Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuity of Adult Skills Fund allocations to further education colleges in Hampshire during the transition to the devolved skills settlement.

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

We are committed to investing in education and skills training for adults and are investing over £1.4 billion in the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) this academic year. The principal purpose of the ASF is to engage adults and provide the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.

As of August 2025, approximately 68% of the ASF has been devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The Department for Work and Pensions provides the remaining funding for learners who live in non-devolved areas.

Hampshire is currently a non-devolved area, meaning the Department funds the providers including further education colleges who decide what provision to offer. Until powers are transferred, the Department will continue to fund providers in Hampshire directly.

We believe that local areas should have more of a say and control over adult education in their areas. As such Government agreed a devolution deal with Hampshire and the Solent including, from academic year 27/28, the devolution of the ASF. This will provide the area with the ability to commission adult education for Hampshire and the Solent residents.

Under the arrangements set out in devolution deals, local areas assume the duties set out in statute around providing free courses for adults. These national statutory entitlements ensure a level of consistency across the country. By honouring our commitments to combine and further devolve adult skills funding, we give those with local knowledge the power they need to make decisions that are best for their areas and their residents.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's joint publication entitled Post-16 education and skills white paper, published on 20 October 2025, whether it remains her policy to increase 16–19 funding in real terms for the next academic year.

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

In recent years, the number of students in 16 to 19 education and the funding to support them have risen rapidly. In the 2026/27 academic year, the government will provide nearly £9 billion in 16 to 19 funding. We have made significant increases to the average funding per student since the 2024/25 academic year, an expected per student increase of 10.5%. We expect that the average per student funding in 2026/27 will stand at £6,874, compared to £6,219 in the 2024/25 academic year.

The expected funding per student in 2026/27 will be an increase of 1.66% compared with the 2025/26 academic year, meeting the White Paper commitment by reflecting forecast inflation at the time the Spending Review was settled and the White Paper published. This increase does not include the new Inclusive Mainstream Fund which will provide £83 million per year in additional funding for mainstream settings delivering 16 to 19 provision over the next three years, to boost capacity in mainstream settings to meet a greater proportion of special educational needs and disabilities needs.

These increases in funding contribute to the financial sustainability of further education colleges. We will continue to fund the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds, providing significant investment to ensure there are valuable and high-quality post-16 places for every student that wants one, supporting our economy and enabling young people to be able to progress and thrive. However, the lagged funding model for 16 to 19 provision will be kept under review and we will announce the position on in-year growth for the 2025/26 academic year in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in funding for 16 to 19 education in 2026-27 on the financial sustainability of further education colleges.

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

In recent years, the number of students in 16 to 19 education and the funding to support them have risen rapidly. In the 2026/27 academic year, the government will provide nearly £9 billion in 16 to 19 funding. We have made significant increases to the average funding per student since the 2024/25 academic year, an expected per student increase of 10.5%. We expect that the average per student funding in 2026/27 will stand at £6,874, compared to £6,219 in the 2024/25 academic year.

The expected funding per student in 2026/27 will be an increase of 1.66% compared with the 2025/26 academic year, meeting the White Paper commitment by reflecting forecast inflation at the time the Spending Review was settled and the White Paper published. This increase does not include the new Inclusive Mainstream Fund which will provide £83 million per year in additional funding for mainstream settings delivering 16 to 19 provision over the next three years, to boost capacity in mainstream settings to meet a greater proportion of special educational needs and disabilities needs.

These increases in funding contribute to the financial sustainability of further education colleges. We will continue to fund the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds, providing significant investment to ensure there are valuable and high-quality post-16 places for every student that wants one, supporting our economy and enabling young people to be able to progress and thrive. However, the lagged funding model for 16 to 19 provision will be kept under review and we will announce the position on in-year growth for the 2025/26 academic year in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review the lagged funding model for 16–19 provision, in the context of trends in the level of demographic growth and the inability of further education colleges to receive full in‑year funding for additional learners.

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

In recent years, the number of students in 16 to 19 education and the funding to support them have risen rapidly. In the 2026/27 academic year, the government will provide nearly £9 billion in 16 to 19 funding. We have made significant increases to the average funding per student since the 2024/25 academic year, an expected per student increase of 10.5%. We expect that the average per student funding in 2026/27 will stand at £6,874, compared to £6,219 in the 2024/25 academic year.

