Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking with international partners to promote freedom of religion or belief in Iran, particularly for members of the Bahá’í community.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government's position on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Iran, and the persecution of the Baha'i community, remains as set out in the answer of 19 May to Question 611, and it continues to be unacceptable for the Iranian authorities to target religious minority groups because of their faith.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of recent reports of escalating persecution of the Bahá’í community in Iran.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government's position on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Iran, and the persecution of the Baha'i community, remains as set out in the answer of 19 May to Question 611, and it continues to be unacceptable for the Iranian authorities to target religious minority groups because of their faith.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether proposed SEND reforms will provide funding for the SEND workforce including teaching assistants and specialist professionals.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and Integrated Care Boards, to develop a new Experts at Hand offer. This offer is designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings by providing access to support from health and specialist education practitioners, including speech and language therapists and support workers or assistants, occupational therapists and support workers or assistants, educational psychologists and trainees, and specialist teachers, both local authority-based and those based in specialist or alternative provision settings.

To support delivery, over £40 million is being invested in the specialist workforce, including £26 million to train more educational psychologists and £15 million to support more speech and language therapists to work with education settings. In addition, we are investing over £200 million during the course of this Parliament ensuring all staff in every school, college and nursery are trained to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

We are further investing £1.6 billion in an Inclusive Mainstream Fund to support the development of a more inclusive education system. Funding will be provided to early years, schools and colleges to boost their existing core funding for SEND, with over £500 million per year over the next three years to help schools strengthen their inclusive offer. This represents the beginning of a deliberate tilt in funding towards mainstream inclusion, enabling settings to invest in their workforce alongside their core funding.

This funding will support schools to invest in the SEND workforce, alongside their existing core funding for SEND, which will help equip schools to invest in high quality, adaptive teaching, inclusive pedagogy and decision-making, and in creating safe, calm and accessible learning environments.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has called for an independent investigation into the treatment of individuals detained following the interception of the Gaza Sumud Flotilla.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 21 May, and to the answer provided on 1 June in response to Question 2817.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compatibility with international law of the interception of civilian humanitarian vessels in international waters.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 21 May, and to the answer provided on 1 June in response to Question 2817.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consular assistance was provided to British nationals detained following the interception of the Gaza Sumud Flotilla.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 21 May, and to the answer provided on 1 June in response to Question 2817.

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 whether current strategic prioritisation for ME research is proportionate to the disease burden.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Department has not made a specific assessment of whether the strategic prioritisation for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is proportionate to the disease burden. However, we recognise that this has been an under researched area and the Government is committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of ME/CFS.

The Government funds research into ME/CFS through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation. The NIHR and the MRC are working together to deliver the actions on research in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan. Two projects have recently received funding to investigate the feasibility of a new clinical trial that tests multiple interventions for the treatment of post-acute infection syndromes, including Long Covid and ME/CFS. In addition, £4.75 million of Government funding has been provided to SequenceME, which will create the first high-resolution genetic map of the condition, paving the way to future diagnostics and treatments.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the cuts to funding for PE and sports in schools on children's health and activity levels.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

We are investing over £1 billion for PE and school sport over three years. This includes £580 million for a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network alongside investment in facilities which schools have been calling for and transitional support for primary schools.

Despite over a decade of PE and sport premium funding, less than half of children meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of 60 active minutes a day, with persistent inequalities among groups including girls and those from disadvantaged and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The Network will combine both a universal offer to all primary and secondary schools, plus targeted direct support for those schools and pupils who will benefit from it the most. This includes coaching, swimming provision and support to open facilities, as well as stronger links to extra‑curricular sport and local clubs. Schools will also receive funding to test and share effective practice, alongside more accessible programmes from National Governing Bodies and clearer pathways into community sport. Support will align more closely with wider programmes and include competitive sport opportunities and inclusive events for less‑active pupils. Provision will be informed by baseline and ongoing needs assessments led by a national delivery partner.

A National Delivery Partner will be appointed through a fair, open process, with detailed design confirmed through the procurement, but the approach will focus on supporting those most in need.

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 impact of Advice and Guidance pathways on access to specialist care for women experiencing menopause-related health conditions.

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

No specific formal assessment has been made. Advice and Guidance is designed to support quicker, clearer clinical decision making, by enabling general practitioners (GPs) and specialists to discuss and agree the most appropriate next steps for a patient, including those with menopause related conditions.

Where the outcome of advice is for care management in the community, we expect patients to be seen more quickly, closer to home, benefiting from earlier specialist input. In these cases, the GP may still subsequently refer their patient at any point if they have concerns.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how SEND reforms will balance wellbeing and emotional safety with attendance and academic attainment.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government’s Schools White Paper set out our vision for children to achieve and thrive. It makes clear that our ambition for children to achieve academically goes hand in hand with our work on inclusion, belonging, attendance and engagement.

