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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the outcome of its consultation on the Bathing Water Regulations.

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

Defra, jointly with the Welsh Government, ran a consultation on a package of reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 that was open between November – December 2024.

In March 2025 the Government published its response to this consultation, setting out the intention to implement three Core Reforms and several Technical Amendments to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

A Statutory Instrument was then laid before Parliament on 28 October 2025, introducing the three core reforms and technical amendments into law. The majority of the Regulation came into force on the 21 of November 2025. Core Reform 2 will come into force on the 15 of May 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sexual misconduct policies implemented by NHS integrated care boards for protecting NHS staff from sexual misconduct by other staff members.

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

Sexual misconduct of any kind has no place in the National Health Service. NHS England is actively working to ensure that the NHS is a safe environment for employees, patients, and visitors.

NHS England published the Sexual Safety Charter in 2023, setting out the principles we expect all NHS organisations to uphold. Every integrated care board (ICB) and NHS trust has now signed up to the charter and are in the process of assuring themselves that actions are being taken against all principles. Further information on the Sexual Safety Charter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/sexual-safety-in-healthcare-organisational-charter/

In 2024, all ICBs and NHS trusts were asked to implement the Sexual Misconduct Policy Framework which proposes that NHS organisations adopt, among other things, anonymous reporting mechanisms for staff. In line with this policy, approximately three quarters of all trusts have adopted anonymous reporting of sexual misconduct allegations. Further information on the Sexual Misconduct Policy Framework is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-people-sexual-misconduct-policy-framework/

From August 2025, all trusts and ICBs were required to audit their sexual misconduct policies, review and update relevant policies, such as information sharing and chaperoning, and keep Electronic Staff Records up to date with ongoing and completed staff investigations.

In December 2025, all trusts and ICBs were required to redouble their efforts in relation to sexual misconduct. This includes participating in nationally commissioned training on investigating sexual misconduct cases, ensuring they have a pool of specially trained doctors and dentists, and implementing review groups for cases where there is a sexual dimension to allegations. A further requirement on ICBs and trusts to audit their sexual misconduct policies was issued at this time

The Government will introduce a new set of standards for modern employment in April 2026. The new standards are likely to focus on areas such as improving staff health and wellbeing and dealing with violence, racism, and sexual harassment in the NHS workplace. They will provide a framework for leaders across the NHS to build a supportive culture.

While important progress is being made on sexual misconduct policies, the Government is clear that we will continue to monitor and take all necessary action to address sexual misconduct in the NHS.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies on media literacy and citizenship education of the findings of the report by Resilience and Reconstruction entitled Disinformation, UK Democracy, and Attitudes toward Ukraine & Russia in the UK, published in January 2026, on passive exposure to misinformation via social media.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Improved media literacy builds resilience to misinformation and disinformation and fosters critical thinking. The government is improving media literacy through coordinated cross-government work, including funding innovative community-based interventions and launching an awareness campaign to build digital resilience and critical thinking skills online. The Online Safety Act updated Ofcom’s statutory duty to promote media literacy. This includes raising the awareness and understanding of misinformation and harmful content, especially where it affects vulnerable groups.

The government’s independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, published on 5 November 2025, emphasised the value of secure knowledge, the process of questioning and critical enquiry and weighing up evidence across information and sources. The government’s response to the review committed to strengthening media literacy content in the curriculum to ensure vital applied knowledge and skills in media and digital literacy are embedded into the revised curriculum, that subject-specific disciplinary skills including critical thinking and problem solving are clearly articulated in the refreshed programmes of study.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Resilience and Reconstruction entitled Disinformation, UK Democracy, and Attitudes toward Ukraine & Russia in the UK, published on January 2026; and whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of social media platform algorithms on the spread of misleading or hostile state-aligned narratives in relation to (a) the war in Ukraine and (b) other matters.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 January to Question 105450. As concerns the algorithms of social media platforms, the Online Safety Act gives Ofcom the power to request information on their design, including as this relates to allegations of illegal mis- and disinformation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to dentistry services for (a) veterans and (b) people suffering with long-term illnesses.

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

We are aware of the challenges faced by many in accessing a National Health Service dentist, including people suffering with long-term illnesses, and valued members of the Armed Forces community, such as our respected veterans who have spent their careers defending our country.

We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available since April 2025.

ICBs are also recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, on 16 December we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on the quality and payment reforms to the NHS dental contract. The changes will be introduced from April 2026. These reforms will put patients with the greatest need first, incentivising urgent care and complex treatments. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms

Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:

• under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education;

• pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months;

• being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges;

• receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits; and

• receiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of dental care given to (a) veterans and (b) those suffering with long-term illnesses.

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

We are aware of the challenges faced by many in accessing a National Health Service dentist, including people suffering with long-term illnesses, and valued members of the Armed Forces community, such as our respected veterans who have spent their careers defending our country.

We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available since April 2025.

ICBs are also recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, on 16 December we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on the quality and payment reforms to the NHS dental contract. The changes will be introduced from April 2026. These reforms will put patients with the greatest need first, incentivising urgent care and complex treatments. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms

Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:

• under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education;

• pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months;

• being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges;

• receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits; and

• receiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of plastic recycling provision in supermarkets including where products are sold in packaging which needs to be recycled in-store.

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

Simpler Recycling came into force on 31 March 2025 requiring all workplaces in England with more than 10 full-time employees to separate their waste before collection, including any waste produced by employees, customers and visitors. This includes dry recyclable materials (i.e. plastic, metal, glass, paper and card) and, separately, food waste. Supermarkets are therefore required to comply and separately collect plastic as well as the other recyclable materials. Defra has not assessed the plastic recycling provision in supermarkets.

Whilst supermarkets collect plastic film on their premises (e.g. plastic bags) this is not currently a requirement. However, additional waste streams that are not included in the Simpler Recycling legislation, may be collected in advance of 31 March 2027 when plastic film collections from all households and workplaces will also become mandatory.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to hold the consultation on proposed changes to NDAs under the Employment Rights Bill; and what is the planned timeline for implementation.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Employment Rights Act 2025 will address the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by employers who want to silence workers about harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

The Government will consult on the conditions under which NDAs can still be validly made (known in the legislation as ‘excepted agreement’). We will also consult on the individuals that a worker with an excepted agreement can speak to (e.g. the police, or medical professionals).

We will bring forward the consultation shortly. The consultation will inform the policy detail in order to draft the regulations and commence this measure in due course.

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

15th anniversary of the Bahrain pro-democracy uprising

British couple detained in Iran

Child protection from illicit vapes

Kendal Farmers Market

Review of the student loan system

Nuclear Regulatory Review and habitats regulations

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank

Bird gathering licences

Radiotherapy in the National Cancer Plan

Graduate driving licences

Penguins at Sea Life London Aquarium

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

Right to object to data being used in online direct marketing

Public toilet provision

Flooding as a result of Storm Chandra

Improving equestrian road safety awareness

90th anniversary of the Spitfire

Signing of the Hamburg Declaration

President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

World Cancer Day

UK digital sovereignty strategy

Buying community energy locally

Social media for under 16s

Found: to fulfil their duty of care to their employees and protecting their own staff from harm 253 Steve Darling

Found: Q14 Steve Darling: My first little question is to Ian and Chris.

Found: Q7 Steve Darling: DWP is a massive organisation.

Found: sends the wrong message at the wrong time.21 The Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling

Members of the Education and Work and Pensions Select Committees have decided to undertake an inquiry that will consider how the Government can ensure it will deliver a successful Child Poverty Strategy.