Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the AI Labelling Taskforce will publish its final recommendations on the labelling of AI-generated content online.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The AI Labelling Taskforce will gather evidence and consider best practice for the labelling of AI-generated content online. We are working at pace to establish the Taskforce – including appointing a chair and membership. We expect the Taskforce to be operational by the end of the year, ahead of publishing its final recommendations to Government next year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Internet Matters survey published in 2026, what steps her Department is taking to improve digital literacy skills in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Media literacy is currently covered in the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) and computing curricula. On 15 July 2025, the government published updated RSHE statutory guidance introducing new content on AI, online safety and pornography which has been mandatory since 1 September 2026.

The government accepted the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s recommendations to strengthen media and digital literacy in the refreshed curriculum.

Following the publication of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review final report in November 2025, we expect to consult publicly on proposals for the curriculum and assessment system, including media and digital literacy and critical thinking, later this year. We will take the Internet Matters survey into account as part of this work.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to expand critical thinking and media literacy education in primary and secondary schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Media literacy is currently covered in the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) and computing curricula. On 15 July 2025, the government published updated RSHE statutory guidance introducing new content on AI, online safety and pornography which has been mandatory since 1 September 2026.

The government accepted the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s recommendations to strengthen media and digital literacy in the refreshed curriculum.

Following the publication of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review final report in November 2025, we expect to consult publicly on proposals for the curriculum and assessment system, including media and digital literacy and critical thinking, later this year. We will take the Internet Matters survey into account as part of this work.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with major social media companies regarding misinformation targeting young users.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Ministers and officials regularly engage with social media companies on child online safety issues including harmful and misleading content. Ofcom also works with platforms to promote media literacy and help users critically assess online content.

Alongside engagement, the Online Safety Act requires platforms to tackle mis/disinformation where it is illegal or harmful to children. Services likely to be accessed by children must provide extra protections. Ofcom has strong enforcement powers for platforms failing to meet their duties.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what metrics will be used to assess whether its Media Literacy Action Plan is improving children and young people’s ability to recognise misinformation and AI-generated content.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Through the Media Literacy Action Plan, government is helping children and young people recognise misinformation and AI-generated content. We will work with Ofcom to monitor progress through annual research on children’s media use, attitudes, and ability to identify false content, alongside its Evaluation Toolkit for relevant programmes. We will also share information across government to track progress against departmental commitments.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Ministry of Justice Transparency Data entitled Updated estimates of children with a parent in prison, published on 10 September 2026, what analysis his Department has undertaken of the support needs of young adult dependents experiencing parental incarceration.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The BOLD (Better Outcomes through Linked Data) Partnerships programme has carried out extensive work on children experiencing parental imprisonment, with children under 18 as their main focus.

For children under 18, parental imprisonment can be a safeguarding and developmental issue with support needs focusing on emotional wellbeing, maintaining stability in education and school attendance, family support, and facilitating contact with the imprisoned parent where safe and appropriate. The purpose of this work is to provide early, preventative support to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and unmet needs later in life (including as young adults).

For young adult dependants affected by parental imprisonment, the needs are likely to be around income, housing, and employment support. They may also be caring for younger siblings and may need mental health support. These services are offered through adult rather children’s services.

There is limited data on young adult dependants affected by imprisonment as there are no specific data collections relating to this age group. Support for young adult dependants affected by imprisonment is likely to overlap with employment support, youth transition from children’s social care, and youth justice related services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects to publish the findings of the review of public electric vehicle charging costs.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We expect to publish the findings of the Cost of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Review this autumn.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of Universal Credit expenditure in Leicester East constituency.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Spending on benefits within each parliamentary constituency can be found in DWP’s Benefit Expenditure by parliamentary constituency publication: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of welfare spending in Leicester East constituency.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Spending on benefits within each parliamentary constituency can be found in DWP’s Benefit Expenditure by parliamentary constituency publication: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the accessibility of the appeals process for Ultra Low Emission Zone penalty charge notices for people experiencing financial hardship; and whether she has had discussions with Transport for London on (a) payment by instalments, (b) the treatment of first-time contraventions and (c) the effect of payment of a penalty charge on an outstanding appeal.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) and this includes decisions on road schemes which charge users including the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). We work closely with TfL on a range of issues but the operation and management of the ULEZ is a matter solely for them. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment or intervene in these matters.

