Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that care providers have a (a) clear and (b) enforceable duty of care towards employees who are victims of serious assaults in the workplace.

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

The Government condemns violent or aggressive behaviour towards social care staff. They have a right to expect a safe and secure workplace.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), and the health and safety regulations made under it, impose duties on employers, such as care providers, to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their workers, and to assess the risks to employees and take appropriate measures to prevent or reduce the risk. The HSWA applies to work-related acts of violence and aggression. Health and Safety Executive, along with local authorities, play a critical role in preventing violence in the workplace by regulating and enforcing health and safety legislation in Great Britain.

Other enforcing authorities, such as the police, are responsible for dealing with the criminal acts of serious assaults and for bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of residential and nursing care home fees on older people; and if his Department will take steps to ensure that annual fee increases are transparent.

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

Fee rates are set by the providers of adult social care, the majority of which are in the independent sector. The Department does not have the power to limit the level of fees that a care home can charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.

The importance of price transparency is set out in Regulation 19 of the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, which requires that providers give timely and accurate written information about the cost of their care and treatment to the people who use their services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the care sector on the adequacy of safeguarding procedures in private care homes that employ staff recruited from overseas.

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

Any form of abuse or neglect is unacceptable, and regulated providers have a key role in safeguarding adults. All staff are subject to employer checks and controls, and employers must satisfy themselves regarding the skills and competence of their staff.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors how well providers are safeguarding service users. As part of their regulatory regime, the CQC checks that care providers have effective systems to help keep adults safe from abuse and neglect.

International workers applying for a Health and Care Visa must submit a criminal record certificate from any country that they have resided in for 12 months or more in the last ten years. Further to this, a Disclosure and Barring Service check must be undertaken.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the number of (a) firefighter posts since 2010, (b) (i) fire stations and (ii) control rooms and (c) fire engines on the frontline on (A) levels of public safety and (B) response times; and if he will make it his policy to (1) prevent reductions to fire and rescue services, (2) provide more funding for frontline resources and (3) introduce national response standards to ensure consistent protection.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government acknowledges the vital contributions made by fire and rescue services. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed are a matter for each fire and rescue authority (FRA) as employer, based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances.

Priorities for fire and rescue reform are subject to regular discussion with sector representatives through the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform (MAGFRR) and other relevant forums.

The MAGFRR, established by this Government, serves as a platform for engaging with senior leaders across the sector to address policy challenges. Delivering on manifesto and other commitments, reform priorities endorsed by the Group aim to support FRAs’ drive to modernise fire and rescue services to ensure they are equipped to meet the evolving needs of communities. The Government remains committed to working collaboratively with all sector partners to drive meaningful change and ensure fire and rescue services have the resources they need to keep the public safe.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Access to Work grants for deaf and hard of hearing people are renewed without interruption; what steps he is taking to ensure that staff administering Access to Work grants provide reasonable adjustments when communicating with deaf and hard of hearing people; and whether he plans to maintain the current level of funding allocation in real terms for Access to Work grants in (i) 2026/27 and (ii) 2027/28.

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

To ensure Access to Work grants are renewed without interruption for our deaf and hard of hearing customers several measures have already been put in place, including streamlining our delivery processes and recruiting additional staff. We have also taken steps to modernise the Access to Work customer journey, with all core parts of the Scheme fully digital from April 2024.

There is a variety of contact methods which customers can utilise. These include telephone, textphone, Video Relay Service and email as a reasonable adjustment. Where a customer would like to use email to contact the department as a reasonable adjustment, they should let the Access to Work team know so the Case Manager can follow the appropriate procedure to ensure we can try to accommodate the request. Details can be found at Access to Work: factsheet for customers - GOV.UK

Funding has been secured to continue the Access to Work scheme throughout the Spending Review period.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of (a) indoor and (b) outdoor mobile coverage in Hullavington, Wiltshire.

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

Ofcom does not publish mobile coverage data aggregated to specific villages in their Connected Nations reports and data releases. However, your constituents who live or work in Hullavington can access the improved coverage checker, ‘Map Your Mobile’, on the Ofcom website to get information on likely indoor and outdoor mobile coverage at their address.