The expected funding per student in 2026/27 will be an increase of 1.66% compared with the 2025/26 academic year, meeting the White Paper commitment by reflecting forecast inflation at the time the Spending Review was settled and the White Paper published. This increase does not include the new Inclusive Mainstream Fund which will provide £83 million per year in additional funding for mainstream settings delivering 16 to 19 provision over the next three years, to boost capacity in mainstream settings to meet a greater proportion of special educational needs and disabilities needs.

These increases in funding contribute to the financial sustainability of further education colleges. We will continue to fund the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds, providing significant investment to ensure there are valuable and high-quality post-16 places for every student that wants one, supporting our economy and enabling young people to be able to progress and thrive. However, the lagged funding model for 16 to 19 provision will be kept under review and we will announce the position on in-year growth for the 2025/26 academic year in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the pay gap between further education teachers and school teachers, and the potential impact of this gap on the level of recruitment and retention in technical subjects.

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

The statutory requirements for maintained schoolteachers' pay are set nationally subject to recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body. In 2023/24, the median full-time equivalent (FTE) salary for teachers in secondary schools was £47,666.

Further education (FE) colleges have statutory autonomy over the pay of their staff. There is value in colleges having the freedom to meet local technical skills needs within their own local circumstances, and the government does not set college teacher pay. In 2023/24, the median FTE average salary for teachers on permanent or fixed term contracts in FE colleges was £36,316 and £47,133 in sixth form colleges.

FE teachers are central to delivering high-quality technical education. Last year, we announced an additional £190 million broadly equivalent to the pay award in schools for colleges and other 16-19 providers to help them address the recruitment and retention of specialist FE teachers. Our targeted retention incentive offer is designed to retain eligible FE teachers in technical subjects with payments of up to £6,000 after tax. In its first year, nearly 6,000 teachers received a payment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the deliverability of the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project within the proposed timescale.

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

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) brings together the three water regulators Ofwat, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID provides a robust process to scrutinise strategic water resource options and ensure they are appropriate and deliverable. This includes the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, which passed RAPID’s Gate 3 assessment in February 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the risk of pollution to the Havant Thicket Reservoir arising from treatment failures, and what steps he is taking to ensure that such risks are fully mitigated.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) is currently in pre‑application permit discussions with Southern Water and has advised on the evidence and data needed to support a full permit application to discharge recycled water from the advanced water treatment plant to Havant Thicket Reservoir.

As part of the permitting process, the EA will assess risks to water quality from the proposed discharge and will regulate Southern Water to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for its designation as a best‑value solution of the increasing cost estimates for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project.

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

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the environmental risks associated with constructing the proposed effluent recycling plant on a contaminated landfill site adjacent to Langstone Harbour SSSI.

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

The Environment Agency has, through its role in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure planning process, assessed potential risks of constructing the proposed water recycling plant on a former landfill.

The Environment Agency considers these risks to be manageable with appropriate design and mitigation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of Southern Water’s progress against RAPID requirements at Gates 2 and 3, and what steps she is taking in response to repeated findings of outstanding actions and insufficient evidence.

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

The Hampshire Water Transfer Water Recycling project has successfully passed RAPID gate two and gate three.

Through the RAPID assessment process, RAPID and its partner regulators can set priority actions and recommendations in areas where they determine more work is needed. All priority actions and recommendations set at both gates have been completed. Any outstanding actions will be addressed through the Gate 4 assessment process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Southern Water’s appraisal of alternative water resource options in its draft Water Resources Management Plan 2024, following the plan’s rejection by regulators in 2023.

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

Defra is currently reviewing advice provided by regulators in respect to Southern Water’s Water Resources Management Plan and the strategic water resource options included within it. Defra will make a decision on the next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with UK Sport and the British Olympic Association on the process for reviewing medal allocations in cases where athletes were retrospectively found to be ineligible under World Athletics regulations.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made representations to World Athletics on the (a) case of Lynsey Sharp and (b) potential impact of differences in eligibility rules between the 2016 Olympic Games and current regulations on athletes.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with the International Olympic Committee on the potential merits of providing retrospective recognition or medal reallocation in cases where athletes competed against people who would not meet eligibility criteria under current rules.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help support athletes who may have been denied medal opportunities due to competitors later deemed ineligible under updated World Athletics rules.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Any such representations on this topic would be for the relevant governing body to make, as the domestic member of the international federation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Planning Inspectorate has full access to environmental, technical and financial risk assessments before considering the Development Consent Order for the Havant Thicket scheme.

