Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the provision of emergency back up generators in rural (a) hospitals and (b) GP surgeries.

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

No national assessment has been made of the provision of emergency backup generators in hospitals and general practice surgeries. It is the responsibility of each National Health Service provider to have resilience plans and procedures in place.

Guidance is provided to the NHS within the Health Technical Memorandum 06 series, namely Health Technical Memorandum 06-01: Electrical services supply and distribution, Health Technical Memorandum 06-02: Electrical safety guidance for low voltage systems, and Health Technical Memorandum 06-03: Electrical safety guidance for high voltage systems, which are all respectively available at the following three links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-services-supply-and-distribution-htm-06-01/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-safety-guidance-for-low-voltage-systems-htm-06-02/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-safety-guidance-for-high-voltage-systems-in-healthcare-premises-htm-06-03/

This guidance is for healthcare organisation, defined as an organisation that provides or intends to provide healthcare services, and is therefore applicable to primary and secondary care providers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing medical exemptions to access NHS care for dental injuries caused as a result of epileptic seizures.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are currently no plans to extend the list of people eligible for free National Health Service dental care to include those with dental injuries caused by epileptic seizures.

Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet one of the following criteria: under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education; pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months; being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, keeping in mind that patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges; and receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.

Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission of dental patient charges.

More information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

Community dental services provide specialised dental services to people with additional needs and are available in a variety of places to ensure everyone can have access to dental care. These include hospitals, specialists’ health centres and mobile clinics, as well as home visits or visits in nursing and care homes. These services may be available to people with epilepsy, depending on their needs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the online NHS Dentist checker information.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

National Health Service dentists are required to update their NHS website profiles at least every 90 days to ensure patients have up-to-date information on where they can access care. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients.

Integrated care boards can review which practices in their area have not updated their profile in a 90-day period, and work with practices to ensure websites are up to date.

Patients in England are not registered with an NHS dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. There is no geographical restriction on which practice a patient may attend.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of pay for non-teaching staff in further education.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government recognises the vital role non-teaching staff play within the further education (FE) sector, helping colleges to provide support to young people at a critical stage in their education.

FE colleges, rather than government, are responsible for setting and negotiating pay within colleges. FE colleges were incorporated under the terms of the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act, which gives them autonomy over the pay and contractual terms and conditions of their workforce, including support staff.

On 22 May, the department announced an investment of £160 million for colleges and other 16-19 providers in the 2025/2026 financial year. This funding will boost opportunities for learners across the country and drive forward delivery of the critical skills needed to grow our economy.

Additional funding of over £30 million will be provided specifically for 16-19 provision in schools. This funding forms part of the overall £615 million funding envelope for 2025/26, which was announced alongside the 2025/26 school teachers’ pay award. Together, this means that a total additional sum of over £190 million will be available for 16-19 funding in the 2025/26 financial year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the capacity of (a) children and adolescent mental health services and (b) other services to support adopted and kinship cared children, in the context of the reduction of the Adoption and special guardianship support fund.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life.

The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will continue to complement other important services, including the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and our expanded access to mental health support teams in schools.

This year we will be funding Adoption England to develop multi-disciplinary teams in more Regional Adoption Agencies, jointly with health and education partners, so adoptive families can get holistic joined up support.

All funding after March 2026 is subject to decisions in the next spending review. However, we recognise and value the positive impact of the ASGSF in supporting adoptive and kinship families and its importance to many.

The department was not able to consult organisations before the recent announcement, due to the need to open the fund for applications as soon as possible for the benefit for children. I regularly meet with adoption stakeholders, including recently meeting with the charity Adoption UK and, separately, with the department’s Adopter Reference Group, where we discussed the ASGSF.

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 restoring the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund in the forthcoming spending review.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life.

The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will continue to complement other important services, including the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and our expanded access to mental health support teams in schools.

This year we will be funding Adoption England to develop multi-disciplinary teams in more Regional Adoption Agencies, jointly with health and education partners, so adoptive families can get holistic joined up support.

All funding after March 2026 is subject to decisions in the next spending review. However, we recognise and value the positive impact of the ASGSF in supporting adoptive and kinship families and its importance to many.

The department was not able to consult organisations before the recent announcement, due to the need to open the fund for applications as soon as possible for the benefit for children. I regularly meet with adoption stakeholders, including recently meeting with the charity Adoption UK and, separately, with the department’s Adopter Reference Group, where we discussed the ASGSF.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with which organisations her Department held discussions on changes to the level of funding provided through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life.

The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) will continue to complement other important services, including the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and our expanded access to mental health support teams in schools.

This year we will be funding Adoption England to develop multi-disciplinary teams in more Regional Adoption Agencies, jointly with health and education partners, so adoptive families can get holistic joined up support.

