Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to reform the rules around the leasing of solar panels on school rooftops.

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

Rules around schools entering into leases fall within the remit of the department. Schools may enter into leases for solar panels on school rooftops where the arrangements do not constitute borrowing, but as these often require granting an energy company rights over the roof space and school land, schools must involve the department. The process for gaining consent has recently been simplified, and the department receives around 20 to 30 applications per year.

Where a solar panel arrangement does constitute borrowing, this would require specific approval by exception. The department is aware of an increasing amount of interest in this area from schools and suppliers and is engaging with the sector to look at how it can further support schools in the move to solar.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many standalone midwife-led units are operating in England; and what the names of those units are.

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

The latest data available to NHS England indicates that there are 25 midwifery led units (MLUs) operating in England. The following table lists each unit, as well as their provider:

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of local bus services across local authority borders in Gloucestershire.

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

The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities, and the government is committed to working at pace with local transport authorities, bus operators and passengers to ensure that our vital bus services truly reflect the needs of the local communities.

As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will pass the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including in Gloucestershire.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with representatives of South Gloucestershire Council on the adequacy of local bus services in Gloucestershire.

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

The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities, and the government is committed to working at pace with local transport authorities, bus operators and passengers to ensure that our vital bus services truly reflect the needs of the local communities.

As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will pass the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including in Gloucestershire.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she supports development of the proposed Stroudwater Railway station in Stroud.

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

Following the General Election and the State Opening of Parliament, the Government is now formulating its plans. The Department will announce its policy intentions in due course and aims to provide an update on next steps for the proposed Stonehouse (Bristol Road)/Stroudwater station project soon.

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 make it his policy to ban the use of neonicotinoids.

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

This government recognises that nature is at a crisis point across Britain. We will therefore change existing policies to prevent the use of those neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten our vital pollinators.

A Defra spokesperson said: “We are at a crisis point – nature is dying across Britain. This government will change existing policies to ban the use of bee-killing pesticides to protect our vital pollinators.”

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will hold discussions with Amazon on the operation of trade unions in that company.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is committed to bringing a new era of partnership that sees representatives of employers and unions working together in co-operation and through negotiation. The Government is always willing to speak to the representatives of employers and trade unions about how to deliver this partnership.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recommendation 22 of the Third Report of the Work and Pensions Select Committee of Session 2023-24 on Defined benefit pension schemes, HC 144, published on 26 March 2024.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry report on Defined Benefit pension schemes, published in March 2024 helpfully outlines areas to be considered, including the lack of pre-April 97 indexation in the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme. I recognise the importance of this issue for affected members. I will need to consider this issue in the coming weeks as I receive further briefing on Defined Benefit pensions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) define the minimum quality of service provided by estates management companies and (b) control the level of charges they can impose on residents.

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

The Government is committed to bringing the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ private estates and unfair costs to an end. We will consult on the best way to achieve this and implement new protections for homeowners on private estates in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to increase the ratio of healthcare assistants to midwives in stand-alone midwife-led units maternity units.

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

No assessment has been made regarding a policy to increase the ratio of healthcare assistants to midwives in stand-alone midwife-led maternity units.

NHS England have committed to ensuring that the right numbers of the right staff are available to provide the best care for women and babies through regular local workforce planning.

The Government recognises that there are serious issues within maternity services and we will learn from the findings from recent inquiries and investigations such as that carried out at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and from the emerging lessons from the ongoing inquiry at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The Government’s policy is that the National Health Service as a whole is in crisis, and my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned an investigation into the NHS, led by Professor Lord Darzi, which will focus on assessing patient access to healthcare, the quality of healthcare being provided and the overall performance of the health system.

The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024

Radiotherapy