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 provide targeted employment support in Leicester East constituency.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In Leicester East, Jobcentre Plus works closely with local partners to provide targeted support for groups facing additional barriers to employment. This includes dedicated youth employability support through the city’s Connexions Hub and Leicester City FC’s Youth Hub, which your constituents can access, alongside outreach activity in community settings such as day centres and libraries. Support includes personalised employment advice, access to skills and training opportunities, apprenticeship signposting, and specialist help for disabled people, care leavers and those with complex needs.

The department forecasts customer cohort volumes to anticipate the level of support and work coach resource required. Work Coaches offer personalised advice to help individuals secure roles that reflect their skills, qualifications and prior experience, alongside targeted job-search support. Where appropriate, Work Coaches also identify any skills gaps and signpost jobseekers to relevant training and provision.

For those who have been on Universal Credit for 6 months or more, the Restart Scheme provides 12 months of personalised and tailored support to help them move into work. The scheme is delivered across England and Wales.

The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy.

For those disabled people, individuals with long-term health conditions and people with more complex barriers to employment who need intensive, specialist support, Connect to Work, our £1 billion voluntary Supported Employment programme, is available across England and Wales. It will deliver tailored support to around 300,000 by the end of the decade.

Learners in all areas of England, including Leicester East, may benefit from ASF-funded provision where eligible. This can include English, maths, essential digital skills, employability provision, sector-based training and Free Courses for Jobs, helping adults to develop the skills needed to progress into employment or improve their prospects in the labour market.

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 support disabled residents and families in Leicester East constituency.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Department is taking multiple steps to support disabled residents and families across the country, including in Leicester East.

Financial support is available to people on low or no incomes through benefits, including additional support through Universal Credit for disabled adults, children and young people via the UC Health Element and the Disabled Child Addition. For disabled people looking to start, stay or succeed in work, Access to Work provides a demand-led personalised grant to support recruitment and retention in employment. We have also put in place the equivalent of over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers across Great Britain, offering tailored employment support.

Locally, through Jobcentre Plus and partnerships with local providers, we provide a range of support for disabled residents. This includes Connect to Work, our voluntary supported employment programme (more information is available here: Connect to Work for job seekers | Leicestershire County Council). We also deliver outreach through Belgrave Library and St Barnabas Library, alongside Family and Community Work Coaches who provide benefit and employment advice. Leicester Jobcentre Plus works closely with Connect to Work, WorkWell, Talking Therapies and Mental Health Individual Placement Support services to help disabled people access employment and health support. In addition, Schools Advisers and Disability Employment Advisers work with Leicester College, Gateway College and Ellesmere College to support disabled young people through Supported Internships and their transition into employment.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targeted support is available through Jobcentre Plus and Access to Work to help disabled parents and carers secure suitable employment.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We know that work is good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Disabled people and people with health conditions, including disabled parents and carers, are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key.

We have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work. These include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres, Access to Work grants and Connect to Work, as well as initiatives joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, and WorkWell.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out our Pathways to Work offer, backed by £1 billion a year of new funding by the end of the decade. Building on existing initiatives we are working towards a guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for all disabled people and people with health conditions on out of work benefits.

