Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations her Department has made to the Israeli Government over the decision to demolish a football pitch in the Aida Refugee Camp in the West Bank.

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

The UK regularly raises the situation in the West Bank with the Israeli government, including the demolitions of housing, olive groves, and other civilian infrastructure, carried out in breach of International Humanitarian Law.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what ethical safeguards she plans to introduce for the future use of AI.

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

A range of existing rules already apply to AI systems, such as data protection, competition, equality legislation, and online safety. In response to the AI Action Plan, the government committed to work with regulators to boost their capabilities.

This is complemented by the work of the AI Security Institute, which has deepened our understanding of the critical security risks posed by frontier AI. The government remains committed to ensuring our rule book is up to date and future-proofed so the UK is prepared for the changes AI will bring.

The government is also supporting the UK AI assurance market, which will provide ways to measure, evaluate and communicate the trustworthiness and safety of AI systems.

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 (a) risks of AI and (b) potential impact of AI on society.

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

We are optimistic about how AI will transform the lives of British people for the better, but advanced AI could lead to serious security risks. The capabilities of AI models continue to increase; this may exacerbate existing risks and present new risks for which the UK needs to be prepared.

The role of the AI Security Institute (AISI) is to build an evidence base on these risks, so the government is equipped to understand their security implications. It recently published an evidence‑based assessment of how the world’s most advanced AI systems are evolving on gov.uk, bringing together results from two years of AISI's frontier model testing.

AISI works with a broad range of experts and companies to assess the potential risks these could pose as the technology continues to develop.

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 amend water company regulations to ensure that companies banned from making bonus payments are not able to continue doing so.

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

Water company executives are now required to meet high standards relating to consumer and environmental matters, and financial resilience. In June 2025, unfair bonuses at six companies were banned.

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 amend regulations on the pay of water company executives.

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

Water company executives are now required to meet high standards relating to consumer and environmental matters, and financial resilience. In June 2025, unfair bonuses at six companies were banned.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the incident in which mice were found to have drowned; whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the letter of reprimand being issued as a sanction; and what steps her Department is taking to prevent animals who are being kept for the purpose of scientific experiments from drowning.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

All licensed establishments must fully uphold the required standards for animal welfare as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance and takes matters of non-compliance very seriously.

ASRU has published its compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how it identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. Through delivery of the compliance policy the Regulator aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.

All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made for her policies of the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025; and what steps her Department is taking to help prevent animals from becoming trapped in their cages.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

All licensed establishments must fully uphold the required standards for animal welfare as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance and takes matters of non-compliance very seriously.

ASRU has published its compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how it identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. Through delivery of the compliance policy the Regulator aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.

All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what safeguards will be put in place to help ensure that jobs under the new youth employment guarantee will pay the living wage and lead to long-term secure employment.

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

Too many young people are spending the first years of their adult life out of work or education. Long periods of unemployment in these early years have lifelong negative impacts.

As part of the Youth Guarantee, we are breaking the cycle of unemployment by guaranteeing paid work for every eligible 18-21 year-old who has been on Universal Credit, looking for work, for 18 months.

The Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment, for 25 hours a week, at the relevant minimum wage, with the government covering 100% of employment costs. This, will help young people take that crucial first step into sustained employment, supporting the government’s long-term ambition for an 80% employment rate.

The Jobs Guarantee will also provide wraparound support to further develop the required skills and experience needed for the move into sustained employment.

Appropriate safeguards will be built into the scheme to ensure that opportunities are high quality, fair and deliver the intended outcomes for young people.

The Jobs Guarantee will reach around 55,000 young people over the next three years.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Budget Statement on 26 November 2025, what estimate his Department has made of how many 16-24 year olds in Poole constituency will have access to the Youth Guarantee and the right to earn or learn.

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

The Government understands the negative effects of unemployment can be particularly pronounced for young people and can have longstanding implications on their future earnings potential and life chances whilst also recognising their needs will vary depending on where they live and their own individual circumstances.

In Poole, Jobcentre teams already work closely with the Local Authority, employers, local colleges and training providers to give opportunities for young people to learn and earn. To support this, the Jobcentre offers various a range of local provisions, including Sector Based Work Academy Programmes, Mentoring Circles and Group Information Sessions, covering CV writing, application completion and job search upskilling. These initiatives help young people develop skills they need to enter employment. Our Employment and Partnership Team also hosts and attends job fairs, runs job and apprenticeship matching sessions and engages directly with employers to bring vacancies closer to young people. In addition, we have dedicated Youth Employment Coaches who provide personalised, tailored support to the most vulnerable young people.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820m for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million to help support apprenticeships for young people, including a change to fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible people aged under 25. This investment will also fund an £140 million pilot of new approaches to better connect young people aged 16-24, especially those who are NEET, to local apprenticeship opportunities.