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

The Development Consent Order application for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, linked to Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme in construction, will provide interested parties a further opportunity to make representations to a Planning Inspector on this scheme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the trends in the level of older people being required to move from established care home placements to alternative homes solely on cost grounds once they become local‑authority funded.

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

The Department does not hold this information.

Where an individual is assessed as requiring support in a residential care home, and they are eligible for means tested support from their local authority, the local authority must ensure that the individual drawing on care is offered a genuine choice of accommodation. This must include at least one option which is affordable within the person’s personal budget.

Where an individual wishes to remain in their current accommodation, and this accommodation is more expensive than their personal budget, the local authority is under a duty to arrange for the person to be placed in the preferred accommodation where it is satisfied that another person on their behalf, or in some limited circumstances the person receiving care, is willing and able to cover the difference in cost for the expected duration of the care arrangement, and other conditions set out in regulations are met.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on balancing financial considerations against residents’ emotional, psychological and relational wellbeing when reviewing existing care home placements.

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

The relevant guidance issued by the Department is the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, issued under the Care Act 2014. This makes clear that local authorities must take into account a person’s circumstances and preferences when arranging care, including when reviewing existing care home placements. They must promote the wellbeing of those drawing on care, beginning with an assumption that the individual drawing on care is best placed to judge what they require for their own wellbeing. This applies equally to those entering care for the first time and to those who have been self-funders but, because of diminishing resources, are on the verge of needing local authority support.

Where an individual is assessed as requiring support in a residential care home and they are eligible for means tested support from their local authority, the local authority must ensure that the individual drawing on care is offered a genuine choice of accommodation. This must include at least one option which is affordable within the person’s personal budget, and should include more than one option. If suitable accommodation is not available at the amount identified in a personal budget, the local authority must arrange care in a more expensive setting and adjust the budget accordingly to ensure that needs are met.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. The assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating the sharing of good practice and helping us to target support where it is most needed. The CQC is under a duty to inform my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if they consider an authority is failing to discharge its functions. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene where he is satisfied that authorities have failed or are failing to discharge Care Act functions to an acceptable standard. Reports are made available on the CQC’s website at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities comply with their statutory duties under section 1 of the Care Act 2014 to promote individual wellbeing when making decisions about residential care placements.

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

The relevant guidance issued by the Department is the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, issued under the Care Act 2014. This makes clear that local authorities must take into account a person’s circumstances and preferences when arranging care, including when reviewing existing care home placements. They must promote the wellbeing of those drawing on care, beginning with an assumption that the individual drawing on care is best placed to judge what they require for their own wellbeing. This applies equally to those entering care for the first time and to those who have been self-funders but, because of diminishing resources, are on the verge of needing local authority support.

Where an individual is assessed as requiring support in a residential care home and they are eligible for means tested support from their local authority, the local authority must ensure that the individual drawing on care is offered a genuine choice of accommodation. This must include at least one option which is affordable within the person’s personal budget, and should include more than one option. If suitable accommodation is not available at the amount identified in a personal budget, the local authority must arrange care in a more expensive setting and adjust the budget accordingly to ensure that needs are met.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. The assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating the sharing of good practice and helping us to target support where it is most needed. The CQC is under a duty to inform my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if they consider an authority is failing to discharge its functions. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene where he is satisfied that authorities have failed or are failing to discharge Care Act functions to an acceptable standard. Reports are made available on the CQC’s website at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department monitors whether local authorities are meeting their duty to respect a person’s preferred accommodation where it meets assessed needs, as set out in the statutory guidance under the Care Act 2014.

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

The relevant guidance issued by the Department is the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, issued under the Care Act 2014. This makes clear that local authorities must take into account a person’s circumstances and preferences when arranging care, including when reviewing existing care home placements. They must promote the wellbeing of those drawing on care, beginning with an assumption that the individual drawing on care is best placed to judge what they require for their own wellbeing. This applies equally to those entering care for the first time and to those who have been self-funders but, because of diminishing resources, are on the verge of needing local authority support.

Where an individual is assessed as requiring support in a residential care home and they are eligible for means tested support from their local authority, the local authority must ensure that the individual drawing on care is offered a genuine choice of accommodation. This must include at least one option which is affordable within the person’s personal budget, and should include more than one option. If suitable accommodation is not available at the amount identified in a personal budget, the local authority must arrange care in a more expensive setting and adjust the budget accordingly to ensure that needs are met.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. The assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating the sharing of good practice and helping us to target support where it is most needed. The CQC is under a duty to inform my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if they consider an authority is failing to discharge its functions. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene where he is satisfied that authorities have failed or are failing to discharge Care Act functions to an acceptable standard. Reports are made available on the CQC’s website at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has assessed the extent to which residents and families are presented with a genuine choice when a care home placement becomes local‑authority funded, as opposed to being offered relocation as the only viable option.