The department is introducing a new universal offer that is inclusive by design to allow pupils to achieve and thrive throughout education in mainstream settings. To support the new universal offer, we will develop new evidence-based teaching resources to support effective curriculum adaptation for children and young people.

We have committed to publish a new Pupil Engagement Framework to enable all schools to measure the key factors that determine their children’s engagement in education, including their sense of belonging, and make improvements.

We are also rolling out specialist mental health professionals in every school and college by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). As of March 2026, 60% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England are covered by an MHST, up from 52% in March 2025. By March 2027, we estimate 66% of pupils and learners will be covered.

Our statutory guidance, ‘Working together to improve school attendance’, is clear that schools should take a support first approach identifying barriers to attendance, including any special educational needs and disabilities needs, and working with families and other local services to get support in place which enables children to be in school.

Our recent consultation on key stage 4 performance measures included proposals for a possible new progress measure to recognise the progress of children who start secondary school significantly behind their peers. We are analysing responses from the consultation currently and will publish our response in summer 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for each of the last seven years, how many SEND7 request for change applications have been submitted to the SEND tribunal; how many of these applications have resulted in a new, sooner appeal date; and what was the average reduction in the waiting time for an appeal to be heard where a SEND7 request was successful.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing, and between appeal lodgement and final disposal, for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals is not routinely recorded by the Tribunal. Consequently, the average waiting time for a SEND appeal to be heard from receipt of the appeal, including a yearly breakdown for the period 2019 to 2025, could only be obtained through the manual review of individual case records. This information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

HMCTS does not routinely record the number of requests made under Rule 7 of the Tribunal’s procedure rules. This information is therefore not held.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the average wait for a SEND tribunal appeal to be heard from receipt of the appeal and what was the average wait for a SEND tribunal appeal in each year from 2019-2025.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first hearing, and between appeal lodgement and final disposal, for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) appeals is not routinely recorded by the Tribunal. Consequently, the average waiting time for a SEND appeal to be heard from receipt of the appeal, including a yearly breakdown for the period 2019 to 2025, could only be obtained through the manual review of individual case records. This information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

HMCTS does not routinely record the number of requests made under Rule 7 of the Tribunal’s procedure rules. This information is therefore not held.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether they will commit to publishing a clear timetable for the establishment of a compensation scheme for those harmed by pelvic surgical mesh, in line with the recommendations of the Hughes Report.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

Departmental officials are working in coordination with colleagues across the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the devolved administrations to establish the full scope of those affected by pelvic mesh, to assess the financial impact on individuals, and to develop our response to the PSC's report.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications resulting from mesh operations get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need.

However, services can always improve. NHS England has now completed their internal audit of mesh centres across England conducted in 2025, which was designed in partnership with patient representatives. Though the audit is showing the value and impact of the service delivered by mesh centres, with nearly 3,000 patients now seen in the services since their introduction, equating to 700 per year, there are distinct areas for improvement and a timeline for these improvements will be made at pace.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether interim financial or medical support is available to patients experiencing ongoing complications from pelvic mesh while a compensation scheme is under consideration.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

Departmental officials are working in coordination with colleagues across the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the devolved administrations to establish the full scope of those affected by pelvic mesh, to assess the financial impact on individuals, and to develop our response to the PSC's report.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications resulting from mesh operations get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need.

However, services can always improve. NHS England has now completed their internal audit of mesh centres across England conducted in 2025, which was designed in partnership with patient representatives. Though the audit is showing the value and impact of the service delivered by mesh centres, with nearly 3,000 patients now seen in the services since their introduction, equating to 700 per year, there are distinct areas for improvement and a timeline for these improvements will be made at pace.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Department has made towards establishing a redress scheme for patients harmed by pelvic mesh implants since the publication of the Hughes Report.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

Departmental officials are working in coordination with colleagues across the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the devolved administrations to establish the full scope of those affected by pelvic mesh, to assess the financial impact on individuals, and to develop our response to the PSC's report.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications resulting from mesh operations get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need.

However, services can always improve. NHS England has now completed their internal audit of mesh centres across England conducted in 2025, which was designed in partnership with patient representatives. Though the audit is showing the value and impact of the service delivered by mesh centres, with nearly 3,000 patients now seen in the services since their introduction, equating to 700 per year, there are distinct areas for improvement and a timeline for these improvements will be made at pace.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether they have assessed the financial impact on individuals unable to work due to complications arising from pelvic mesh implants.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

Departmental officials are working in coordination with colleagues across the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the devolved administrations to establish the full scope of those affected by pelvic mesh, to assess the financial impact on individuals, and to develop our response to the PSC's report.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications resulting from mesh operations get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need.

