Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many graduates who graduated in the last five years are registered as claimants at jobcentres.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There has been no assessment made of the number of graduates who have graduated in the last five years and are claiming benefits.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average and (b) longest recorded wait time was on his Department's bereavement line in each year between 2021 and 2026.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Pharmacy First on (a) patient satisfaction, (b) GP access and (c) pharmacy outcomes.

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

Pharmacies deliver a wide range of National Health Services, including Pharmacy First, that relieve pressure on general practices (GPs) and other parts of the NHS and help patients access healthcare advice, treatment, and preventative interventions more easily.

A National Institute for Health and Care Research funded evaluation of Pharmacy First will assess how the service has been implemented across England, including impacts on prescribing in the GP setting, use of hospitals, and how the service has impacted access to care and the cost for different patient groups.

According to the latest available data, 29 January 2026, from the Health Insights Survey, 89.2% of respondents reported they were satisfied with the most recent NHS service they received at a pharmacy.

To date, over 4.5 million Pharmacy First clinical pathway consultations have been delivered. NHS England will continue to keep the Pharmacy First service under review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how he plans to reward high-performing GP practices.

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

Practices that participate in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) are financially rewarded for achieving performance indicators. Indicators and thresholds are designed to be stretching, but attainable.

QOF has been refined for 2026/27 to support more clinically effective patient care and to better align with updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

As well as traditional achievement thresholds, for 2026/27, practices are further incentivised to perform by having opportunity to earn QOF points through improving against their own baseline achievement for childhood immunisation indicators. This change is intended to recognise and reward practices, particularly those in more deprived areas that may not meet the existing achievement thresholds but demonstrate meaningful and sustained improvement in vaccination uptake.

We are committed to ensuring that all practices receive appropriate support and resources. We are investing an additional £485 million in general practice in 2026/27, bringing the total spend on the GP contract to over £13.8 billion. This builds on last year’s £1.1 billion of investment.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government are taking to tackle the environmental impact of data centres.

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

The Government is taking a coordinated approach to address the environmental impact of data centres as it seeks to promote sustainable sectoral growth. Through the AI Energy Council, we are working with industry, regulators and the energy system to improve efficiency and reduce carbon intensity. UK Data and AI infrastructure is subject to the UK’s environmental and planning frameworks, which require assessment of impacts such as energy use, water consumption, land use, and local environmental factors. Larger data centres, which will be able to apply through the recently introduced Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project route, will also be subject to these requirements.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent consideration he has made of the potential merits of a national workforce strategy for community pharmacies.

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

The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

To support community pharmacy employers in developing their staff and deliver quality NHS services, NHS England provides a number of funded national training opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This includes independent prescriber training, clinical examination skills, and training the next generation of education supervisors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans does the UK Government have to support overseas states experiencing severe droughts and difficulty in accessing water.

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

The UK works with partner governments to strengthen water resilience, including resilience to severe drought, and to expand access to safely managed water services. For example, through the Just Transitions for Water Security programme, we have supported developing countries to build resilience to climate change and nature loss by strengthening sustainable water management.

Through the Enhanced Water Leadership in a Changing Climate programme, we have worked with the World Bank and others to strengthen national systems and mobilise finance to improve access to water, and through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience programme, we have supported climate adaptation research, including taking action to improve understanding of and responses to water insecurity and drought.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency has undertaken modelling of wastewater discharges from the Meadfoot sewage outfall in Torquay to assess the interaction of those discharges with tidal movements within the last five years.

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

The beach is monitored by the EA during the bathing season which runs from mid-May to September. The EA monitors the bathing water for bacteria. The results from Meadfoot Beach put it in the highest class for clean water quality: it is rated as excellent.

The EA’s local Bathing Water data teams look at all data as they become available through the bathing season. Should they see any results that fall short of what is expected for that beach they will investigate the reasons and act on any findings.

Polluting our waterways is unacceptable. We have published the Water White Paper, a new once-in-a-generation plan to overhaul the water system. It sets out clear powers for the new regulator, delivering tougher oversight and stronger accountability for water companies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will ask Ofcom to investigate the consent or pay model for websites.

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

Consent or pay models are used by some websites to gather consent for the use “storage and access technologies”, the most common of which is cookies. The rules around consent for such technology are governed by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The relevant regulator overseeing PECR is the Information Commissioner's Office, who last year published guidance on how websites can deploy consent or pay legally: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/online-tracking/consent-or-pay/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has undertaken sampling of patient experiences since changes to the Patient Access Charter in October 2025.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Office for National Statistics’ Health Insight Survey has been collecting monthly data on patient experience since July 2024. Recent findings show that overall patient satisfaction has begun to improve after a decade of decline. The survey also reports that ease of access has improved since October 2025, rising from 73.7% in that month to 76.8% in January 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to standardise delay repay thresholds across operators.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There are no current plans to standardise across all train operators.

We have one of the most generous delay repay systems in Europe and continue to make progress on improving the ease with which passengers can claim Delay Repay with the majority of the Department’s contracted train operators offering automated 'one-click' compensation.

Delivering Great British Railways will make it even easier and more convenient for passengers to claim Delay Repay, including through the upcoming Great British Railways website and app.

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 potential impact of NICE condition severity ratings on the accessibility of drugs for those with secondary breast cancer.

