Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) UK Health Security Agency has made of the risks of exposure to high ambient temperatures during pregnancy including (i) stillbirth, (ii) preterm birth and (iii) maternal health complications.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recognise that there are risks to pregnant women caused by exposure to extreme high temperatures which are set out in the Adverse Weather and Health Plan Equity Review and Impact Assessment 2024. This includes an assessment on stillbirth, pre-term birth, and maternal health complications.
UKHSA provides a weather-health alerting system for England, which alerts the public, including specific vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, and public sector organisations to prepare for impacts of adverse weather, including high temperatures. Risks to health are communicated via heat-health alerts.
There are no plans at this time to update National Health Service antenatal and maternity guidance or to publish specific guidance for healthcare professionals and the public regarding this topic.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to work with UKHSA to issue specific guidance for (a) health professionals and (b) the public regarding the health risks to pregnant people during periods of extreme heat.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recognise that there are risks to pregnant women caused by exposure to extreme high temperatures which are set out in the Adverse Weather and Health Plan Equity Review and Impact Assessment 2024. This includes an assessment on stillbirth, pre-term birth, and maternal health complications.
UKHSA provides a weather-health alerting system for England, which alerts the public, including specific vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, and public sector organisations to prepare for impacts of adverse weather, including high temperatures. Risks to health are communicated via heat-health alerts.
There are no plans at this time to update National Health Service antenatal and maternity guidance or to publish specific guidance for healthcare professionals and the public regarding this topic.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to update NHS antenatal and maternity guidance on the risks of extreme heat exposure for pregnant people and unborn children.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recognise that there are risks to pregnant women caused by exposure to extreme high temperatures which are set out in the Adverse Weather and Health Plan Equity Review and Impact Assessment 2024. This includes an assessment on stillbirth, pre-term birth, and maternal health complications.
UKHSA provides a weather-health alerting system for England, which alerts the public, including specific vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, and public sector organisations to prepare for impacts of adverse weather, including high temperatures. Risks to health are communicated via heat-health alerts.
There are no plans at this time to update National Health Service antenatal and maternity guidance or to publish specific guidance for healthcare professionals and the public regarding this topic.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations she has had with representatives from the Metropolitan Police about the Vashi diamonds case.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Home Office does not have any record of the Home Secretary having any conversations with representatives from the Metropolitan Police about the Vashi diamonds case. Operational decisions on case investigations are matters for operationally independent police forces. It would be inappropriate for the Home Office to intervene or direct police forces on whether individual cases should or should not be investigated.
This Government is committed to tackling fraud and we have published a new Fraud Strategy which sets out a comprehensive plan to stop fraud at its source, protect the public, and deliver justice for victims. Over the next three years, we will invest £250 million to strengthen our fight against fraud.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to respond formally to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on Israel's occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, published in July 2024.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided for question 83315 on 29 October 2025.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that leaseholders and tenants in buildings served by heat networks are protected from excessive service charges and poor service delivery.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem was introduced as the heat network regulator in January 2026. While many leaseholders can benefit from the new consumer protections, including protection against poor service standards, we are aware that there are still some challenges where heat charges are ‘bundled’ with service charges and subject to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Ofgem have issued guidance on how suppliers should consider interactions between housing legislation and heat network regulation and we will continue to work with MHCLG to explore options to address these challenges.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to ensure that appropriate oversight is given to the decision by the Serious Fraud Office to not open an investigation into the Vashi diamonds case.
Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The SFO is a relatively small, highly specialised government department that is permitted by law to investigate only the most serious and complex cases of fraud, bribery and corruption affecting the UK. Decisions on which cases to investigate are taken independently by the SFO, with the Director determining whether to authorise an investigation in accordance with the criteria set out in the Director’s Statement of Principle.
To assist with my oversight of the Serious Fraud Office, I hold regular superintendence meetings with the SFO’s executive team to keep me appraised of relevant SFO casework matters.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that operators of heat networks provide transparent billing and fair pricing to consumers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In January, we introduced Ofgem as the market regulator for heat networks. Heat network operators and suppliers are now required to demonstrate compliance with Ofgem’s Authorisation Conditions, including those on billing transparency and fair pricing.
Ofgem will be collecting data in the first year of regulation which will then be used to inform pricing benchmarks in 2027.
We are currently consulting on mandating minimum technical standards, including proposals to extend heat network metering to enable accurate and transparent billing to more consumers.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Vashi diamonds case on investor confidence in the UK.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has not made a formal assessment of this case; however, the UK continues to be regarded internationally as a strong and attractive destination for investment, underpinned by a robust rule of law, transparent insolvency processes, and a longstanding pro business environment. These fundamentals provide investors with confidence that commercial disputes are handled fairly and predictably.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the performance and reliability of heat networks operating in residential developments in England; and what steps he is taking to ensure consistent service standards for consumers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are aware that some existing heat networks are not delivering to the standard they should be. We have and will continue to take steps to protect consumers: We have already taken action by introducing Ofgem as the market regulator who have the powers to tackle poor service standards. In the first year of regulation, they will be collecting performance data and consulting on Guaranteed Standards of Performance.
Heat network consumers who suffer a service outage can also seek redress through the Energy Ombudsman.
DESNZ is also consulting on mandatory technical standards for heat networks, that include proposals to ensure new and existing heat networks are designed, built, and operated to a standard, that will deliver good outcomes for consumers.