In November 2025, Sir Charlie Mayfield published the Keep Britain Working Report, which recommended reshaping how government works with employers to improve work and health outcomes through creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces. We are now working with volunteer employers, providers and regions through a Vanguard Phase to test and refine approaches to help disabled workers and workers with long-term health conditions, receive the support they need to remain and thrive in employment. These include developing effective stay in work and return to work practices, strengthening prevention, and building the evidence needed to spread good practice. We have also developed a digital information service for employers and continue to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to expand perinatal mental health provision.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is considering a wide range of issues to inform the development of the maternity and neonatal action plan, including the mental health support available for women who have experienced pregnancy loss. In her response to the Commons debate on Baby Loss on 12 October, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, agreed that this issue would be a key focus for the Taskforce’s work, and will also be considered as part of our upcoming Mental Health Strategy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of mental health support services available to women who have experienced pregnancy loss.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is considering a wide range of issues to inform the development of the maternity and neonatal action plan, including the mental health support available for women who have experienced pregnancy loss. In her response to the Commons debate on Baby Loss on 12 October, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, agreed that this issue would be a key focus for the Taskforce’s work, and will also be considered as part of our upcoming Mental Health Strategy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2026 to Question 19484 on Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles, whether her Department's assessment of the total cost of ownership of zero-emission HGVs compared with diesel equivalents differentiates between different operational use cases.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport will publish analysis regarding the total cost of ownership of zero emission HGVs relative to diesel HGVs across use cases alongside the next consultation on the HGV CO2 emissions regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, since 27 May 2026, how many of the charge points allocated through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund are (a) operational and open to the public, (b) installed but awaiting grid connection and (c) allocated but not yet installed.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As of 1 July 2026, 1,268 public chargers delivered through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund were operational and open to the public. Figures on the number of chargers committed through signed contracts are commercially sensitive, but the programme remains on track to deliver over 100,000 chargers.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Internet Matters's document entitled Internet Matters Pulse, published on 10 September 2026, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the level of parental anxiety regarding digital safety.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The government recognises that parents and carers need clear support to feel confident helping children stay safe online. The ‘You Won’t Know Until You Ask’ campaign and Kids Online Safety Hub provide practical tools to build children’s resilience to misinformation and critical thinking skills. The Hub offers trusted guidance and resources to help parents and carers discuss harmful or misleading content. We are also introducing a ban on social media services being offered to under-16s.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the findings of the Walk the Walk Health Survey 2026 on the adequacy of the starting age of NHS breast screening policy.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13406.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans her Department has to review the provision of alternative or additional screening modalities, such as MRI or ultrasound, within the NHS breast screening programme for individuals with dense breast tissue.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13406.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of early-onset breast cancer and evaluate screening protocols.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13406.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for health policy of findings published by researchers in the 2021 Miscarriage Matters series in The Lancet that Black women face a 40 per cent increased relative risk of miscarriage compared to White women; and what steps she is taking to address ethnic disparities in maternal and reproductive healthcare.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is currently considering a wide range of evidence and proposals to inform its development of the Maternity and Neonatal Action Plan, and in her response to the debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week on 12 October, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is chairing the taskforce, made clear that miscarriage would be a key area of focus for its work. Department officials will ensure that the study referred to by the Hon Member is taken into account as part of that process.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the document entitled Transparency Data: Updated estimates of children with a parent in prison, published on 10 September 2026, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Justice to help provide support to children in primary and secondary educational settings who had a parent in prison.

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

We recognise the impact that a parent going to prison can have on a child’s learning, behaviour and wellbeing. However, support should be based on individual need, not solely having a parent in prison. Our approach is focused on equipping schools to respond to children’s needs. We set out in statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ that all staff in schools and colleges should consider the needs that children with a family member in prison may have. The guidance highlights the risk of poverty, stigma, isolation and poor mental health. Further details are available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ac3c09c11ed58342ad8e4ac/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2026.pdf.

The department and the Ministry of Justice are working to deliver parental imprisonment recognition and support pilots. Where appropriate, support via the pilots may be delivered through schools, in partnership with other education settings, or alongside other community-based or specialist services, taking account of the needs and preferences of the children and families themselves.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of housing support requirements in Leicester East constituency.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Information on the number of households in receipt of Housing Support through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit by parliamentary constituency, in both the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector, is available on Stat-Xplore via the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit official statistics (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/).

