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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring the revised National Planning Policy Framework supports national objectives to reduce health inequalities, including through tackling the potential impact of building deficiencies on health.

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

Both the Secretary of State and I engage regularly with ministerial colleagues and advisors on a range of matters. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals to give substantial weight to the benefits of providing new or improved public service infrastructure, including healthcare facilities of all types. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out how much of the teacher training proposed in the Schools White Paper will be delivered in person.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Great teaching is the most important lever schools have for improving children’s attainment.

The department provides a range of funded offers to schools to help them access high-quality professional development, which includes the new courses on Reception and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of the teacher training entitlement referenced in the Schools White Paper.

When designing new training, the department is careful to consider how it will work with the schedules of teachers and schools, with many of them including a flexible, self-study element.

For example, we have confirmed that the SEND and inclusion courses for teachers and leaders in schools and colleges will include a mixture of online self-study sessions and live facilitated sessions.

We have also announced a package of materials for schools and colleges to support the development and delivery of in-house, in person training.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026 to question 116099, when the evaluation of the 56-day pilot will be published; and for what reason the move-on period is set at 42 days.

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

The 56-day pilot evaluation report will be published on GOV.UK as part of the Home Office Research Series. Publication is expected in Spring 2026.

In reaching the decision to set the notice period to 42 days, we have considered a range of evidence, including key findings from the evaluation of the 56-day pilot, operational data, and forecasted impacts on the asylum accommodation estate. We will continue to work closely with our partners to reduce barriers and support effective transitions from asylum accommodation.

The Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions work together to ensure universal credit can be accessed as early as possible following a positive decision being issued. The standard timeframe for an individual to receive their first Universal Credit (UC) payment is 35 days from application.

The 42 days’ notice period best enables the Home Office to fulfil our statutory obligations whilst looking to minimise impact on Local Authorities and individuals granted leave. This further supports our commitment to deliver reductions to the cost of asylum accommodation and end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the likelihood of internal uprisings leading to regime change in Iran.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the public and parliamentary statements made by the Prime Minister on 28 February, 1 March, 2 March and 5 March, where he set out in depth the UK's position on this conflict.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of regime change in Iran on regional stability.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the public and parliamentary statements made by the Prime Minister on 28 February, 1 March, 2 March and 5 March, where he set out in depth the UK's position on this conflict.

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 the HC6 policy on pubs.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Israeli Government's plans to develop the E1 settlement corridor east of Jerusalem, including on the viability of a negotiated two-state solution.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 January in response to Question 907375.

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 the decision in England to end or restrict gluten free prescriptions on (a) the health of affected patients and (b) additional costs faced by affected patients.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No recent assessment has been made. In 2017, the Government at the time decided to restrict gluten-free prescribing to bread and mixes only. The majority of consultation responses were in favour of this. An analysis of the anticipated impact of the decision was published alongside the consultation response and is available on the GOV.UK website at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/availability-of-gluten-free-foods-on-nhs-prescription

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 whether the £6 million payout from Perenco for the oil spill in Poole Harbour is adequate to offset environmental harm.

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

The £6 million figure covers the pollution cleanup, compensation for verified claims, collaboration with the relevant authorities to develop and implement a remediation plan, and funding for local environmental improvement projects in the Poole Harbour area.

It does not include lost income while the pipeline was out of operation, nor the additional upgrades made on-site to reduce the risk of a similar incident in the future.

An Enforcement Undertaking (EU) undergoes a rigorous review at both local and national levels within the Environment Agency to ensure it complies with policy, is applied consistently across the country, and accurately reflects the seriousness of the pollution and the operator’s level of responsibility.

Here are the Impact Reports published following oil spill by Poole Harbour Commissioners.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to restrict the use/sale of non-essential single-use plastic products.

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

The Government recognises the scale and impact of plastic pollution on the environment and is focused on preventing and reducing plastic and other litter entering the environment.

We have a number of restrictions on unnecessary single use plastic products, and we will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, in line with circular economy principles, to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and encourage reuse solutions.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Schools White Paper 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Mission Coastal on young people in Poole.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The Schools White Paper launched Mission North East and Mission Coastal. The aim of the missions is to transform outcomes for children and young people and provide a blueprint for national change. The scope of Mission Coastal is still being developed.

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 retain existing exemptions in the Hunting Act; and if she will make an assessment of the level of likelihood that these exemptions are used to circumvent the law to hunt mammals with hounds.

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

The planned consultation on the Trail Hunting ban will invite respondents to raise any matters which they consider relevant. The consultation will provide an opportunity to submit your views on how to deliver an effective ban.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to publish a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities including tackling the potential impact of damp, cold and mould on people's health.