All funding after March 2026 is subject to decisions in the next spending review. However, we recognise and value the positive impact of the ASGSF in supporting adoptive and kinship families and its importance to many.

The department was not able to consult organisations before the recent announcement, due to the need to open the fund for applications as soon as possible for the benefit for children. I regularly meet with adoption stakeholders, including recently meeting with the charity Adoption UK and, separately, with the department’s Adopter Reference Group, where we discussed the ASGSF.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with water companies on expanding the usage of community testing.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) engages with citizen science groups on a site-by-site basis regarding bathing waters along with water companies who do the same.

The EA uses citizen science data to provide supplementary insights. Citizen science initiatives focused on sewage and wider catchment pressures include Riverfly, The Big River Watch, Great UK WaterBlitz, and SmartRivers.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of beach closures caused by pollution on tourism in coastal communities.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS recognises the importance of clean and accessible beaches to the tourism offer in coastal communities.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage which affect coastal beaches.

That is why the Water (Special Measures) Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry and the Independent Water Commission will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good.

As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), water companies will be delivering over £11 billion to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales which OfWat expects will reduce storm overflow discharges by 45% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels. Water companies are prioritising investment at storm overflows near Bathing Waters, with improvements being delivered at them all by 2035.”

While DCMS has not conducted a specific assessment of the impact of beach closures caused by pollution on tourism, we continue to engage with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which leads on water quality, to ensure that the environmental health of coastal areas supports a thriving tourism sector. Moreover, it stands to reason that if tourists feel our beaches aren’t safe or clean, this will impact tourism figures.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Exmoor National Park Authority on the suitability of change of use applications for pubs on Exmoor.

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

Planning permission is always required to change use of a pub, ensuring that local consideration can be given to any such proposals through the planning application process, in consultation with the local community. Defra cannot comment on individual planning cases.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of funding for state secondary schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The overall core schools budget is increasing by £3.7 billion in 2025/26, meaning that it will total £65.3 billion, compared to £61.6 billion in 2024/25. This is a 6% overall increase which, against the backdrop of a challenging fiscal picture, demonstrates the government’s commitment to enabling every child to achieve and thrive through delivery of the Opportunity Mission.

Secondary pupils are attracting £7,316 per pupil on average through the dedicated schools grant in 2025/26. The additional funding to support schools and high needs settings with staff pay awards announced on 22 May, as well as funding in respect of the increases to National Insurance contributions, will be paid on top of that.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a duty of care on universities in relation to extra-curricular activities carried out by affiliated student groups.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s position is that a duty of care in higher education (HE) may arise in certain circumstances. Such circumstances would be a matter for the courts to decide, based on the specific facts and context of the case being considered and will be dependent on the courts’ application of accepted common law principles.

The department would expect HE providers and their affiliated student groups to comply with relevant existing legislation and any other guidance. For example, that published by the provider and/or the National Union of Students on matters such as health and safety.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the viability of tidal range power projects in the Severn Estuary.

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

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched a research innovation project to model the impacts and value of tidal range, we are expecting the report from this work soon and will consider its findings alongside the recently published Severn Estuary Commission report.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to legally redefine the term affordable housing to be linked to social rent.

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

To reflect this government’s priorities, the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 places greater emphasis on the delivery of Social Rent homes and includes a separate definition of Social Rent so that it is not referred to as just one of a number of types of affordable housing for rent.

The government continues to consider what further steps we can take to honour our commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on what the average processing time for a shotgun license application was in the last 12 months.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The issuing of firearms certificates and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Constables and local Police and Crime Commissioners.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress phase 2 of the Schools Rebuilding Programme has made on Tiverton High School.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department will begin working with Tiverton High School this quarter as it enters delivery. We will work closely with the Responsible Body to determine how best to proceed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of consulting with experts from the voluntary support sector during the (a) planning for and (b) piloting of mental health support teams in schools.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2025/26, integrated care boards are responsible for planning and implementing mental health support teams. Since the inception of the programme, guidance to local commissioners has been to engage with local partners including the voluntary sector in planning for mental health support teams, mapping local support, and through representation in local governance.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that deafblind people can access care needs assessments.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Under the Care Act 2014 and Care and Support (Assessment) Regulations 2014, local authorities are responsible for ensuring deafblind people in their area access the right care and support. This includes making contact with and keeping a record of all deafblind people in their area and ensuring that needs assessments are carried out by a person who has specific training and expertise relating to individuals who are deafblind. In addition, under the Equality Act (2010), local authorities must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged.

The Government recognises the many challenges facing the adult social care system and is taking steps to improve access to adult social care. We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will make clear recommendations to define and build an adult social care system that will meet the current and future needs of our population. The commission will consider older people’s care and support for working age disabled adults separately, recognising that these services meet different needs.

