Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she had made of trends in the number of animals who died or were euthanised following non-compliance incidents as reported in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Any incident of non‑compliance with the ASPA, including those where animals died or were euthanised following non-compliance, is taken seriously and investigated in line with ASRU’s published compliance framework The framework explains how potential breaches are assessed and how proportionate, evidence based regulatory actions are determined (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa).
All licensed establishments must uphold the standards for animal protections as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the associated Code of Practice
ASRU assesses trends and underlying causes of non-compliance as part of its Annual Report. This analysis informs ASRU’s actions that are designed to strengthen compliance, address identified risks and support continuous improvement in animal protections.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the following key workers will remain eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years under changes to the migration rules, (a) NHS physiotherapists, (b) NHS therapy support workers, (c) physiotherapists employed by non NHS organisations contracted to provide NHS services, (d) therapy support workers employed by non NHS organisations contracted to provide NHS services, (e) physiotherapists employed by hospices, (f) therapy support workers employed by hospices, (g) Ministry of Defence physiotherapists, (h) rehabilitation support workers employed by the Ministry of Defence, (i) physiotherapists employed by other healthcare providers, (j) physiotherapists employed in social care, (k) physiotherapists employed by local authorities, (l) therapy support workers employed by other healthcare providers, (m) academic or research physiotherapists working in higher education, and (n) self employed physiotherapists.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. Contributions will now be analysed, and the findings will support the development of the final model.
Economic and equality impact assessments will be conducted on the final model and published in due course.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the146 cases of non-compliance in British laboratories described in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, involving a total of 22,204 animals.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
All establishments licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act1986 are required to meet standards of animal protections as set out in the Act and in the associated Code of Practice. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts a programme of regular audits to assure compliance and takes any instance of non-compliance extremely seriously.
ASRU’s annual report for 2024 shows a reduction in the instances of non-compliance from 169 cases in 2023 to 146 in 2024. While 22,204 animals were involved in these incidents, only a small proportion -189 animals - were found to have experienced adverse outcomes, a significant reduction from 553 in 2023. The species most affected were fish (99) and mice (58).
ASRU’s published Compliance Policy (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing- and-research-compliance-with-aspa) sets out how the regulator identifies, investigates and responds to potential incidents of non-compliance, and how it applies proportionate measures and sanctions where breaches are found. These actions are designed to drive sustained improvements in compliance, strengthen governance and ensure the principles of the replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs) are fully embedded.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is she taking to assess the potential impact of screen time on the development of children under 5.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The department is commissioning a systematic review of evidence that enables causal inference, rather than just correlation, to better understand how screentime impacts children and young people, including under fives. We are planning a further programme of research on the impact of digital technologies on children, including under fives, to commence in April 2026.
There is an existing suite of longitudinal studies, ‘education and outcomes pathways studies’, which are tracking home learning, screen use, and educational and wellbeing outcomes in the early years phase of education, as well as primary and secondary more widely.
A report including screen time and digital media use for children aged 2 was published on 11 January 2026 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-of-the-2020s-second-survey-of-families-at-age-2. Further reports will be published in due course as the studies continue.
The department and The Department of Health and Social Care are jointly working to produce and publish new practical, evidence informed guidance on screentime for early years (0-5) by April 2026. An Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group of child health and development specialists has been convened to shape the guidance, which will also be informed by the perspectives of parents and carers.
The Advisory Group has launched a two-week call for evidence to inform the guidance. By drawing on robust evidence and expertise, the review aims to ensure that the resulting guidance for parents is credible, reliable and grounded in the best available science.
In addition, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is launching a consultation on children's social media use and bans phones in schools.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of fully integrating primary care with secondary care and social care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
An impact statement was completed as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, which highlights that joining up care leads to better outcomes for people and greater efficiencies in service delivery. The impact statement is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-statement-10-year-health-plan-for-england
The Neighbourhood Health Service will be integral to how we create a National Health Service working in partnership across a full range of services, including primary, secondary and social care, to provide early interventions that meet people’s needs holistically and in a more person-centred way.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence entitled Adoptee Voices, published on 28 January 2026, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering every adoptee at least one adoptee-specific peer group and space during adolescence and early adulthood.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Young people involved in Adoption England’s National Youth Forum and regional adoption agency peer groups have spoken about how these groups have helped them explore and strengthen their identity, as well as to develop friendships with peers who understand their background. That is why our new consultation on the future of adoption support, “Adoption support that works for all”, includes proposals to increase opportunities for all young people to be involved in peer-led support groups, mentoring schemes, and wider community-based activities. This will help young people develop friendships and networks which can last a lifetime. The consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/adoption-support-that-works-for-all.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence entitled Adoptee Voices, published on 28 January 2026, if she will take steps to provide (a) a safe space in school and colleges for adoptees and (b) a teacher in each school to support adoptees.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
All children and young people should have every opportunity to achieve and thrive, but too many face barriers holding them back. The upcoming Schools White Paper will set out our vision for a system that delivers educational excellence for every child and young person, no matter their background or circumstance.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of previously looked-after children, including children adopted from state care, and must appoint a Virtual School Head to discharge this duty. All maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to provide advice and expertise on the needs of previously looked-after children on their roll. Previously looked-after children have highest priority in school admissions and attract Pupil Premium Plus funding of £2,630 per child per year to support improved educational outcomes.
Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are committed to updating statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads, including strengthening sections on promoting the educational outcomes of previously looked-after children. In doing so, we will consider the findings of the report to ensure guidance reflects the experiences and needs raised by adoptees. This will support greater consistency and ensure good practice is shared across the system.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence entitled Adoptee Voices, published on 28 January 2026, if she will take steps to provide additional support for adoptees in schools.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
All children and young people should have every opportunity to achieve and thrive, but too many face barriers holding them back. The upcoming Schools White Paper will set out our vision for a system that delivers educational excellence for every child and young person, no matter their background or circumstance.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of previously looked-after children, including children adopted from state care, and must appoint a Virtual School Head to discharge this duty. All maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to provide advice and expertise on the needs of previously looked-after children on their roll. Previously looked-after children have highest priority in school admissions and attract Pupil Premium Plus funding of £2,630 per child per year to support improved educational outcomes.
Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are committed to updating statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads, including strengthening sections on promoting the educational outcomes of previously looked-after children. In doing so, we will consider the findings of the report to ensure guidance reflects the experiences and needs raised by adoptees. This will support greater consistency and ensure good practice is shared across the system.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence entitled Adoptee Voices, published on 28 January 2026, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure mental health provision is available for adoptees that is trauma and adoptee-informed.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The ‘Adoptee Voices’ publication enabled the department to hear directly from adoptees and about their experience of trauma and mental health provision, such provision must be informed by lived experience as well as clinical evidence. The department recently published a consultation, ‘Adoption Support that Works for All’, confirming that we are working in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care to design their new pilot to improve mental health support for children in care and their families. This pilot will include support for adoptive families starting in one area and aims to test an integrated model of mental health support for children and families
Alongside this, we are expanding our investment in Regional Adoption Agency multi‑disciplinary teams, which bring together social care, health and education professionals to deliver a holistic package of assessment and support for adopted children and their families.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence entitled Adoptee Voices, published on 28 January 2026, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national adoptee forum.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Adoption England already has a well-established National Youth Forum. Young people who contributed to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adoption and Permanence’s Adoptee Voices report can join the Forum to share their views and influence the government and others involved in developing policy. The government particularly wants to hear from adoptees and those with lived experience of adoption. That is why we are seeking their views specifically through our consultation on the future of adoption support. The consultation document can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/adoption-support-that-works-for-all.