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

The Government is driving action to reduce health inequalities through the 10-Year Health Plan, which stated our commitment to halve the gap in the healthy expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.

The 10-Year Health Plan recognises that people’s health and wellbeing are influenced by factors other than health service. The plan sets out actions being taken across the Government to tackle the wider determinants of health, for example, action is being taken to address poor-quality housing and the impact of damp, mould, and excess cold on health. This includes working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement the new Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law, and with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to implement the Warm Homes Plan and Fuel Poverty Strategy for England.

By improving the standard of rented homes and through the £15 billion of investment announced in the Warm Homes Plan, we will help to make homes warmer, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient to improve health and reduce health inequalities.

Further cross-Government action includes legislating for a new statutory health and health inequalities duty for strategic authorities, the Homelessness Strategy, and the Child Poverty Strategy.

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 include the needs of children in care in the development of his Department's policy.

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

MHCLG works closely with the Department for Education on policy development for children’s social care and is responsible for making funding available to local government for children’s social care service delivery through the Local Government Finance Settlement. As a government, we are driving the biggest transformation of children’s social care in a generation with the Families First Partnership programme – backed by a historic £2.4 billion through the multi-year Settlement’s Children, Families and Youth Grant. This historic investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to invest in prevention and will support councils working across the safeguarding partnership to deliver children’s social care reform, making a real, tangible difference to children and families.

Alongside this programme of reform, helping care leavers to make a successful transition from care to independence is a priority for this Government. Together with the Department for Education, MHCLG will develop a cross-government action plan to reduce the proportion of care leavers under 25 experiencing homelessness. And MHCLG has introduced regulations, which came into force on 10 July 2025, so that young care leavers under 25 will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Regulation 3 of the Social Security Up-Rating Regulations 2026 laid on 6 March, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making the provision relating to frozen overseas state pensions by Order rather than Regulations.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2026 are in general consequential on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026.

The provisions in the Up-rating Regulations cannot be included in the Up-rating Order because the powers on which the Up-rating Order relies are insufficiently wide to include these provisions.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to ensure those being migrated onto Universal Credit will receive transitional protection.

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

The Department is committed to ensuring that all eligible customers moving from legacy benefits to Universal Credit receive the Transitional Protection to which they are entitled. Transitional Protection is a safeguard designed to support a smooth financial transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit for those required to move. Customers who make a Universal Credit claim in response to a Migration Notice, and who would otherwise receive a lower award on Universal Credit than they received on their legacy benefit, will receive Transitional Protection. To be eligible for Transitional Protection, customers must claim Universal Credit by the deadline set out in their Migration Notice, or within one month of that deadline (the “grace period”). The Department keeps detailed records of all customers who have been issued with a Migration Notice and their associated deadlines to ensure eligible customers are correctly identified.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has produced (a) written advice and (b) guidance setting out the rationale for laying the provision relating to frozen overseas state pensions under the Negative procedure.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The provisions in the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2026 cannot be included in the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 because the powers on which the Up-rating Order relies are insufficiently wide to include these provisions.

The Regulations are subject to the negative procedure, and this is a convention that has been in place for a number of years.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of laying the provision relating to frozen pensions as a standalone instrument.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2026 are in general consequential on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 and can only be laid once the Up-rating Order has been approved by Parliament. The Up-rating Regulations were laid on 6 March 2026 and will come into force on the same date as the Up-rating Order on 6 April 2026.

This is a convention that has been in place for a number of years.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment was he has made of the potential risks of granting Tesla permission to supply electricity to households and businesses.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Supply licence applications are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator.

Applications for supply licences are considered by Ofgem based on their merits and assessed in line with published guidance, which is available here: Ofgem Licencing Guidance. Companies granted licences are required to comply with all conditions contained within them and the Government and Ofgem take action to address any non-compliance.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he will give an update on the Eastwood Park Detention Centre Settlement Scheme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Government extends its deepest sympathy to all those who suffered mistreatment during their time at Eastwood Park Detention Centre. The abuse of children and young people is wholly unacceptable, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting victims and survivors who bravely come forward.

The Eastwood Park Detention Centre Settlement Scheme commenced on 14 January 2025 for a period of 12 months, and to ensure that every victim and survivor has sufficient time to come forward, the Government has extended the scheme by a further 18 months until 14 July 2027. This extension underlines our continued commitment to ensuring that all those affected are able to access the support and redress available to them.

Since January 2026, we have received a further 392 claims, and we continue to receive new claims at a steady rate. To date, 1582 claims have been received including 510 claims settled with damages paid. Of the 510 claims settled, the average payment is £3,326.00.