Accurate coverage data being available is crucial to understanding where coverage issues remain and to supporting consumers to make informed decisions about which network offers the best service in their area.

All communities should rightly expect to have the connectivity they need to participate in the modern digital economy. This is why it is the government’s ambition that all populated areas should have access to higher quality mobile coverage by 2030.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of National England's decision to not accept complaints on injurious weeds on (a) agriculture and (b) the public.

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

Advice on the management and control of injurious weeds is published on GOV.UK. Natural England did not accept new weeds complaints in 2025. This was a temporary measure whilst they reviewed the approach to addressing injurious weeds, to improve access to appropriate advice and guidance and ensure enforcement resources are targeted most effectively. The complaints process will reopen as usual in April 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to provide funding to the New Brewery Arts in Cirencester through the Arts Everywhere Fund.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government is making a substantial investment in the cultural sector across England through the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which includes the £85 million Creative Foundations Fund. This fund is specifically designed to address critical infrastructure issues faced by cultural organisations, ensuring their long-term sustainability and ability to continue providing valuable services to communities. The recent Spending Review also secured substantial investment for arts, culture, and heritage infrastructure. This significant financial commitment underscores the government's dedication to supporting the arts, culture, and heritage sectors

Arts Council England is responsible for managing the Creative Foundations Fund. They are currently in the process of assessing applications and plan to make their award decisions public, as well as notify all applicants, by the end of March 2026. We understand that New Brewery Arts has previously benefited from an Arts Council England grant.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of compliance by water companies with their statutory obligations to maintain accurate digital maps of (a) potable water mains, (b) service reservoirs and (c) isolation valves in rural areas.

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

The Government is preparing to respond to the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission, including on the extent and enforcement of current water industry mapping requirements. Reforms outlined in this response will form the basis of a new water reform bill to be introduced early in this Parliament.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will take steps to require the Environment Agency to resume responsibility for the (a) inspection, (b) cost and (c) maintenance of (i) main rivers, (ii) the Avon, (iii) Brinkworth Brook, (iv) Olivemead Drain, (v) Dauntsey Brook and (vi) the Bourne; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Environment Act 1995 to ensure that main rivers are maintained as critical infrastructure funded through public spending.

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

I fully recognise the importance of flood risk maintenance. The Government has committed to redirecting £108 million in 2024/25 and 2025/26 into urgent flood and coastal defence maintenance to halt the decline of flood asset condition following years of under investment.

Watercourse management responsibilities fall to different bodies. Riparian landowners are required to maintain watercourses, under common law, while the Environment Agency (EA) uses its permissive powers to undertake maintenance on main rivers to manage flood risk.

The EA prioritises maintenance funding rigorously and focusses on those areas and activities which deliver the greatest overall benefits for people and property, including reducing flood risk and securing value for money.

The Government has no plans to bring forward legislative changes to amend the Environment Act 1995.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance her Department has issued to internet service providers on fulfilling their licence obligation to ensure access to 999 calls from within the home in communities where mobile not spots exist.

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

According to Ofcom, 88% of UK premises have 4G indoor mobile coverage from all four mobile network operators, with almost 100% having coverage from at least one operator. However, we know that there is a range of local factors, such as building construction, which can affect user experience. Ofcom also provides advice on potential options that could improve mobile coverage indoors on its public facing website via the link here.

DSIT has not provided guidance to internet service providers regarding their obligations, as that is for the regulator Ofcom to consider. Ofcom sets the regulatory conditions for communications providers through their General Conditions of Entitlement, which requires communication providers to ensure continuous access to emergency services via 999 and 112. In 2018, Ofcom published guidance on how all communications providers should meet this duty, including in relation to customers who are dependent on a landline and may not be able to get a mobile signal.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that households in areas with poor indoor mobile coverage have reliable access to the emergency services by 2027.

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

According to Ofcom, 88% of UK premises have 4G indoor mobile coverage from all four mobile network operators, with almost 100% having coverage from at least one operator. However, we know that there is a range of local factors, such as building construction, which can affect user experience. Ofcom also provides advice on potential options that could improve mobile coverage indoors on its public facing website via the link here.