These are important steps in the government’s ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, which will also be supported by expanding foundation apprenticeships into sectors that traditionally recruit young people.

Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:

Support to find a job: For young people on Universal Credit who are looking for work, we are introducing a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach. This new support will identify specific work, training, or learning opportunities locally for each young person and ensure they are supported to take those up. This support could be delivered at a Youth Hub.

Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain. Youth Hubs will bring together partners from health, skills and the voluntary sector, working closely with Mayors and local authorities to deliver joined-up community-based support.

c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training: For young people on Universal Credit who are looking for work, we will create up to 150,000 additional work experience placements and up to 145,000 additional bespoke training opportunities designed in partnership with employers – Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs). At the end of each SWAP, employers offer a guaranteed job interview to participants.

Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment. This will reach around 55,000 young people over the next three years. We know young people need support quickly and that is why we will begin delivery of the Jobs Guarantee in six areas from spring 2026 in: Birmingham & Solihull, East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire & Essex, Central & East Scotland, Southwest & Southeast Wales. We will deliver over 1,000 job starts in the first six months. This will be followed by national roll-out of the Jobs Guarantee across Great Britain.

We are also making it easier to identify young people who need support, by investing in better data sharing for those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), further education attendance monitoring, and new risk of NEET data tools giving local areas more accurate insights to target support where it's needed most. We are also investing in work experience opportunities for young people at particular risk of becoming NEET, focused on pupils in state-funded Alternative Provision settings, (education provided outside mainstream or special schools for children who cannot attend a regular school, often due to exclusion, health needs, or other circumstances). This builds on measures announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper earlier this autumn.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration White Paper published in May 2025 and paragraph 221 on exploring further measures against sponsors falling short of their responsibilities, what sanctions or penalties, other than licence revocation, have been applied to sponsors found to be non-compliant since the publication of the White Paper, and whether her Department has set a timetable for introducing further measures.

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

As set out in the Immigration White Paper, we are continuing to explore a range of policy options and their feasibility. Further details will follow in due course as necessary and appropriate.

The current measures to tackle sponsors who are found to be non-compliant can be found on Gov.uk in Part 3 of the guidance for sponsors:

Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance (accessible) - GOV.UK

These range from reducing a sponsor’s allocation of certificates of sponsorship to revoking their licence and, if necessary, reporting them to the relevant authorities for further investigation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration White Paper published in May 2025, which stated at paragraph 176 that the Government would explore making it easier for workers to move between licensed sponsors for the duration of their visa, what steps her Department has taken to explore this policy, and what the anticipated timetable is for proposed changes.

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

As set out in the Immigration White Paper, we are continuing to explore a range of policy options and their feasibility. Further details will follow in due course as necessary and appropriate.

The current measures to tackle sponsors who are found to be non-compliant can be found on Gov.uk in Part 3 of the guidance for sponsors:

Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors part 3: sponsor duties and compliance (accessible) - GOV.UK

These range from reducing a sponsor’s allocation of certificates of sponsorship to revoking their licence and, if necessary, reporting them to the relevant authorities for further investigation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timetable is for replacing the existing system of business rates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The Government is also supporting small businesses to grow. At Budget, the Government announced the extension of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) so that businesses opening second premises can retain their SBRR for three years, tripling the current allowance.

The Call for Evidence, published at Budget, focuses on how reform of the business rates system can be used to incentivise and secure more investment by Britain’s businesses. This Call for Evidence builds on the findings of the Transforming Business Rates: Discussion Paper and asks stakeholders for more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences investment decisions.

Any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to replace the existing system of business rates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The Government is also supporting small businesses to grow. At Budget, the Government announced the extension of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) so that businesses opening second premises can retain their SBRR for three years, tripling the current allowance.

The Call for Evidence, published at Budget, focuses on how reform of the business rates system can be used to incentivise and secure more investment by Britain’s businesses. This Call for Evidence builds on the findings of the Transforming Business Rates: Discussion Paper and asks stakeholders for more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences investment decisions.

Any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the 111 service in ensuring patients are referred to the correct place for treatment.

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

The Government is committed to continuing to improve NHS 111 to ensure patients can access the right care first time, only visiting accident and emergency when necessary.

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 committed to reviewing NHS 111 services and incorporating the recommendations from the review, to make the service more effective, quicker, and simpler to navigate.