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

he latest data for technology appraisals published up until the end of September 2025 shows that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a greater proportion of medicines for advanced cancer since the severity modifier was introduced compared with NICE’s previous methods. The proportion of positive decisions for advanced cancer treatments since the severity modifier was introduced is 85% compared with 69% using NICE’s previous methods. Since the severity modifier was introduced, NICE has recommended all but one treatment for advanced breast cancer where the company has participated fully in the appraisal. The only treatment for advanced breast cancer that NICE has not been able to recommend in final guidance since the severity modifier was introduced is Enhertu.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the prognosis of those with secondary breast cancer.

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

The National Cancer Plan, published 4 February 2026, has set out actions aimed at improving prognosis for people with secondary breast cancer. The plan highlights the Government’s ambition to ensure that every person with secondary breast cancer has faster diagnosis and treatment, access to the latest treatments and technology, and high-quality support throughout their journey, while driving up cancer survival rates.

NHS England is piloting the use of self-referral breast cancer pathways to streamline diagnostic pathways and free up primary care capacity using the NHS App and NHS 111 online service. This is in addition to the Government’s commitment for NHS England to deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029 through a £2.3 billion investment in diagnostics and by ensuring that as many community diagnostic centres as possible are fully operational and open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

To improve diagnosis of breast cancer, the National Health Service will harness 'circulating tumour DNA' tests for breast cancer which can pick up relapse months earlier, accelerating clinical decisions and allowing patients to start the most effective treatment faster. The National Cancer Plan has identified four priority areas to accelerate access to new technologies, which include artificial intelligence-assisted interpretation of pathology images for suspected prostate and breast cancer diagnosis.

To improve outcomes for breast cancer patients, NHS England funds the National Audit of Breast Cancer Treatment, covering both primary and metastatic disease. By analysing routine clinical data from NHS settings, these audits identify regional variations in care quality and establish best practices. This will benefit all breast cancer patients, including secondary breast cancer patients.

At the same time, the NHS is focusing on improving the experience of those with a cancer diagnosis. Every patient diagnosed with cancer will be supported through a full neighbourhood-level personalised care package, covering mental and physical health as well as any practical or financial concerns. For people with secondary breast cancer, this will be a step forward in building care around them, their needs, their lives, and their families.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will amend the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 to enable the Public Health and Service Ombudsman to stop requiring an hon. Member's signature before members of the public can refer a complaint to them.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government believes the filtering process MPs facilitate continues to provide an effective way to empower backbenchers to hold the executive to account and emphasises the Ombudsman’s position as a servant of Parliament.

We have no plans to amend the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 at this time.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of safeguards included in the Transition Plan for recreational water users, including those using waters outside designated bathing areas.

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

The Water Reform Transition Plan charts a clear path to the water system of the future, as set out in the recent water white paper. The transition plan will be accompanied by a new Strategic Policy Statement for Ofwat and ministerial direction for EA. These documents will set out what will change as we progress with reforms, the timeline and responsibilities. It will enable wide-ranging reforms to clean up our waters for recreational and non-recreational water users alike.

The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 will not feature in the Transition Plan, having recently been amended. In March 2025 the Government published its response to a consultation on amending the Bathing Water 2013 Regulations, noting the support for expanding the definition of a bather to include other recreational water users. Work has begun on an evidence review to consider the environmental and public health implications of any change.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department plans to establish the public health task force recommended by the Independent Water Commission prior to the introduction of the Water Reform Bill.

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

Through an upcoming Water Bill, we intend to progress an ambitious, coherent reset of the legislative framework.

As we take this forward, we will work in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure public health is considered broadly in our new water frameworks and regulations and to consider evidence gaps. Protecting and improving public health is a key consideration of the Government’s once-in-a-generation water reforms.

A new Public Health Water Taskforce, led by the Chief Medical Officer for England, will be a key part of Government’s reforms to the water system. The Taskforce will provide independent and technical advice on public health risks from water and opportunities to improve treatment and protection.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential benefits of amending the Bathing Water regulations to include a wider range of recreational users.

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

In March 2025 the Government published its response to a consultation on amending the Bathing Water 2013 Regulations. In this, the Government noted the support for expanding the definition of a bather to include other recreational water users.

Work has begun on an evidence review to consider the environmental and public health implications of any change.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to help ensure that emerging transport technologies, including electric and autonomous vehicles, are accessible and affordable for disabled people.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of accessibility for emerging technologies and works closely with the Disabled Person’s Transport Advisory Committee and experts from leading accessibility organisations, such as the Motability Foundation, on policy development.

To support electric vehicle accessibility, electric wheelchair accessible vehicles can receive a grant of up to £2,500 and attract the largest bonus credit in the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. Government also works closely with industry on accessible charge point designs.

Automated Vehicles have the potential to improve accessible transport options for older and disabled people. Government consulted on the statutory accessibility reporting requirement for Automated Passenger Services (APS) permits and is establishing the Accessibility Advisory Panel to help guide reporting and best practice for the accessibility of new services as they emerge.

Government is also reviewing the legal framework for powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, which has remained largely unchanged for nearly 40 years.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent front-line customer support staff worked on his Department's bereavement line in each year between 2021 and 2026.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The number of staff employed is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.

• The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figure supplied is at March for each financial year, and January for 2026 as this is the most up to date Data held for this financial year.
• The number Bereavement scheme staff has been derived from DWP's Activity Based Model (ABM). This model gives an estimated FTE based on a point in time estimate by Line Managers, as recorded on our internal systems each month.
• This total represents all aspects of Bereavement delivery, including Processing and Telephony.
• Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 FTE.

Centenary of Babbacombe Cliff Railway in Torquay

Securing the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 2026

National inquiry into child sexual exploitation

Local authority funding

Found: Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Work and Pensions Steve Darling supported the bill, saying it was