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest, and if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support independent retailers and small businesses to create local jobs in Leicester East constituency, given the local increase in the claimant count data for August 2026.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises the valuable role independent retailers and small businesses play in creating jobs and supporting local communities.

Through the Business Growth Service accessible via business.gov.uk, it is now easier for SMEs, including those in Leicester East, to access advice, guidance and tailored support, such as the Business Support Service and the Business Academy. We are also delivering measures to improve access to finance and tackle late payments, helping small businesses to start, grow and create jobs.

Local businesses can also access free support through Leicestershire Business Growth Hub, helping them identify opportunities to grow and invest.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Ministry of Justice Transparency Data entitled Updated estimates of children with a parent in prison, published on 10th September 2026, what cross-departmental provisions or early-years interventions are in place to support infants and pre-school children experiencing parental imprisonment.

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

The department is working closely with the Ministry of Justice, running pilots to understand how we can better recognise and support children with a parent in prison. We are also working across government to ensure this cohort is reflected in existing policy, processes and provision.

All three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education a week, while eligible disadvantaged two-year-olds can also access 15 hours.

The government is investing over £900 million in Best Start Family Hubs and the Healthy Babies scheme between 2026 and 2029. Hubs provide universal, open access services for babies and children, focusing on pregnancy and early years.

Best Start Family Hubs are expected to build strong partnerships across community, education, health and wider services, and provide sensitive, trauma-informed support to children and families affected by parent or carer imprisonment, connecting them to appropriate services and more targeted support, where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Parentkind's report entitled The National Parent Survey 2026, what steps her Department is taking to support parental engagement in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The schools white paper, ‘Every child achieving and thriving’, sets out the government’s commitment to ensuring families are partners in their children’s education.

All parents should have the opportunity to engage fully in their children’s learning and development. Strong partnerships between schools and families benefit every child and can be particularly important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The department is working with stakeholders to co-create minimum expectations for parental engagement. These will establish clear principles for schools, alongside clear and proportionate expectations for parents. We will support schools to put these principles into practice by sharing promising approaches and practical tools, drawing on the work of effective schools and trusts.

Most families want to be more involved in their children’s learning, but not all parents feel equally equipped to support their children’s development at home. We are therefore assessing the feasibility and appropriateness of developing a digital parents’ hub that would offer accessible, age-appropriate support and advice.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to address overcrowding and patient delays in emergency departments.

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

Further to the answer I gave on 16 July to Question 17438, which set out our approach to reducing pressures in emergency departments and ending the unacceptable practice of corridor care, NHS England is now publishing data for the first time to identify where pressure is greatest, and deploying expert teams into the most challenged trusts to improve performance. We are also investing in urgent and emergency care capacity, while recognising that there is much more work to do to reduce pressures and tackle the dangers created by overcrowding.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Parentkind's report entitled The National Parent Survey 2026, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the engagement gap between lower- and higher-income families.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The schools white paper, ‘Every child achieving and thriving’, sets out the government’s commitment to ensuring families are partners in their children’s education.

All parents should have the opportunity to engage fully in their children’s learning and development. Strong partnerships between schools and families benefit every child and can be particularly important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The department is working with stakeholders to co-create minimum expectations for parental engagement. These will establish clear principles for schools, alongside clear and proportionate expectations for parents. We will support schools to put these principles into practice by sharing promising approaches and practical tools, drawing on the work of effective schools and trusts.

Most families want to be more involved in their children’s learning, but not all parents feel equally equipped to support their children’s development at home. We are therefore assessing the feasibility and appropriateness of developing a digital parents’ hub that would offer accessible, age-appropriate support and advice.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Parentkind's report entitled The National Parent Survey 2026, what steps her Department is taking to ensure low-income pupils are not excluded from school trips.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has published a new Enrichment Framework setting out clear benchmarks, with a simple structure to help schools and colleges evaluate their own provision and make considered improvements to their offer, including school trips, with a particular focus on accessibility and disadvantaged pupils.

