Peter Lamb

This Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Our focus is on turning the commitments in the Women's Health Strategy into tangible action, such as providing emergency hormonal contraception free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS from October 2025; taking urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan; and setting out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan.

More widely, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed a Menopause Employment Ambassador who will work closely with employers across the country to improve workplace support for women experiencing menopause.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity are taking the first steps towards legally requiring large employers to publish action plans alongside their gender pay gap figures; detailing the steps they are taking to narrow their gap and support employees during the menopause.

No. These records are subject to regular review in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act 1958.

The government’s Modern Industrial Strategy outlined our commitment to provide £1.2 billion of additional investment per year in skills by 2028-29 and set out plans to deliver more opportunities for people at all stages of life to learn and earn in our high-growth sectors. The government has since published the Post-16 Education & Skills White Paper, driven forward our Plan to Make Work Pay, and set out additional support for young people through the Youth Guarantee. We are working with business to develop sector Jobs Plans for all growth-driving sectors identified by the Industrial Strategy. The first Jobs Plan, the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, was published last year.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being implemented in phases over a two-year period to give businesses, and in particular small businesses, time to plan and prepare.

We are providing support and guidance to help businesses get ready. We have launched a dedicated website offering practical guidance on what the changes mean and how to comply, alongside wider communication, engagement and educational activity to raise awareness. We will continue to consult with businesses, trade unions and civil society throughout implementation to make sure we get the detail right.

The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with business representative organisations and trade unions on the measures within the Employment Rights Act (ERA) 2025, including through tripartite discussions. These discussions have successfully supported policy development in areas such as unfair dismissal.

The government will continue to engage with stakeholders, including businesses and trade unions, as it takes forward the implementation of the ERA.

The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption within licensed venues (on-trade) and outside of licensed venues (off-trade), which is the responsibility of the Home Office.

The Licensing Reform Programme’s call for evidence focused on the operation of the on‑trade, and the National Licensing Policy Framework applies exclusively to premises authorised under the Licensing Act 2003 for the sale and consumption of alcohol on-site, regulated entertainment or late‑night refreshment.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, it is already an offence to sell alcohol to someone who is intoxicated. The Home Office is looking at how current licensing rules apply to home alcohol delivery services and speaking to experts and stakeholders to ensure these are effective.

Although the evidence base is still emerging, the Government is aware there are some concerns that rapid online alcohol delivery may be contributing to increased alcohol harm by significantly expanding availability and ease of access. Faster delivery times can reduce the natural friction that moderates consumption, potentially enabling higher risk and more impulsive drinking, including among vulnerable groups. The Government is committed to ensuring that the licencing regime remains fit for purpose and able to meet emerging challenges.

The Government will consult extensively on the implementation of the legislation to ensure it works for workers and employers alike, and anticipates this meaning the majority of reforms will take effect no earlier than 2026. Our forthcoming Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap will set out further detail on our plans. The Roadmap will support businesses and other stakeholders to adapt to changes ahead of their commencement.

For too long, British families have paid the price for our nation’s energy insecurity and energy bills remain too high. The Warm Homes Plan will tackle fuel poverty, helping lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030 through public investment and new minimum energy efficiency standards for private and social landlords. Benefiting households up and down the country, including in Crawley constituency.

Nuclear is a key part of the government's national mission to be a clean energy superpower. The government believes that Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ANTs) could play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.

DESNZ is aware of and monitors the progress of a wide range of advanced reactors in design development by companies around the world, including Thorium Molten Salt reactors.

Government ministers and officials regularly discuss online safety matters with stakeholders including online platforms such as Meta.

Under the Online Safety Act’s ‘illegal content duties’, social media platforms including Meta have duties to implement measures to tackle animal abuse content and remove it from their services. Ofcom is the UK’s independent regulator for online safety responsible for regulating services and taking enforcement action as appropriate. It has published recommendations for how providers should fulfil their illegal content duties in codes of practice and documentation. These include specific provisions about animal abuse content. These duties took effect on 17 March.

Animal abuse content is horrific, and social media companies must do more to tackle it.

Social media platforms and search services have duties to tackle animal abuse content and implement safety-by-design features under the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom – the independent regulator - has published recommendations for how providers should tackle such content under their ‘illegal content duties’.

These duties took effect on 17 March and Ofcom have strong enforcement powers to hold companies accountable for failing to meet their obligations.

Following the consultation in 2021 on the renewal of digital terrestrial television (DTT) multiplex licences to which my honourable friend refers, Parliament legislated to secure the future of DTT until at least 2034. No decision has yet been made about the future of the DTT platform beyond this point.