Since the period in which these events occurred, safeguarding practices across the secure estate have been fundamentally transformed. The creation of the Youth Custody Service, together with strengthened safeguarding frameworks, child-specific policies, and enhanced oversight arrangements, has significantly improved protections for vulnerable young people. These reforms ensure that the serious failures of the past cannot be repeated.

All reports of historic abuse at former Detention Centres, including Eastwood Park, have been subject to police investigation. These investigations have led to the conviction and imprisonment of several former staff members, and the Government will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities should any further evidence come to light.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether receiving statutory maternity leave will be considered receipt of public funds and impact a mother’s length of settlement route under the earned settlement model.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

Contributory benefits and statutory payments are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. As such, individuals subject to a no recourse to public funds condition but who have paid the necessary National Insurance contributions or have relevant periods of employment or self-employment can access these benefits.

As part of this consultation, we also sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including whether those on maternity leave should be exempt from certain requirements.

Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information that shows introducing an earned settlement model would lead to an increase in people departing the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

In addition to the consultation, the Department has undertaken research with existing visa holders to understand the potential behavioural impacts of an earned settlement approach.

We are carefully considering the responses to the consultation and any behavioural evidence.

Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of using AI to process asylum applications.

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

To date, Asylum & Human Rights Operations have piloted the use of two AI tools to assist with the process of deciding asylum claims. Evaluation of both AI tools has been published on GOV.UK.

The Asylum Case Summarisation (ACS) tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) to summarise asylum interview transcripts. On average, the test group reviewed transcripts 23 minutes quicker than the comparison group (a 32% time saving). The Asylum Policy Search (APS) tool is an AI search assistant that finds and summarises country policy information. Those in the test group saved on average 37 minutes per case, researching country policy information compared to the comparison group. This is broken down into time savings of approximately 12 minutes at pre-interview stage and approximately 25 minutes at decision-writing stage.

The tools were designed as an aid for decision-makers to improve efficiency but do not, and cannot, replace any part of the decision-making process. APS has been rolled out and is accessible to all Asylum decision makers and ACS is awaiting operationalisation. Further tooling is being worked on including an asylum letter writing assistant for caseworkers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will hold a consultation on hunting with hounds.

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

In the Animal Welfare Strategy, published 22 December 2025, Defra confirmed its intention to consult in early 2026 on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting. The planned consultation will invite respondents to raise any matters which they consider relevant and will provide an opportunity to submit views on how to deliver an effective ban.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has her Department made as to the impact of having to sit SATS on SEND children.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Statutory tests and assessments at primary school help measure the attainment of pupils in relation to the standards set out in the national curriculum and help teachers and parents identify where pupils may need additional support in a certain subject area.

The key stage 2 tests are subject to robust test development processes, which include reviews involving serving teachers and experts in special educational needs (SEN) and trials with hundreds of Year 6 pupils. Children with SEN have a range of needs and abilities, and it is important they are able to participate in assessments to demonstrate their achievements. Schools are able to utilise a range of access arrangements where appropriate, while for any children with SEN and others who are working below the standards of the national curriculum assessments there are alternative teacher assessments.

Primary assessments were reviewed as part of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis. The review panel, which included an expert in SEN, published their final report in November, concluding that the primary assessment system is generally working well and that the assessments are important for evaluating pupils’ progress.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what rationale does her Department use to support the use of SATS for SEND children.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Statutory tests and assessments at primary school help measure the attainment of pupils in relation to the standards set out in the national curriculum and help teachers and parents identify where pupils may need additional support in a certain subject area.

The key stage 2 tests are subject to robust test development processes, which include reviews involving serving teachers and experts in special educational needs (SEN) and trials with hundreds of Year 6 pupils. Children with SEN have a range of needs and abilities, and it is important they are able to participate in assessments to demonstrate their achievements. Schools are able to utilise a range of access arrangements where appropriate, while for any children with SEN and others who are working below the standards of the national curriculum assessments there are alternative teacher assessments.

Primary assessments were reviewed as part of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis. The review panel, which included an expert in SEN, published their final report in November, concluding that the primary assessment system is generally working well and that the assessments are important for evaluating pupils’ progress.

Future Homes Standard

2026 British and World Marbles Championship

Escalating settler violence in the West Bank

Anniversary of the Tel al-Sultan aid worker massacre

Redundancies of skilled rail workers at Balfour Beatty

LGBTQ+ veterans

Strike action by UCU at Scottish universities

Creative industries and the use of AI

Steve Cram CBE

Reforming National Parks and National Landscapes

World Social Work Day 2026

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

Found: Chairman of Ways and Means (Ms Nusrat Ghani) (Chair) Stuart Anderson MP Edward Argar MP Neil Duncan-Jordan