The UK will join Erasmus+ in 2027, creating world class opportunities for pupils, teachers and other school staff across the country. Through Erasmus+, schools will be able to access funding for visits to partner schools overseas. These trips have a profound impact on children and the experience can raise pupils’ aspirations and broaden their understanding of different cultures.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the claimant count data for Leicester East constituency in the Office for National Statistics document entitled Employment in the UK: September 2026, published on 15 September 2026, what steps his Department is taking to expand local apprenticeship schemes and adult Skills Bootcamps to assist people in receipt of unemployment-related benefits in Leicester into employment.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

This government is transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy in England, backed by £1 billion of additional investment, which will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships and give employers, including in Leicester, greater flexibility to develop the workforce they need to grow and succeed.

To expand opportunities for young people, we are now fully funding apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 and introducing a £2000 hiring payment for non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) that recruit apprentices under 25 from October.

The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which comprises 3,000 employers and apprentices who volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships, across England through nine regional networks, including in Leicester.

Regarding Skills Bootcamps, in line with its commitment to devolution, the government is giving local areas greater control over the delivery of Skills Bootcamps, enabling them to tailor the offer to the needs of local employers and their priorities for the economy. The Skills Bootcamps budget is £166 million in the 2026-27 financial year.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Department for Work and Pensions' document entitled Households Below Average Income: For Financial Years Ending 1995 to 2024, published on 25 June 2026, what targeted funding and resources are being allocated to local authorities in urban areas to help tackle child poverty, including in Leicester East constituency.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Local authorities play a critical role in tackling child poverty by delivering services that interact with vulnerable children at multiple points in their lives. The Spending Review 2025 provided over £5 billion of new grant funding for local services over the three years from 2026/27, including £3.4 billion of new funding which will be delivered through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in over a decade. Through the Fair Funding Review 2.0, we have set out proposals to ensure that funding is directed to the places and communities that need it the most, including those with higher levels of child poverty.

To further support local authorities in tackling child poverty, we have announced initiatives such as the £5 billion Pride in Place programme which will deliver support to 284 of the most in-need places in Great Britain, including Thurnby Lodge in the Leicester East constituency. We have also delivered the £842 million Crisis and Resilience Fund in England, giving councils much needed certainty to protect households from falling into crisis, and made a £500 million investment in the UK-wide Better Futures Fund, breaking down barriers to opportunity for up to 200,000 vulnerable children and young people.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to Action for Children's document entitled Where is child poverty increasing in the UK?, published on 17 April 2026, what steps he is taking to encourage flexible working arrangements that enable lone parents to enter and sustain employment.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The government is committed to improving access to flexible working and recognises it can be critical in enabling many lone parents to sustainably balance work and childcare responsibilities.

Through the Employment Rights Act, we are strengthening the flexible working framework by introducing a new process employers must follow before rejecting a request and a new reasonableness test requiring employers to explain the rationale for any refusal.

These changes will support more constructive and transparent discussions about flexible working and ultimately make it more likely that requests are accepted.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's document entitled Transparency Data: Updated estimates of children with a parent in prison, published on 10 September 2026, what steps his Department is taking in collaboration with local authorities to safeguard children at risk of harm who have a parent in prison.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

HMPPS works closely with Children's Services and other safeguarding partners to protect children who may be affected by offending behaviour. Information sharing and partnership working are central to this approach and are supported by the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Staff working with offenders receive safeguarding training and are required to engage with Children's Social Care where there are concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing. In assessing risk, probation practitioners are required to consider the potential impact of an offender's behaviour on children and families and must contribute to child protection processes where appropriate.

Where a prisoner is assessed as posing a risk of harm to children, prisons restrict contact and seek the views of Children's Social Care before contact takes place. In addition, offenders convicted of serious sexual, violent or terrorist offences who receive a qualifying sentence may be managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), through which the police, prisons, probation and other agencies work together to assess and manage risk in the community.