The Government believes that too many sports, whether that is boxing or rugby league, have been overlooked for far too long, and we are determined to bring them back into focus. Boxing brings joy to millions of people, and it ought to be celebrated.

The Government will continue to champion grassroots boxing. I have met with the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Boxing, and recently met with both Southend Amateur Boxing and recently opened the South Cheshire Amateur Boxing Club.

The National Archives has not amended its policies regarding either the disclosure or reclosure of public records.

Effective early identification and intervention is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

In an inclusive system, settings should be confident in recognising a full range of needs, including where high ability coexists with additional needs in dual or multiple exceptionalities, and in meeting these through evidence‑based approaches.

Many settings already identify needs effectively. We will build on this by strengthening the evidence base and supporting practitioners to recognise complex profiles, including pupils who may be both gifted and require special educational needs support, ensuring strengths are not overlooked and barriers are addressed early.

We are introducing clearer statutory expectations on schools to identify and meet needs as early as possible, monitor progress closely, and put timely support in place.

To underpin this, we are developing National Inclusion Standards through an independent expert panel, providing practical, evidence‑informed tools for identifying and supporting diverse needs.

In addition, we are investing over £200 million to deliver a landmark inclusion training package, including strengthened Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) content on adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND.

The department does not provide specific, ring‑fenced funding to further education (FE) colleges in response to individual input cost pressures such as changes in steel prices. The department provides support to the FE sector both through revenue and capital funding. Funding settlements provide overall funding levels, and FE colleges are responsible for managing their own budgets and procurement decisions.

Funding for 16–19 education and adult skills is designed to contribute towards the delivery of programmes, including the cost of materials required for vocational courses.

In academic year 2026-27, we are providing nearly £9 billion in 16-19 programme funding. The 16-19 funding formula recognises that some courses including those with their primary activity in ‘engineering’ and ‘building and construction’ cost more to deliver, and additional funding is allocated through programme cost weightings.

In addition, the department is providing significant capital investment to the sector, with £1.3 billion allocated through the FE College Condition Allocation between 2026 and 2030, including £307 million in 2026–27. This funding supports colleges to maintain, improve and ensure the suitability of their estates, with discretion to prioritise spending over a three-year period.

We continue to monitor cost pressures facing the sector, including inflation, and keep funding under review as part of wider spending decisions.

This government increased Plan 2 repayment thresholds in April 2025 and again in April 2026, to protect lower-earning graduates and keep more money in their pockets. Between 2012 and 2024, then governments only increased repayment thresholds twice throughout that period.

The government recently capped interest rates on Plan 2 loans at a maximum of 6% and is considering a range of options to make the system fairer. In order to be fiscally responsible, consideration must be taken regarding how any change would be funded.

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

The government remains committed to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, ensuring children eligible for free school meals (FSM) can access enriching activities and healthy meals during school holidays. Over £600 million has been confirmed for the programme for the next three financial years from 2026/27. This multi-year commitment provides local authorities with stability and certainty, enabling longer term planning, procurement and investment to drive more effective and efficient delivery.

For the 2026/27 financial year, eligibility for HAF will remain at the existing FSM threshold, targeting support to those who need it most. Future eligibility will be kept under review and any changes communicated in due course.

An external evaluation commissioned by the department in 2021 found HAF successfully provided children with nutritious food whilst supporting parents to work and bringing financial relief. In a recent external survey of 20,000 parents and carers, over nine in ten reported that HAF reduced money worries during holidays and made it easier to work, alongside positive findings on the nutritional value and enjoyment of the food.

The department is committed to the continued assessment of HAF’s impact and will be conducting an evaluation during the three year funding period.

The Government is aware of the strong public feeling on the culling of male chicks. The Animal Welfare Strategy for England, published in December 2025, sets out that the Government would like to see an end to the practice of killing day-old chicks and is committed to encouraging industry to end the practice. The Government pays close attention to international precedent when formulating its policies.

We will agree a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers. Details of the agreement remain subject to negotiation.

However, we expect that under the Agreement, catering waste from flights originating within the EU will no longer be classified as ‘international catering waste’, and therefore will be subject to a lesser degree of regulation in the future under the SPS Agreement.

The provision and charging of car parking at airports, including drop-off charges is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Government expects fees to be set in a way that is both fair and transparent.

We have committed to legislate to address the issues raised in Baroness Casey’s national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, to tackle the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We want to achieve two outcomes; the first is ensuring we have consistently high safeguarding standards. The second is that there is no unintended reduction in the availability of licensed taxi and private hire vehicle services, which could disproportionately impact women and girls and disabled people, who rely on these services the most. We are considering all options – including out-of-area working, national standards, enforcement and transferring licensing to local transport authorities - seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.

