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 the development of the Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England; what his planned publication timetable is; and how the proposed framework will help reduce variation in access to palliative and end of life care services across Integrated Care Boards.

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

An interim product on the Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care is due in Spring, with full publication planned for Autumn.

The MSF will provide a clinically-led, evidence-based framework to support sustained improvement in patient and carer outcomes, including narrowing inequality and reducing unwarranted variation. Areas of action will be identified for those commissioning and delivering services with associated performance and outcome metrics to support system accountability.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase the speed at which compensation payments are issued by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to affected people.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority has paid over £2 billion in compensation payments. As of 1 October 2025, IBCA had asked every living infected person who is registered with a support scheme to come forward and start their claim. IBCA has now opened the service for the first claims from infected people who were never compensated, deceased infected people, and living affected people. This met the Government’s targets for compensation delivery in 2025.

With each new cohort, IBCA are starting small, allowing them to learn what additions to the claim service are needed. This will allow them to open their service to more people as the service is built around specific needs. Whilst the roll out of the scheme is an operational decision for IBCA as an independent body, the Government fully supports its commitment to moving forward as swiftly as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has visited an Integrated Retirement Community; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of modern housing-with-care schemes on older people's health.

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

We recognise the role integrated retirement communities play in providing high quality, safe, and suitable homes which can help people stay independent and healthy for longer and which reduce the need to draw on health and social care provision.

We have not made an assessment on the impact this specific type of housing provision has on older people’s health, but the Government is committed to enhancing the provision and choice for older people in the housing market.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not undertaken a visit to an integrated retirement community to date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Civil Service Pension scheme claims and member inquiries are outstanding for which the latest data is available; what steps he is taking to ensure that Civil Service Pension scheme payments are paid accurately and on time; and what progress has been made on the review of the award and management of Civil Service Pension scheme contracts.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Capita is prioritising the most urgent cases and as of 28 February 2026, all death in service cases are now either settled, progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. All ill-health retirement cases were also addressed by 6 March 2026 and service levels in these areas are being maintained.

Capita has made lump sum payments to 8,747 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of April.

To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans typically up to £5,000 or £10,000 in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

Interest will be paid on delayed benefits to avoid financial loss by members. In addition, the existing statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial losses, as well as distress and inconvenience caused, on a case-by-case basis to determine whether compensation is due. This ensures that any retiree who provides evidence of extra costs, such as bank penalties or interest charges caused by the delay, is fairly assessed. This process is run in accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.

The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates

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 clinical and cost effectiveness of first-line use of encorafenib in combination with cetuximab and chemotherapy for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer; and whether he has set a timetable for consideration by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence of this treatment approach for routine NHS use.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed

The BREAKWATER study is investigating encorafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, in combination with cetuximab and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for the potential treatment of colorectal cancer. This regimen does not currently have a United Kingdom marketing authorisation for use in the treatment of previously untreated BRAF V600E mutation positive metastatic colorectal cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has prioritised an appraisal of encorafenib for this indication in anticipation of it being granted a UK marketing authorisation and will schedule the appraisal so that guidance can be published as close as possible to the expected licensing date.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for maintenance loans administered by the Student Loans Company for students studying weekend or non-traditional attendance higher education courses; and what steps she is taking to ensure that students who have already commenced such courses and received funding are not required to repay maintenance support following a change in classification of their study mode.

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

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

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, as part of the National Cancer Plan for England, to ensure equitable and timely access to innovative cancer treatments across England, including for patients with advanced bowel cancer; and what assessment he has made of variation in access to targeted therapies between England and other UK nations.

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

The National Cancer Plan published in February 2026, sets out how we will ensure equitable and timely access to cancer care and treatment and improve outcomes for thousands of patients across England. It will shift healthcare from hospitals to the community and ensure that all cancer patients, regardless of where they live, have timely access to high-quality, specialist cancer services, including for those with advanced bowel cancer.

National Health Service regions and Cancer Alliances will jointly identify underperforming trusts and provide intensive support including leadership intervention, peer-to-peer mentoring, and seconding senior managers from stronger trusts. Cancer Alliances will have access to £200 million of ringfenced cancer funding in 2026/27 to improve cancer pathway performance, reduce delays, and speed up diagnosis, ensuring that all patients, including those with advanced bowel cancer, receive the care and treatment they need when they need it.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is provided to local authorities and affiliated organisations on the issuance of written documents outlining financial responsibilities in care arrangements; and what safeguards are recommended to prevent such documents from being relied upon where they may not be legally enforceable.

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

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why they are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people, including implementing care arrangements that are transparent and put the people drawing on care at the centre of decisions.

Also, under the Care Act, charging is based on a number of principles, including that people should not be charged more than it is reasonably practicable for them to pay and that charging approaches should be clear, transparent, and comprehensive so people know what they will be charged.

Where local authorities decide to charge for the provision of care and support, they must follow the Care Act and the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, and they must act under the Care and Support Statutory (CASS) guidance.

The responsibility for applying the law and the CASS guidance rests with local authorities, and they should ensure that their approaches to charging are clear and transparent, so people know what they will be charged.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is considering the introduction of standardised written agreements or minimum documentation requirements for care arrangements involving local authority oversight, in order to improve clarity on payment responsibilities and reduce the risk of disputes.

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

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why they are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people, including implementing care arrangements that are transparent and put the people drawing on care at the centre of decisions.

Also, under the Care Act, charging is based on a number of principles, including that people should not be charged more than it is reasonably practicable for them to pay and that charging approaches should be clear, transparent, and comprehensive so people know what they will be charged.

Where local authorities decide to charge for the provision of care and support, they must follow the Care Act and the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, and they must act under the Care and Support Statutory (CASS) guidance.

The responsibility for applying the law and the CASS guidance rests with local authorities, and they should ensure that their approaches to charging are clear and transparent, so people know what they will be charged.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of existing legal mechanisms for resolving disputes between carers and estates in cases where care-related costs were incurred based on written but non-contractual agreements.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

In England and Wales, contract law is largely a matter of common law rather than statute. There is no legally specified template for a contract. However, a contract is formed when an agreement contains several key elements such as the making and acceptance of an offer, a consideration (something of value offered by both parties) and the requirement for the parties to have intent to create a legal relationship. If an agreement meets these principles, it could be considered a contract, regardless of form.

Depending on the specifics of the case there are other common law routes to enforcing obligations such as unjust enrichment or an estoppel.

The Government believes the existing law provides sufficient redress to enforce these obligations. These are complex issues and individuals should seek expert legal advice before pursuing these matters.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of changes in the real-terms level of Bereavement Support Payment since its introduction in 2017; and what recent assessment he has made of the effect of inflation on the adequacy of that payment.

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

While this Department has not undertaken a consultation on bereavement related employment support, the rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed annually on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on bereavement-related employment support; and whether that consultation will inform future policy on the Bereavement Support Payment.

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

While this Department has not undertaken a consultation on bereavement related employment support, the rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed annually on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process.

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 adequacy of the current 18-month entitlement period for Bereavement Support Payment.

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

While this Department has not undertaken a consultation on bereavement related employment support, the rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed annually on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process.

Higher Education pensions

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Parliament Education and Engagement Outreach Service

Public health campaign on the dangers of swimming in open water

Cardiac risk in the young

110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026

Communications blackout and human rights in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Procurement and provision of absorbent continence products

National Emergency Briefing

Government contract with Palantir Technologies