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

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In doing so, they should use local population and market data to inform commissioning decisions, involve people and providers in the commissioning process, and encourage a wide range of service provision to ensure that people have a choice of appropriate and high-quality care services in their local area.

Local authorities also have a duty to provide continuity of care to minimise disruption and to ensure that people continue to receive the care and support they need and do not suffer a gap in their care service when care arrangements change.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including those related to commissioning. The CQC is under a duty to inform my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if they consider an authority is failing to discharge its functions. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene where he is satisfied that authorities have failed or are failing to discharge Care Act functions to an acceptable standard. All reports are made available on CQC’s website and can be found at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports

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 removing long‑term residents from care homes once they become local‑authority funded on provider financial sustainability and the stability of the residential care market.

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

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In doing so, they should use local population and market data to inform commissioning decisions, involve people and providers in the commissioning process, and encourage a wide range of service provision to ensure that people have a choice of appropriate and high-quality care services in their local area.

Local authorities also have a duty to provide continuity of care to minimise disruption and to ensure that people continue to receive the care and support they need and do not suffer a gap in their care service when care arrangements change.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including those related to commissioning. The CQC is under a duty to inform my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if they consider an authority is failing to discharge its functions. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene where he is satisfied that authorities have failed or are failing to discharge Care Act functions to an acceptable standard. All reports are made available on CQC’s website and can be found at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports

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 involuntary care home moves on older people living with dementia; and what safeguards are in place to prevent inappropriate relocation of such residents.

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

The Department has no current plans to reform the residential care funding framework. The responsibility for meeting eligible needs rests with local authorities under the Care Act 2014. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.

In terms of an assessment of the impact of involuntary care home moves on older people with dementia, the Care Act places a duty on local authorities to promote wellbeing when arranging social care for an individual, and this provides individuals and their carers with more control over the way in which care and support is provided.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. If the CQC identifies that a local authority has failed or is failing to discharge its duties under the Care Act to an acceptable standard, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene.

The Independent Commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, is looking at the medium and long-term reforms needed in adult social care to deliver a fair and affordable system that is fit for the future, including looking at what long-term and sustainable funding solutions should look like.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is considering reform of the residential care funding framework to prevent older people being displaced from long‑standing care home placements for purely financial reasons.

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

The Department has no current plans to reform the residential care funding framework. The responsibility for meeting eligible needs rests with local authorities under the Care Act 2014. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.

In terms of an assessment of the impact of involuntary care home moves on older people with dementia, the Care Act places a duty on local authorities to promote wellbeing when arranging social care for an individual, and this provides individuals and their carers with more control over the way in which care and support is provided.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. If the CQC identifies that a local authority has failed or is failing to discharge its duties under the Care Act to an acceptable standard, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene.

The Independent Commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, is looking at the medium and long-term reforms needed in adult social care to deliver a fair and affordable system that is fit for the future, including looking at what long-term and sustainable funding solutions should look like.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children awaiting ADHD or autism assessments in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight receive timely support before assessments resume in 2027.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities focus will improve early intervention and support.

The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) understands that waiting for an assessment can be difficult for individuals and families, and is committed to improving access to meaningful support while people wait.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight launched a redesigned clinically optimal diagnostic model on 31 March 2026. As part of their wider transformation programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ICB is introducing new services designed to offer earlier help, even when a formal diagnosis has not yet been made.

From 1 April 2026, every area in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have a place-based Children’s Neurodiversity Team. These teams will:

• bring together professionals across education and healthcare;
• offer practical advice, support, and guidance for families; and
• support children based on their needs, without requiring a diagnosis.

While patients are waiting for a Right to Choose ADHD or Autism assessment there are a range of services to access for support, which are available at the following link:

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/application/files/4917/7495/4596/HSIOW_ICB_-_Right_to_choose_Supporting_you_while_you_wait_for_your_assessment_.pdf

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 reasons for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board’s decision to pause routine ADHD and autism assessments until April 2027.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities focus will improve early intervention and support.