We are currently reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance issued by the Department on actions they should take on licensing matters, including safety. All licensing authorities have reported that they require the highest level of criminal background checks for taxi and private hire vehicle driver licence applicants – an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with a check of the children’s and adults’ barred lists. Where key safety recommendations from the guidance are not being followed, licensing authorities will be held to account.

The Department does not hold this information. The Rail Delivery Group and individual TOCs hold the data.

My Department works with industry to identify any skills gaps to ensure their workforce is resilient. There are three main approaches Government is taking to support the pipeline of talent:

- Encouraging opportunities for all with the ‘Generation Aviation’ programme raising the profile of aviation careers, removing barriers to access and attracting diverse and talented people to tackle new technologies, decarbonisation and other emerging trends. This includes the Reach for the Sky fund supporting outreach projects that only last week I announced the winners for 2025.

- Making it easier to train engineers and pilots of the future by transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners. As well as encouraging industry to fully funded pilot training programmes and applaud effort of companies such as TUI and British Airways which have established sustainable pipeline for budding aviators.

- Following EU exit, my Department sympathises with the difficulties faced by stakeholders in the aviation industry and establishing an effective personnel licensing regime that supports UK aviation remains a priority for us.

The Department recognises that some Universal Credit (UC) claimants experience multiple or complex needs, which can make it more difficult for them to access and manage their claim or to move towards work.

To identify such claimants, DWP colleagues are trained to recognise indicators of vulnerability through claimant interactions, behaviours and information provided during the claim process. Work Coaches and specialist staff are supported by training, guidance and internal expert roles to ensure claimants with complex needs receive an appropriate and personalised service, with safeguarding considerations applied where necessary.

Any additional support needs are recorded on the UC system to ensure they are consistently recognised and acted upon.

Where multiple needs are identified, tailored support is put in place according to individual circumstances. This can include:

• additional time and flexibility in meeting requirements;
• alternative communication channels, including telephone or face‑to‑face support;
• home visits for those unable to engage through standard routes; and
• referrals to specialist support, including third‑party organisations where appropriate.

In addition, wider support is available through services such as Help to Claim and through adjustments to UC processes to ensure that those with health conditions or disabilities receive the financial support and work‑related requirements appropriate to their capability.

The Department continues to review and strengthen its approach to identifying and supporting vulnerable claimants, including those with multiple needs, to ensure they can access UC and receive the support to which they are entitled.

The Department does collect data on people whose work capability is affected by (i) migraine and (ii) related headache disorders. We publish WCA health conditions outcomes data by ICD10 summary groups because people may have multiple conditions within each summary group. Therefore, only the summary group is retained for publication purposes.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of migraine on employment and economic inactivity. This information isn’t available as the Labour Force Survey, the primary source for data on labour market participation and economic inactivity, only reports figures by long‑term health condition and does not include a category for migraines.

This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. We are investing £2.5 billion into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to support nearly one million 16–24-year-olds into work, education or training. Over the next three years, this investment will deliver up to 300,000 opportunities for workplace experience and training, and unlock up to 200,000 jobs, including through the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and guaranteeing jobs for long-term unemployed young people on Universal Credit.

To support our ambition of 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, we have expanded foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, will launch a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship fromz August, and are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) that take on 16-24 year old apprentices as new employees.

We will also fully fund non-levy paying employer apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from August 2026 and launch a £140 million pilot, in conjunction with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities.

a) Universal Credit deductions statistics are published quarterly with the latest figures available in table 6, row 365 in Universal Credit deductions statistics, September 2024 to August 2025, supplementary data tables, at Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 9 October 2025 - GOV.UK

b) The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

The Deductions policy in Universal Credit is to support customers by providing a repayment method for arrears of essential services, such as, housing, electricity, and gas and enable customers with a child maintenance liability meet their obligation to make child maintenance payments. The deductions policy also enables obligations, such as, paying Court Fines and Council Tax arrears to be enforced when other repayment methods have failed, or are not cost effective, and ensures that benefit debt is recovered in a cost-effective manner.

From April 2025 the Government introduced the Fair Repayment Rate which reduced the level of deduction taken from Universal Credit from 25% to 15%, and meant that 1.2m households retained on average £420 per year enabling these UC households to have more of their award to meet their day-to-day needs.

NHS England has recently updated guidance for children and young people’s eating disorder services, strengthening early identification and ensuring care is joined up across schools, primary care, and specialist services, with faster access to treatment where an eating disorder is suspected.

NHS England expects to publish the Mental Health Personalised Care Framework shortly. The mental health personalised care framework sets out the approach and related principles and actions for delivering personalised care for adults and older people with severe mental health problems.