HMPPS is also supporting implementation of the Information Sharing Duty introduced through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act.

Working closely with the Department for Education, we are running pilots to test how information from across the criminal justice system and public services can help recognise and support children and families affected by parental imprisonment.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the National Parent Survey published in 2026 by Parentkind, what steps her Department is taking to support state schools in delivering swimming lessons.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The PE curriculum makes specific reference to swimming and water safety, stating that all primary pupils must learn to swim competently and confidently over a distance of at least 25 metres.

The department’s reforms to the PE curriculum will ensure there is a clear emphasis on swimming and water safety. In addition, from September the government has made changes to statutory requirements for relationships, sex and health education in both primary and secondary schools to ensure all pupils are taught about the water safety code, supporting them to be safe in different types of water.

The new PE and School Sport Partnerships Partnerships Network will improve pupil swimming attainment and improve water safety knowledge for all pupils. It will support schools to identify and overcome barriers, including building links with local providers, supporting access to swimming provision and ensuring support reaches communities with the greatest need.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2026 to Question 22510 on Teachers: Religious Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for the decision on Religious Education initial teacher training bursaries for 2027-28 of the number of accepted applicants in the first recruitment cycle following the withdrawal of the bursary; and what criteria her Department will use in determining whether to restore that bursary.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Initial teacher training (ITT) bursaries are designed to encourage applications to ITT courses, with funding targeted at subjects where needs are the greatest. The department reviews bursaries annually, considering factors such as teacher retention, recent recruitment, economic forecasts and overall teacher need.

The department uses the teacher workforce model to estimate postgraduate ITT recruitment needs, although recruitment is not capped. Between 2021/22 and 2025/26, the estimated recruitment need for religious education (RE) increased significantly and only drama experienced greater percentage growth. However, recruitment need fell for 2026/27 because of more favourable supply forecasts. In 2025/26, the latest year for which data is available, the number of postgraduate RE ITT trainees reached 492, the highest levels since 2020/21. This improved supply outlook, and alongside falling pupil numbers, has reduced recruitment need across subjects.

School leaders are responsible for employment and deployment decisions, as they best placed to understand their pupils’ needs and school context. As part of the annual review, the department will reassess the trainee teacher needs across all subjects and review bursaries accordingly.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22514 on Religion: Education, how her Department's assessment of teacher sufficiency in Religious Education takes account of teachers who teach Religious Education but do not spend the majority of their timetable teaching that subject; and what assessment she has made of the implications of that factor for the number of specialist Religious Education teachers required.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Initial teacher training (ITT) bursaries are designed to encourage applications to ITT courses, with funding targeted at subjects where needs are the greatest. The department reviews bursaries annually, considering factors such as teacher retention, recent recruitment, economic forecasts and overall teacher need.

The department uses the teacher workforce model to estimate postgraduate ITT recruitment needs, although recruitment is not capped. Between 2021/22 and 2025/26, the estimated recruitment need for religious education (RE) increased significantly and only drama experienced greater percentage growth. However, recruitment need fell for 2026/27 because of more favourable supply forecasts. In 2025/26, the latest year for which data is available, the number of postgraduate RE ITT trainees reached 492, the highest levels since 2020/21. This improved supply outlook, and alongside falling pupil numbers, has reduced recruitment need across subjects.

School leaders are responsible for employment and deployment decisions, as they best placed to understand their pupils’ needs and school context. As part of the annual review, the department will reassess the trainee teacher needs across all subjects and review bursaries accordingly.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the National Parent Survey published in 2026 by Parentkind, what support her Department provides for expanding access to school clubs.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring all children and young people can access high-quality enrichment, including school clubs.

The recently published Enrichment Framework supports schools and colleges to develop a strategic, inclusive enrichment offer through guidance, case studies, benchmarks and improvement tools to evaluate provision. It is supported by five Enrichment Ambassadors and the £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which will work with over 400 schools in the most deprived areas of England to help them meet the framework's benchmarks.