NHS England have now completed the NHS 111 review and is working with system partners to implement actions to improve service efficiency, consistency, and integrated delivery to reduce pressures this winter. We are also working with general practitioners and other healthcare providers to improve the patient referral process to primary care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions have taken place with the Home Office regarding proposed changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain for health workers and the impact this could have on the viability of the NHS 10-year workforce plan.

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

No assessment has been made as to the impact of the proposed changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain for health workers on the viability of the National Health Service 10 Year Workforce Plan.

The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the current settlement rules in favour of an “earned settlement” model, that considers factors such as contribution, integration, and conduct. The consultation, which runs until 12 February 2026, seeks views on how these reforms should apply to different groups, including health and care workers. The consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made as to the impact of proposed changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain for health workers on the viability of the NHS 10-year workforce plan.

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

No assessment has been made as to the impact of the proposed changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain for health workers on the viability of the National Health Service 10 Year Workforce Plan.

The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the current settlement rules in favour of an “earned settlement” model, that considers factors such as contribution, integration, and conduct. The consultation, which runs until 12 February 2026, seeks views on how these reforms should apply to different groups, including health and care workers. The consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals are currently in receipt of (a) the old state pension and (b) the new state pension.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As of the quarter ending May 2025 (latest available data for pensions accrued in Great Britain), around 8.3 million individuals were receiving the State Pension under the pre‑2016 system, and around 4.8 million were receiving the new State Pension. Source: DWP Stat-Xplore.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will investigate payments made to the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chief Financial Officer of Wessex Water in the year up to June 2025.

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

Ofwat has reviewed water companies' compliance with its performance related executive pay Prohibition Rule for bonuses paid to directors who are members of the regulated company's board in relation to the 2024-25 financial year.

Ofwat reported on its assessment of companies who had triggered the rule, including Wessex Water, in November 2025: Performance-related-executive-pay-–-2024-25-assessment.pdf

The report confirmed that all companies had complied with the rule and had prohibited relevant performance related pay as defined in the Water Industry Act 1991.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out the annual uprating arrangements for (a) both parts of the old state pension (basic and second) and (b) the new state pension.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Legislation requires that both the basic State Pension (pre-2016 system) and the new State Pension should rise annually at least in line with earnings. The Government has made a manifesto commitment for this Parliament to maintain the Triple Lock for the basic and new State Pensions. This goes further, increasing them by the highest of growth in earnings, growth in prices, or 2.5%.

The Secretary of State undertakes an annual review of benefit and pension rates. This year the rates considered included the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in the year to September 2025 which was 3.8%, and the average weekly earnings (AWE) figure (including bonuses) for May to July 2025 which was 4.8%. The AWE rate was the highest of the Triple Lock measures, meaning that, subject to Parliamentary approval, the basic and new State Pensions will be increased by 4.8% from April 2026.

In the pre-2016 State Pension system, the Triple Lock applies to the basic State Pension. The additional State Pension (also known as the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme, or SERPS, or from April 2002 the State Second Pension) and most other State Pension components are uprated by prices (CPI). This enables them to retain their real value over time, mirroring occupational pension schemes which typically uprate by prices. Subject to Parliamentary approval, these elements will be increased by 3.8% from April 2026.

Protected Payments in the new State Pension (transitional amounts in excess of the full rate) are also increased by CPI.

Although the uprating approaches in the pre-2016 and new state Pension systems operate slightly differently, there are many other elements in each of the pre 2016 and new State Pension system which all need to be taken together in the round.

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 potential impact of the removal of the Mercedes Vito as a vehicle available through Motability on the availability of vehicles with a) dropped floors b) hand controls.

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

Motability’s decision to remove luxury vehicles from the Scheme will help ensure that tax reliefs are not subsidising luxury vehicle leases and services that non-scheme users could not afford, so that the Scheme focuses on its core aim and is more in line with the retail leasing offer. Motability Operations will continue to prioritise customer needs, ensuring vehicles remain affordable, meet a range of accessibility needs - including dropped floors and hand controls - and offer vehicles which require no advance payment, meaning that people will be able to access a suitable vehicle using only their qualifying disability benefit.

Support for specialist adaptations will remain at the heart of the Scheme and the Scheme will continue to cover the cost of standard adaptations.