In addition, a modern service framework for severe mental illness, including eating disorders, is being developed to improve the quality and consistency of care across the whole pathway.

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England has established 15 Adult Eating Disorder Provider Collaboratives across England to oversee specialised adult eating disorder services. In addition to delivering inpatient care, these collaboratives are supporting the development of intensive community and day treatment models, helping more people receive care closer to home where clinically appropriate and reducing reliance on inpatient admission and geographical variation, while implementing improved processes supporting earlier discharge from hospital.

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including eating disorders.

Through the NIHR, the Department jointly funds the Eating Disorders Clinical Research Network, an initiative to build a coordinated, United Kingdom wide research infrastructure that strengthens evidence, improves care, and accelerates high‑quality studies across eating‑disorder services. Other projects recently funded by the NIHR include an investigation into how restrictive practices are used in the care of children and young people with eating disorders, with a focus on co‑produced solutions to reduce their use and improve patient experience.

The Department recognises that delays in diagnosis and treatment can affect individuals’ quality of life and may lead to greater symptom burden and wider impacts on education, employment, and wellbeing.

Clinical management of migraine is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which has published guidance on the diagnosis and management of headaches. This guidance helps clinicians to diagnose migraine more promptly and to provide appropriate acute and preventive treatments based on individual clinical need.

NHS England is supporting improvements in migraine care through national programmes such as the RightCare headache and migraine toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time neurology programme. These initiatives are focused on reducing unwarranted variation in care, improving diagnostic accuracy, particularly in primary care, and ensuring patients can access specialist services where appropriate.

Responsibility for commissioning migraine services rests with integrated care boards, which are best placed to plan and deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes access to primary care, specialist neurology services, and newer treatments where clinically indicated.

There are currently no plans to establish a national champion for migraine. The Department continues to engage with NHS England, clinical experts, and patient groups to understand the challenges faced by those living with migraine and to consider how services and support can be improved.

More broadly, the Government remains committed to improving outcomes for people with long-term conditions through ongoing system reform, workforce expansion, and a focus on earlier diagnosis and better community-based care.

The Department recognises that delays in diagnosis and treatment can affect individuals’ quality of life and may lead to greater symptom burden and wider impacts on education, employment, and wellbeing.

Clinical management of migraine is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which has published guidance on the diagnosis and management of headaches. This guidance helps clinicians to diagnose migraine more promptly and to provide appropriate acute and preventive treatments based on individual clinical need.

NHS England is supporting improvements in migraine care through national programmes such as the RightCare headache and migraine toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time neurology programme. These initiatives are focused on reducing unwarranted variation in care, improving diagnostic accuracy, particularly in primary care, and ensuring patients can access specialist services where appropriate.

Responsibility for commissioning migraine services rests with integrated care boards, which are best placed to plan and deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes access to primary care, specialist neurology services, and newer treatments where clinically indicated.

There are currently no plans to establish a national champion for migraine. The Department continues to engage with NHS England, clinical experts, and patient groups to understand the challenges faced by those living with migraine and to consider how services and support can be improved.

More broadly, the Government remains committed to improving outcomes for people with long-term conditions through ongoing system reform, workforce expansion, and a focus on earlier diagnosis and better community-based care.

The Department recognises that delays in diagnosis and treatment can affect individuals’ quality of life and may lead to greater symptom burden and wider impacts on education, employment, and wellbeing.

Clinical management of migraine is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which has published guidance on the diagnosis and management of headaches. This guidance helps clinicians to diagnose migraine more promptly and to provide appropriate acute and preventive treatments based on individual clinical need.

NHS England is supporting improvements in migraine care through national programmes such as the RightCare headache and migraine toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time neurology programme. These initiatives are focused on reducing unwarranted variation in care, improving diagnostic accuracy, particularly in primary care, and ensuring patients can access specialist services where appropriate.

Responsibility for commissioning migraine services rests with integrated care boards, which are best placed to plan and deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes access to primary care, specialist neurology services, and newer treatments where clinically indicated.

There are currently no plans to establish a national champion for migraine. The Department continues to engage with NHS England, clinical experts, and patient groups to understand the challenges faced by those living with migraine and to consider how services and support can be improved.

More broadly, the Government remains committed to improving outcomes for people with long-term conditions through ongoing system reform, workforce expansion, and a focus on earlier diagnosis and better community-based care.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 May 2026 in response to Question 2557. In addition, the Foreign Secretary and I met with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 20 May during her visit to the UK where the Foreign Secretary raised the need for accelerated progress on human rights, accountability and justice.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 26 November 2025 in response to Question HL11857.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 26 November 2025 in response to Question HL11857.

I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 5 January and to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 13 January.