This sits alongside wider government programmes, including PE and School Sport Partnerships, the National Centre for Arts Education, National Education Nature Parks, the Cadet Expansion Programme, Erasmus+ and Building Equal Access to Chess in Schools. In addition, the Every Child Can Programme will invest £132.5 million of dormant assets funding in new enrichment activities through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Internet Matters survey published in 2026, what guidance and training her Department provides to school staff on emerging digital threats.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

A range of guidance, training and practical resources are available to support schools and colleges in ensuring they have the knowledge and skills needed to safeguard children effectively. This includes the department’s Cyber Security Hub for Schools and the National Cyber Security Centre’s training and guidance for schools. Members of the department’s Risk Protection Arrangement are required to complete this training annually.

​​The department has also published 12 digital and technology standards to help schools maintain safe and effective digital infrastructure. These include standards on cyber security and filtering and monitoring, and require schools to provide regular and up-to-date cyber security training and awareness activities.

​​To address emerging technologies, the department has published support materials to help schools and colleges use artificial intelligence (AI) safely and effectively. We are also developing a digital and data skills pathway, setting expectations for the skills and expertise needed across the sector to safely and effectively use technology, digital services, data and AI. The pathway is due to be published in early 2027 and will support continuing professional development and provide a consistent framework for future training and sector support.​

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22511 on Teachers: Training, what subject-level measures of teacher sufficiency her Department used to determine eligibility for Subject Knowledge Enhancement funding in 2026-27; and what the equivalent figures were for Religious Education against each of those measures.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Subject Knowledge Enhancement supports recruitment to initial teacher training in priority subjects facing the greatest sufficiency challenges. Funding is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains targeted where it is most needed.

The principle measure used to determine funding priorities is postgraduate initial teacher training (PGITT) trainee need, calculated using the teacher workforce model. Secondary trainee need has fallen overall for 3 consecutive years, reflecting improved teacher recruitment and retention, an improving teacher supply outlook and stabilising secondary pupil numbers.

For 2026/27, PGITT trainee need for religious education (RE) has fallen by 330 compared to 2025/26, from 780 to 450, which is a decrease of 42.3%. The reduction was driven primarily by significantly improved recruitment in recent years. Between 2023/24 and 2025/26, RE PGITT recruitment increased by 71%, with only 2 other subjects recording greater percentage improvements.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for clinical guidelines of findings published by researchers in the 2021 Miscarriage Matters series in The Lancet indicating that a history of miscarriage is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and stillbirth in subsequent pregnancies; and what measures are in place to ensure enhanced monitoring for expectant mothers with a history of pregnancy loss.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is currently considering a wide range of evidence and proposals to inform its development of the Maternity and Neonatal Action Plan, and in her response to the debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week on 12 October, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is chairing the taskforce, made clear that miscarriage would be a key area of focus for its work. Department officials will ensure that the study referred to by the Hon Member is taken into account as part of that process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of findings published by researchers in the 2021 Miscarriage Matters series in The Lancet regarding the link between recurrent miscarriage and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and venous thromboembolism; and what steps are being taken to promote long-term cardiovascular health monitoring for women who have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is currently considering a wide range of evidence and proposals to inform its development of the Maternity and Neonatal Action Plan, and in her response to the debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week on 12 October, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is chairing the taskforce, made clear that miscarriage would be a key area of focus for its work. Department officials will ensure that the study referred to by the Hon Member is taken into account as part of that process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the financial impact of pregnancy loss on the NHS and wider economy; and what steps are being taken to invest in targeted preventative healthcare to reduce this cost.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is currently considering a wide range of evidence and proposals to inform its development of the Maternity and Neonatal Action Plan, and in her response to the debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week on 12 October, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is chairing the taskforce, made clear that miscarriage would be a key area of focus for its work. Department officials will ensure that the study referred to by the Hon Member is taken into account as part of that process.