The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) understands that waiting for an assessment can be difficult for individuals and families, and is committed to improving access to meaningful support while people wait.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight launched a redesigned clinically optimal diagnostic model on 31 March 2026. As part of their wider transformation programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ICB is introducing new services designed to offer earlier help, even when a formal diagnosis has not yet been made.

From 1 April 2026, every area in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have a place-based Children’s Neurodiversity Team. These teams will:

• bring together professionals across education and healthcare;
• offer practical advice, support, and guidance for families; and
• support children based on their needs, without requiring a diagnosis.

While patients are waiting for a Right to Choose ADHD or Autism assessment there are a range of services to access for support, which are available at the following link:

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/application/files/4917/7495/4596/HSIOW_ICB_-_Right_to_choose_Supporting_you_while_you_wait_for_your_assessment_.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding or resources to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to enable the resumption of ADHD and autism assessments before April 2027.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities focus will improve early intervention and support.

The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) understands that waiting for an assessment can be difficult for individuals and families, and is committed to improving access to meaningful support while people wait.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight launched a redesigned clinically optimal diagnostic model on 31 March 2026. As part of their wider transformation programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ICB is introducing new services designed to offer earlier help, even when a formal diagnosis has not yet been made.

From 1 April 2026, every area in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have a place-based Children’s Neurodiversity Team. These teams will:

• bring together professionals across education and healthcare;
• offer practical advice, support, and guidance for families; and
• support children based on their needs, without requiring a diagnosis.

While patients are waiting for a Right to Choose ADHD or Autism assessment there are a range of services to access for support, which are available at the following link:

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/application/files/4917/7495/4596/HSIOW_ICB_-_Right_to_choose_Supporting_you_while_you_wait_for_your_assessment_.pdf

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 long‑term educational and developmental impact on children whose ADHD assessments have been delayed until 2027.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities focus will improve early intervention and support.

The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) understands that waiting for an assessment can be difficult for individuals and families, and is committed to improving access to meaningful support while people wait.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight launched a redesigned clinically optimal diagnostic model on 31 March 2026. As part of their wider transformation programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ICB is introducing new services designed to offer earlier help, even when a formal diagnosis has not yet been made.

From 1 April 2026, every area in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have a place-based Children’s Neurodiversity Team. These teams will:

• bring together professionals across education and healthcare;
• offer practical advice, support, and guidance for families; and
• support children based on their needs, without requiring a diagnosis.

While patients are waiting for a Right to Choose ADHD or Autism assessment there are a range of services to access for support, which are available at the following link:

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/application/files/4917/7495/4596/HSIOW_ICB_-_Right_to_choose_Supporting_you_while_you_wait_for_your_assessment_.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are currently on waiting lists for ADHD or autism assessments, and what the average waiting time is.

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

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities focus will improve early intervention and support.

The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) understands that waiting for an assessment can be difficult for individuals and families, and is committed to improving access to meaningful support while people wait.

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight launched a redesigned clinically optimal diagnostic model on 31 March 2026. As part of their wider transformation programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ICB is introducing new services designed to offer earlier help, even when a formal diagnosis has not yet been made.

From 1 April 2026, every area in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have a place-based Children’s Neurodiversity Team. These teams will:

• bring together professionals across education and healthcare;
• offer practical advice, support, and guidance for families; and
• support children based on their needs, without requiring a diagnosis.

While patients are waiting for a Right to Choose ADHD or Autism assessment there are a range of services to access for support, which are available at the following link:

https://www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk/application/files/4917/7495/4596/HSIOW_ICB_-_Right_to_choose_Supporting_you_while_you_wait_for_your_assessment_.pdf

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of low consumer confidence in the quality of tap water on public behaviour, including increased bottled water use.

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

The quality of public drinking water in England is exceptionally high and among the best in the world with compliance rates of 99.97% over the last few years. According to the 2025 British Soft Drinks Association annual report, market data shows only a 3% year-on-year growth in volume of bottled waters sold for 2023-2024, as the most recent available data. This Government has also acted decisively on behalf of consumers, introducing a power in The Water (Special Measures) Act to enable the Consumer Council for Water, as the independent statutory consumer advocate for the water sector in England and Wales, to stand up Consumer Panels in every water company. These panels will help to rebuild trust in the water sector and support increased consumer confidence by creating a forum for further embedding customer views in the decision-making process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the level of customer engagement undertaken by Southern Water and Portsmouth Water on the acceptability of effluent recycling, and whether she plans to require earlier and more robust consultation.