Motability Foundation will continue to offer means-tested grants to those most in need of financial help. These grants support eligible people who would otherwise struggle to afford the advance payment or adaptations for a vehicle, or a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) through the Motability Scheme.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that any reforms to SEND will not change the provision for existing enforceable rights under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is committed to restoring confidence in the system of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) so that they all get the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive in their education. There will always be a legal right to additional support for children and young people with SEND. Any statutory framework is for Parliament to decide on, and any legislative changes will be considered if necessary.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to ensure that any proposed reforms to the SEND system will be subject to (a) parliamentary and (b) public scrutiny prior to the introduction of legislation.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is committed to ensuring parents play a central role in helping shape the future special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. We have launched a National Conversation on SEND, gathering the views of parents, young people, educators, and experts through a range of online and in-person events as well as inviting online contributions.

Our SEND regional engagement events bring together diverse stakeholder groups for meaningful dialogue. In addition, we have organised online sessions with my hon. Friend, the Minister for School Standards and expert panels to discuss the department’s five principles of reform.

This is not a formal consultation but an expansion of ongoing engagement to ensure parents’ voices are heard. The Schools White Paper, due early next year, will outline our proposed SEND reforms and will be followed by a formal consultation and further engagement.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners who will pay tax on their (a) basic state pension (b) second state pension and (c) new state pension from April 2026.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Those whose sole income is the basic and full new State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax in 2026/27.

The Chancellor has said that those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax over this Parliament. At the Budget, the Government announced that it will achieve this by easing the administrative burden for pensioners so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027/28. The Government will set out more details in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to confirm how many state pensioners will be exempted from the proposed freeze on personal tax allowances from April 2026.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Those whose sole income is the basic and full new State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax in 2026/27.

The Chancellor has said that those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax over this Parliament. At the Budget, the Government announced that it will achieve this by easing the administrative burden for pensioners so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027/28. The Government will set out more details in due course.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes for 1950s-born women living in Poole constituency.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

All women born since 6 April 1950 have been affected by changes to State Pension age.

Estimates can be made using ONS 2021 Census Data on how many women born in the 1950s resided in each constituency in that year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many existing NHS workers in Poole constituency could be affected by proposed changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain.

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

The Department does not hold information on the number of existing National Health Service workers, either nationally or in the Poole constituency, who could be affected by proposed changes to the rules on indefinite leave to remain.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many existing NHS workers could be affected by the proposed changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain.

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

The Department does not hold information on the number of existing National Health Service workers, either nationally or in the Poole constituency, who could be affected by proposed changes to the rules on indefinite leave to remain.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will add Humanism to the Religious Education syllabus on the National Curriculum in England.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Religious education (RE) is not part of the national curriculum but is a mandatory subject for all pupils aged 5 to 18 in state-funded schools in England. Schools should deliver RE in an objective, critical and pluralistic way and already have the flexibility, through their locally agreed syllabi, to include the study of non-religious world views such as humanism.

We welcome the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s recommendation that Vanessa Ogden, a former Review panellist specialising in RE, should lead a sector group, independent from government, to develop a draft RE curriculum. The sector group’s work on RE will reflect the role the subject plays in building understanding between people of different faiths, beliefs and communities, including those with non-religious world views. If the group reaches consensus on a draft curriculum, the government will consult on whether to add it to the national curriculum.

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 ending compulsory collective worship in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Collective worship remains an important part of school life, supporting pupils to reflect on the concept of belief and the role it plays in our country’s traditions and values.

Schools in England already have flexibility in how they meet this requirement and can deliver collective worship or assemblies in ways that reflect the diverse needs of their pupils and local communities. Students over 16 and parents of younger pupils also retain the right of withdrawal from collective worship.

Essentials Guarantee

Public inquiry into Epstein links

Together Alliance

New US sanctions on Cuba

Civil service pension scheme

Role of the House of Lords in scrutinising legislation

Human Remains (Prohibition of Sale, Purchase and Advertising) Bill

Apprenticeship Week 2026

Connect Alloa anniversary

Guantánamo Bay Prison Camp

BBC Charter review

Trends in the level of poverty

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

Marking the 60th anniversary of the University of the Air White Paper

Industrial dispute at the Department for Work and Pensions

Health and Care Worker visas

Right To Food UK Commission

UK digital sovereignty strategy

Local news journalism and STV regional broadcasting

Short-term holiday let licensing with caps

Situation of Kurdish people in Syria

Halie Selassie and Bath

Safe sleep standards in early years settings

Water White Paper

Changes to Right To Protest in the Public Order Act 2023

Big Garden Bird Watch 2026

Dolly Parton's birthday

Missing Evri deliveries

Deregistration of international non-governmental organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Centenary of the derailment of the Flying Scotsman

Make It Happen Fund in Clackmannanshire