Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 (a) address threshold‑based exclusion in adult eating disorder services,(b) reduce funding disparities between child and adult eating disorder services, and (c) strengthen safeguarding procedures for adults who are declined treatment despite clinically significant medical risk.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that have enduring physical and psychological impacts. This is compounded by known difficulties accessing timely, consistent, and appropriate care across the system. The Government has set out its long-term approach to mental health reform as part of the 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health Service. This plan is built around three key shifts, from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital, all of which are essential to improving care for those with eating disorders.
In January, NHS England published long-awaited updated commissioning guidance for children and young people’s eating disorder services. The guidance takes a whole-pathway approach, prioritising community-based care, earlier identification and intervention, and better integration with schools, colleges, and primary care.
Specialised adult eating disorder inpatient services are not commissioned based on fixed thresholds. Admission decisions are made by multidisciplinary clinical teams following a comprehensive assessment of clinical risk, including physical health, psychiatric presentation, rate of deterioration, and wider social factors. Body mass index may inform clinical assessment but is not used in isolation to determine access to inpatient care.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) commission services across the full pathway, including both adult and children and young people’s provision. This enables resources to be allocated at a system level based on population need, with specialised inpatient services forming part of a broader continuum of care.
Where individuals are not admitted to specialised inpatient services, responsibility for ongoing care and risk management remains with local clinical teams under ICB commissioning arrangements. Safeguarding is managed through established NHS and statutory multi-agency frameworks, ensuring that individuals at risk continue to receive appropriate oversight and support.
Specialised inpatient services operate as part of an integrated system, with NHS Led Provider Collaboratives supporting coordinated care and clinically led decision-making based on individual need.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers on the level of protests outside their members' premises.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy, and people are free to gather and express their views, provided they do so within the law. The Public Order Act 1986 grants the police powers to manage protests by imposing conditions on public processions and assemblies to prevent serious disorder, disruption, or intimidation, while balancing the right to peaceful protest. It is for local police forces to determine whether to impose conditions.
The Home Office engages with policing partners and relevant stakeholders, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on issues relating to public order and protest activity. The policing of protests, including any activity outside commercial premises, is an operational decision for the police who must balance the right to peaceful protest with the rights and safety of others.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assistance her Department provides for young people seeking employment upon leaving school.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Young people must continue in education or training until their 18th birthday and may do so through full-time study, full-time work or volunteering combined with part-time learning, or an apprenticeship, while local authorities hold statutory duties to identify and support those needing help, including young people who are not in education, employment or training.
Apprenticeships allow young people to earn and learn. Employers receive financial support to hire young apprentices, including up to £2,000 for small and medium sized enterprises taking on 16 to 24-year-old new starters. Foundation apprenticeships were introduced in August 2025, to give young people a route into critical sectors.
Through the Careers and Enterprise Company, the department is supporting schools to deliver high quality, employer-led careers advice, giving young people clearer insight into the full range of pathways available. We are also bridging the gap between education and work with our commitment to two weeks’ worth of work experience for every secondary pupil.
The Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper set out major reforms, including new Vocational Levels alongside A Levels and T Levels, a further study pathway with a Foundation Certificate, and an occupational pathway with an Occupational Certificate to support progression into study, work or apprenticeships.
For those who want to move into work after they are 18 but cannot find work, the Department for Work and Pensions is strengthening support through the Youth Guarantee, supported by £2.5 billion of investment to create 500,000 opportunities for young people to earn and learn. This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers in England, the expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain, and the introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in jobcentres, providing more intensive support to 16 to 24-year-olds.
Together these measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to backing young people.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assistance his Department provides for young people with caring responsibilities for older (a) siblings and (b) relatives.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities must identify young carers, including those caring for older siblings and relatives, who may need support and assess their needs when requested. We strongly support the No Wrong Doors for Young Carers Memorandum of Understanding, which promotes collaboration across children’s and adults’ services, health partners, and schools. We strongly encourage local authorities to sign up to it.