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

Southern Water is due to submit its Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate for its scrutiny in May 2026. There will be further opportunity for representations to be made through any subsequent Examination in Public.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the regulatory framework governing effluent recycling to ensure independent scrutiny and auditing of any future plant, in line with international practice.

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

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) brings together the three water regulators Ofwat, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID is enabling the right regulatory frameworks and provides a robust process to scrutinise strategic water resource options to ensure they are appropriate and deliverable.

For any water recycling proposal to proceed, water companies will need to show how they will meet planning and permitting requirements. This includes protection for the environment and public health.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to Integrated Care Boards on maximum acceptable waiting times for ADHD and autism assessments for children.

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

The waiting time standard recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is for a maximum waiting time of 13 weeks between a referral for an autism assessment and a first appointment. NICE guidelines on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not recommend a maximum waiting time standard from referral for an assessment of ADHD to assessment.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and ADHD has grown significantly in recent years and that people, including children, are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, and reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) focus will improve early intervention and support.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including provision of autism and ADHD services, in line with relevant NICE guidelines.

Through the NHS Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October 2025, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for autism and ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity. The framework was explicit that ICBs and providers are expected to optimise existing resources to reduce long waits for ADHD and autism assessments and improve the quality of assessments by implementing existing and new guidance, as published.

In December 2025, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, launched the independent review into the Prevalence and Support for mental health conditions, ADHD, and autism. The review is chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy, with Vice Chairs Professor Sir Simon Wessely and Professor Gillian Baird.

The review’s interim report, published at the end of March, sets out the evidence reviewed so far on prevalence, describes the impact of rising demand for diagnosis and support, identifies where the evidence is uncertain, and outlines the key questions for the next phase. It does not offer final conclusions or recommendations.

The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to require Integrated Care Boards to provide regular public updates on the status of paused Right to Choose pathways.

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

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations, including making decisions about how best to manage demand and capacity within available resources. Where an ICB has taken a decision to pause or manage activity within a Right to Choose pathway, it is for that ICB to determine and apply any local prioritisation criteria, taking account of clinical need and patient safety. It is the responsibility of the local system to decide whether to publish criteria, and to ensure that patients, families, and the public are communicated with clearly and provided with appropriate information.

NHS England provides guidance and oversight to ICBs to support them in meeting their statutory duties, including in relation to patient choice. The Government is committed to patients having the right to choose their provider when referred to consultant-led treatment, or to a mental health professional, for their first appointment as an outpatient. Patients’ right to choose is set out in legislation and no changes are being made to this legal right. Further information on the choices available for patients can be found on the NHS Choice framework, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-choice-framework

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on the communication of the pause of Right to Choose pathways to families, including the timing and level of notice.

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

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations, including making decisions about how best to manage demand and capacity within available resources. Where an ICB has taken a decision to pause or manage activity within a Right to Choose pathway, it is for that ICB to determine and apply any local prioritisation criteria, taking account of clinical need and patient safety. It is the responsibility of the local system to decide whether to publish criteria, and to ensure that patients, families, and the public are communicated with clearly and provided with appropriate information.

NHS England provides guidance and oversight to ICBs to support them in meeting their statutory duties, including in relation to patient choice. The Government is committed to patients having the right to choose their provider when referred to consultant-led treatment, or to a mental health professional, for their first appointment as an outpatient. Patients’ right to choose is set out in legislation and no changes are being made to this legal right. Further information on the choices available for patients can be found on the NHS Choice framework, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-choice-framework

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to publish the criteria used by Integrated Care Boards to prioritise cases during the pause of Right to Choose pathways.

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

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations, including making decisions about how best to manage demand and capacity within available resources. Where an ICB has taken a decision to pause or manage activity within a Right to Choose pathway, it is for that ICB to determine and apply any local prioritisation criteria, taking account of clinical need and patient safety. It is the responsibility of the local system to decide whether to publish criteria, and to ensure that patients, families, and the public are communicated with clearly and provided with appropriate information.

NHS England provides guidance and oversight to ICBs to support them in meeting their statutory duties, including in relation to patient choice. The Government is committed to patients having the right to choose their provider when referred to consultant-led treatment, or to a mental health professional, for their first appointment as an outpatient. Patients’ right to choose is set out in legislation and no changes are being made to this legal right. Further information on the choices available for patients can be found on the NHS Choice framework, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-choice-framework

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