However, services can always improve. NHS England has now completed their internal audit of mesh centres across England conducted in 2025, which was designed in partnership with patient representatives. Though the audit is showing the value and impact of the service delivered by mesh centres, with nearly 3,000 patients now seen in the services since their introduction, equating to 700 per year, there are distinct areas for improvement and a timeline for these improvements will be made at pace.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate has been made of the number of patients affected by complications arising from pelvic mesh implants in England.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

Departmental officials are working in coordination with colleagues across the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the devolved administrations to establish the full scope of those affected by pelvic mesh, to assess the financial impact on individuals, and to develop our response to the PSC's report.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications resulting from mesh operations get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need.

However, services can always improve. NHS England has now completed their internal audit of mesh centres across England conducted in 2025, which was designed in partnership with patient representatives. Though the audit is showing the value and impact of the service delivered by mesh centres, with nearly 3,000 patients now seen in the services since their introduction, equating to 700 per year, there are distinct areas for improvement and a timeline for these improvements will be made at pace.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards on ensuring timely access to specialist care and treatment for women experiencing complications associated with hormone replacement therapy.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline on the identification and management of menopause includes guidance for healthcare professionals on the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The guideline includes guidance on reviews for women receiving treatment for menopause and recommends that women should be referred to a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause if treatments do not improve their menopause-associated symptoms or they have ongoing side effects.

These NICE guidelines represent best practice and support clinicians in the assessment, management, and treatment of menopause symptoms and associated complications. Healthcare professionals are expected to take these guidelines fully into account in their prescribing decisions. The guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23

HRT is the main treatment for menopause symptoms, and NICE recommends that for most women it is safe and effective. It is important, however, that women are provided with accurate information and are able to make informed choices about their care, including HRT and that healthcare practitioners take a personalised approach when discussing treatments, using evidence-based information tailored to individuals’ circumstances.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of water companies’ environmental and service performance on water bills.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat’s outcome delivery incentives (ODIs) ensure that, where performance commitments are not met, companies must reimburse customers through lower water bills (known as ‘underperformance payments’) in the next financial year. As a result, for the draft determination of ODI payments for 2024-25, Ofwat has instructed companies to return over £260m to customers. This will be returned through bill adjustments.

Government is also taking forward a programme of reform to ensure that the water system better delivers outcomes for customers in a way that is efficient, fair and affordable.

We are working with industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. This includes strengthening support for vulnerable households through reforms to WaterSure, the statutory affordability scheme for low‑income households with high essential water use. We also expect water companies to ensure customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them as needed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel's report entitled The essence of childhood has been destroyed: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023, published on 18 June 2026, what representations she has made to her Israeli counterparts on the report's conclusion that Israeli authorities had a deliberate strategy to destroy the future of the Palestinians in Gaza by targeting their children.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13226.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recent report by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, published in June 2026.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13226.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel's report entitled The essence of childhood has been destroyed: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023, published on 18 June 2026, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the allegations of war crimes.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13226.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many empty properties have seen a increase in Council Tax of (a) 200%, (b) 300%, and (c) 400% since the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 came into force, broken down by (i) sheltered accommodation and (ii) older person accommodation where there is an age limit for living in the accommodation.

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

Local authorities are responsible for the administration of council tax in accordance with relevant legislation and have discretion to decide whether to apply council tax premiums. The charging of premiums on particular types of accommodation is a local matter.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to support the ceasefire in the Gaza war.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 9 June, and her answers on this topic in the last session of departmental oral questions on 16 June.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the annual cost of allowing all surviving spouses, civil partners and partners receiving benefits under the Police Pension Scheme 1987 to retain those benefits following remarriage or cohabitation.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The most recent actuarial valuation of the police pension schemes in England and Wales as at 31 March 2020, shows that there are approximately 27,000 dependants in receipt of a pension. This figure includes dependants other than surviving partners and is for all schemes, not just the 1987 scheme.

The Government Actuary’s Department has estimated that removing the provision on ceasing pensions for current or future spouses, civil partners and partners who remarry or cohabit could increase overall scheme liabilities by around £190 million and reinstating previously ceased pensions by a further £70 million, using the data as at 31 March 2020.

It is not possible to estimate accurately the number who will lose their pension if they remarry or cohabit. However, cost assumptions have been made by the Government Actuary’s Department based on historic data of survivor pension cessations as a result of remarriage or cohabitation showing an average of 25 remarriages a year from 2008 – 2020. The breakdown of data is not held by the Home Office.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of surviving spouses, civil partners and partners who may be affected by the remarriage and cohabitation provisions of the Police Pension Scheme 1987.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The most recent actuarial valuation of the police pension schemes in England and Wales as at 31 March 2020, shows that there are approximately 27,000 dependants in receipt of a pension. This figure includes dependants other than surviving partners and is for all schemes, not just the 1987 scheme.