NHS England is supporting the identification of young carers through general practice guidance and improved data sharing. NHS England is also leading a cross-Government project, co-produced with young carers and voluntary, community, and social enterprise partners, to improve identification, strengthen support pathways, and join up services across education, health, and local organisations.
I chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Education, to consider how best to provide unpaid carers and young carers with the recognition and support they deserve. The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers which we plan to publish later this year. This will include actions to strengthen further the support that is provided to young carers.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department is supporting university students and graduates with accumulating student debt.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Unlike commercial loans, student loans carry significant protections for borrowers. Student loan repayments are linked to income, not to the amount borrowed or interest applied. As repayments remain income contingent, if a borrower’s salary remains the same, their monthly repayments will also stay the same.
Repayments are made at a constant rate of 9% above the earnings threshold. Borrowers earning under the earnings threshold are not required to make repayments. Any outstanding loan, including interest built up, is cancelled at the end of the loan term with no detriment to the borrower, and debt is never passed on to family members or descendants.
The government appreciates that making student loan repayments does have an impact on individuals. This is why there are unique protections for borrowers, and the finance system is heavily subsidised by taxpayers.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the minimum income floor on farmers.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government is currently undertaking a review of Universal Credit to ensure it is delivering on its core objectives of tackling poverty and making work pay. As part of that review, we have been engaging with our stakeholders, including those who represent the interests of farmers and have listened to their views and are reflecting on that feedback as part of the review.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 adequacy of the condition and usability of publicly accessible sports pitches and playing fields in England since 2020; and how many (a) have been classified as fully usable, (b) require minor repair and (c) are out of use.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality sports pitches and playing fields.
According to Sport England’s Active Places database, as of March 2026, there are currently 53,531 operational publicly accessible sports pitches in England, and 5,066 out of use.
Our Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme provides capital investment for new and improved grassroots facilities. £85m will be invested through the programme in the UK in 2026/27.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to assist people with student debt to gain access to a mortgage.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to making home ownership more accessible by supporting first-time buyers, and welcomes changes made last year to support homeowners. The FCA clarifications to their affordability testing rules have been adopted by 85% of the market and should allow customers to borrow around 10% more on the same income.
Additional flexibility from the Bank of England in relation to their loan-to-income rules are also allowing more customers to access larger mortgages in relation to their incomes. The Bank of England estimates that this change provide capacity for lenders to support up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year.
The UK also benefits from a competitive mortgage market that offers various low deposit products; prospective buyers are encouraged to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances.
As a Government, we recognise the impact that previous Government terms can have on graduates’ finances. The government is capping the maximum interest rates on Plan 2 and 3 student loans at 6% from 1 September, for the 2026/27 academic year, delivering stability and protections for graduates from escalating student loan interest. We will continue to keep the terms of the student loan system under review to ensure that it is sustainable and fair for both students and taxpayers.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and the challenges to patients in accessing diagnosis and treatment.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises the complex needs of people living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Our approach focuses on improving care coordination and access to appropriate services.
The National Health Service has published an overview of mastocytosis, a similar, distinct, mast cell disorder. This includes information regarding symptoms as well as treatment options. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mastocytosis/
Specialised commissioning has published the Service Specification for Specialist Allergy Services which covers the responsibilities of specialised commissioned providers in regard to patients with mastocytosis and related disorders. This is available at the following link:
The management of people with mastocytosis is provided by specialised allergy/immunology, dermatology and haematology services. The lead clinician will vary at different centres, but specialist allergy input should be readily available.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to written question 120134 answered on 16 March 2026, for what reason GS4 mix is no longer available to farmers.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
GS4 was previously an option called ‘Legume and herb-rich swards’ available to farmers under legacy Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier agreements. This option was replaced with a broadly equivalent action called ‘Herbal leys’ under both the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) offers.
The original mix used for GS4 was a tightly specified herbal ley mix with high species requirements (containing at least 5 species of grass, 4 species of legume and 4 species of herb or wildflowers). It has been replaced in SFI by the CSAM3: Herbal leys action (with lower minimum requirements) and in CSHT by the CGS4: Herbal leys action (using a mix which can be tailored to meet specific local conditions and to support delivery of specific habitats or species).