DSIT has not provided guidance to internet service providers regarding their obligations, as that is for the regulator Ofcom to consider. Ofcom sets the regulatory conditions for communications providers through their General Conditions of Entitlement, which requires communication providers to ensure continuous access to emergency services via 999 and 112. In 2018, Ofcom published guidance on how all communications providers should meet this duty, including in relation to customers who are dependent on a landline and may not be able to get a mobile signal.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to introduce digital identity cards.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government has announced plans for a new national digital identity credential to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. This will make it easier for people to securely access the services they are entitled to, where they want to, while also helping to prevent illegal working and deter illegal migration. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament.

We recognise the importance of both cybersecurity and privacy. We will consult and engage on the practical operation of the scheme, and the data structures underpinning it, as it is developed. The data for the digital ID scheme will be federated, as doing so is good practice for things like this. That means most data will stay where it is already safely stored, such as in HM Passport Office or other government departments, and only joined up if and when needed.

Following the Machinery of Government changes of 23/10/2025 policy responsibility now sits with the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that Palestinian students in Gaza who are eligible to apply for visas and scholarships for UK courses beginning before December 2025 are able to access university places, in the context of many UK institutions having already closed their applications for the 2025 academic year.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government outlined plans for how it is supporting students travelling to the United Kingdom from Gaza in a policy statement published on 15 September 2025 available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-students-travelling-to-the-uk-from-gaza/scholarships-for-students-from-gaza.

To be eligible to come to the UK under this approach, students must submit a student visa application, which will need to be sponsored by their university, and pay associated fees.

Students must:

• Be aged 18 or over.
• Meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
• Have an offer for a course starting no later than 31 December 2025.
• Be supported by a fully funded and verified scholarship that covers both course fees and living costs.

The government remains committed to doing everything we can to assist eligible students to leave Gaza, specifically those who hold full scholarships to UK universities with course start dates no later than 31 December 2025.

The government is making every effort to support this process. However, a student’s journey from Gaza to the UK cannot be guaranteed, and timelines remain subject to external factors, outside the government’s control.

The government is working with the devolved governments and universities to identify eligible students, and to ensure students receive the support they need for the duration of their studies.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications will be exempt from the requirement to replace lost nature under previous biodiversity net gain requirements.

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

On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development which can be found on gov.uk here. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the development capacity for housing on brownfield sites.

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

Brownfield (or previously developed) land sites across England vary greatly. As such, local planning authorities are best placed to assess the suitability of individual brownfield sites for redevelopment.

National planning policy makes clear that strategic policy-making authorities should have a clear understanding of the land available in their area through the preparation of a strategic housing land availability assessment. From this, planning policies should identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites, taking into account their availability, suitability, and likely economic viability.

The government has committed capital funding through the Brownfield Land Release Fund to help overcome challenges to brownfield redevelopment such as viability issues and contamination.

Family Business Week 2025

Friends of Campsie Community Work

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and the plight of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Conduct of Samir Zitouni and Stephen Crean on the 18.25 Doncaster to Kings Cross train on 1 November 2025

Fossil fuel company profits

Community Connexions Gloucestershire

Government proposals for mandatory digital ID

Impact of extreme weather on farming

The Lakes School

Knoydart wins international rural resilience award

Water bills

Highland businesses Highland Employer Charter Awards

Conduct of the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby

Isle of Raasay World’s Best Scotch Whisky Award

Solas Eige and St Columba’s Church

Ewan MacDonald and the Apprenticeship of the Year Awards

Danny Young National Chef of the Year 2026

Radio Skye, Radio Station of the Year 2025

Found: Chris Hinchliff (Independent; North East Hertfordshire) Martin Rhodes (Labour; Glasgow North) Dr Roz Savage

Found: Julia Buckley; Carla Denyer; Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Alison Griffiths; Chris Hinchliff; Dr Roz Savage

Found: Julia Buckley; Carla Denyer; Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Alison Griffiths; Chris Hinchliff; Dr Roz Savage

Found: Julia Buckley; Carla Denyer; Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Alison Griffiths; Chris Hinchliff; Dr Roz Savage