In the interim, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are assessing how well local authorities in England are performing against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to the access and provision of care and support for deafblind people. Support for deafblind people will form part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care. In that context, the CQC will report when there is something to highlight, for example, something being done well, innovative practice or an area for improvement. If the CQC identifies a local authority has failed or is failing its functions to an acceptable standard, my Rt. Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene. The CQC has published over forty local authority ratings and reports, which are available at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that social care reform tackles barriers faced by (a) disabled people with complex needs and (b) deafblind people.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is taking forward a package of reforms to enable more people to live independently for longer, including older adults, disabled people, and those with complex needs. For example, in 2025/26, we are providing up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities, including an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

We are also providing £172 million across this and the last financial year, for approximately 15,000 home adaptations, and are introducing new national standards and trusted guidance for care technologies such as remote monitoring. In addition, to strengthen the workforce, we are legislating for the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care workers and are providing a £2,000 uplift to the Carer’s Allowance.

We have also launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will work with people who draw on care and support, their families, staff, and the wider sector to build a system that meets the current and future needs of our population. These improvements will help support the quality of adult social care for all who draw on it, including disabled people with complex needs and deafblind people.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 20 May 2025 on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Official Report, what discussions he has had with (a) his Israeli counterpart (b) other Israel representatives on that Statement.

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

On 20 May, I summoned the Israeli Ambassador to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and made clear the UK's opposition to expanded military operations in Gaza and rising violence & intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. The UK will not stand by as this happens. We continue to have similar conversations at all official levels with the Israeli system to urge Israel to take action against violent settlers and halt settlement expansion which directly endanger the viability of a two-state solution.

Three Dads Walking

Shared Lives Carers

Role of relationship education in preventing violence against women and girls

Harmful chemicals in period products

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Better Business Day campaign and the Company Directors (Duties) Bill

High street gambling reform

Support for farmers

Unpaid Care Dashboard

Impact of EU 90/180 day rule on UK citizens

Reform of NHS dentistry services

Volunteers Week 2025

Devon Day 2025

Gaza (No. 2)

Wastewater Infrastructure and Environmental Protection in Planning Applications

Long covid in children and young people

Reform of monetary limits on charity lotteries

Carers Week 2025

Use of swift bricks

Found: York Outer) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Peter Fortune (Conservative; Bromley and Biggin Hill) Rachel Gilmour

Found: Q16 Rachel Gilmour: Thank you.

Found: York Outer) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Peter Fortune (Conservative; Bromley and Biggin Hill) Rachel Gilmour

Found: York Outer) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Peter Fortune (Conservative; Bromley and Biggin Hill) Rachel Gilmour

Found: meeting Members present: Sarah Olney (in the Chair); Mr Luke Charters; Anna Dixon; Peter Fortune; Rachel Gilmour

Found: Andrew Dr Allison Gardner Alison Taylor Dame Meg Hillier Jim Allister Sir Iain Duncan Smith Rachel Gilmour

Found: Andrew Dr Allison Gardner Alison Taylor Dame Meg Hillier Jim Allister Sir Iain Duncan Smith Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Found: Andrew Dr Allison Gardner Alison Taylor Dame Meg Hillier Jim Allister Sir Iain Duncan Smith Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Found: Dyke Ian Sollom Richard Foord Daisy Cooper Freddie van Mierlo Dr Al Pinkerton Tessa Munt Rachel Gilmour

Found: Dyke Ian Sollom Richard Foord Daisy Cooper Freddie van Mierlo Dr Al Pinkerton Tessa Munt Rachel Gilmour

Found: Andrew Dr Allison Gardner Alison Taylor Dame Meg Hillier Jim Allister Sir Iain Duncan Smith Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Found: Dyke Ian Sollom Richard Foord Daisy Cooper Freddie van Mierlo Dr Al Pinkerton Tessa Munt Rachel Gilmour

Found: Andrew Dr Allison Gardner Alison Taylor Dame Meg Hillier Jim Allister Sir Iain Duncan Smith Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Found: Dyke Ian Sollom Richard Foord Daisy Cooper Freddie van Mierlo Dr Al Pinkerton Tessa Munt Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Found: Dyke Ian Sollom Richard Foord Daisy Cooper Freddie van Mierlo Dr Al Pinkerton Tessa Munt Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Found: Abrahams Anna Sabine Alice Macdonald Leigh Ingham Cameron Thomas Zöe Franklin Edward Morello Rachel Gilmour

Women's Health APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Furniss MP Baroness Shields Baroness Anelay of St Johns Kirith Entwistle MP Lucy Rigby MP Rachel Gilmour

Women's Health APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Furniss MP Baroness Shields Baroness Anelay of St Johns Kirith Entwistle MP Lucy Rigby MP Rachel Gilmour