The Government Actuary’s Department has estimated that removing the provision on ceasing pensions for current or future spouses, civil partners and partners who remarry or cohabit could increase overall scheme liabilities by around £190 million and reinstating previously ceased pensions by a further £70 million, using the data as at 31 March 2020.

It is not possible to estimate accurately the number who will lose their pension if they remarry or cohabit. However, cost assumptions have been made by the Government Actuary’s Department based on historic data of survivor pension cessations as a result of remarriage or cohabitation showing an average of 25 remarriages a year from 2008 – 2020. The breakdown of data is not held by the Home Office.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many survivor pensions under the Police Pension Scheme 1987 have ceased as a result of remarriage or cohabitation in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The most recent actuarial valuation of the police pension schemes in England and Wales as at 31 March 2020, shows that there are approximately 27,000 dependants in receipt of a pension. This figure includes dependants other than surviving partners and is for all schemes, not just the 1987 scheme.

The Government Actuary’s Department has estimated that removing the provision on ceasing pensions for current or future spouses, civil partners and partners who remarry or cohabit could increase overall scheme liabilities by around £190 million and reinstating previously ceased pensions by a further £70 million, using the data as at 31 March 2020.

It is not possible to estimate accurately the number who will lose their pension if they remarry or cohabit. However, cost assumptions have been made by the Government Actuary’s Department based on historic data of survivor pension cessations as a result of remarriage or cohabitation showing an average of 25 remarriages a year from 2008 – 2020. The breakdown of data is not held by the Home Office.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many surviving spouses, civil partners and partners are currently in receipt of a survivor pension under the Police Pension Scheme 1987.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The most recent actuarial valuation of the police pension schemes in England and Wales as at 31 March 2020, shows that there are approximately 27,000 dependants in receipt of a pension. This figure includes dependants other than surviving partners and is for all schemes, not just the 1987 scheme.

The Government Actuary’s Department has estimated that removing the provision on ceasing pensions for current or future spouses, civil partners and partners who remarry or cohabit could increase overall scheme liabilities by around £190 million and reinstating previously ceased pensions by a further £70 million, using the data as at 31 March 2020.

It is not possible to estimate accurately the number who will lose their pension if they remarry or cohabit. However, cost assumptions have been made by the Government Actuary’s Department based on historic data of survivor pension cessations as a result of remarriage or cohabitation showing an average of 25 remarriages a year from 2008 – 2020. The breakdown of data is not held by the Home Office.

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 (a) hospitals, (b) community services and (c) ICBs on the care and management of people with severe and very severe ME/CFS; and what steps his Department is taking to monitor compliance with this guidance.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed guidance on the diagnosis and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which includes care for people with severe or very severe ME/CFS.

NICE guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Although NICE guidelines are not mandatory, healthcare professionals are expected to take them fully into account.

The Department is developing a template service specification for mild, moderate, and severe ME/CFS. The template is being developed in consultation with ME/CFS specialists, clinicians, NHS England, people with lived experience, and charity representatives. The template aims to support service providers and commissioners to provide services that meet the needs of their local population.

NHS England has developed an e-learning programme in line with NICE guidelines. The e-learning is comprised of four modules, including on severe ME/CFS, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of council tax premiums on unsold probate properties, particularly those restricted to age-specific occupancy.

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

When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), a further six months exemption is possible, so long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else. Furthermore, a property will be excepted from council tax premiums for up to 12-months following a grant of probate (or letters of administration).

Following these exemptions and exceptions normal rules on such properties will apply. Local authorities have the power to provide further discretionary discounts or support. It is for individual local authorities to decide whether additional support is appropriate based on local circumstances and government guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the financial impact of long-term empty property premiums on bereaved families managing estates.

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

When a property has been left empty following the death of its owner or occupant, it is exempt from council tax for as long as it remains unoccupied and until probate is granted. Following a grant of probate (or the signing of letters of administration), a further six months exemption is possible, so long as the property remains unoccupied and has not been sold or transferred to someone else. Furthermore, a property will be excepted from council tax premiums for up to 12-months following a grant of probate (or letters of administration).

Following these exemptions and exceptions normal rules on such properties will apply. Local authorities have the power to provide further discretionary discounts or support. It is for individual local authorities to decide whether additional support is appropriate based on local circumstances and government guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce exemptions or discretionary relief for properties that cannot reasonably be let or sold due to planning or occupancy restrictions.

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

The Government recognises that there may be circumstances where it is not appropriate for council tax charges to apply. In relation to council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, the Government has introduced a range of mandatory exceptions, including for certain dwellings being actively marketed for sale or let for up to a year. The government has published guidance setting out when premiums can apply and where dwellings must be excepted, this can be found at gov.uk, here.

Local authorities have considerable discretion under existing legislation to grant council tax discounts and reductions where they consider this appropriate in light of local circumstances.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been issued to local authorities on applying council tax premiums in cases where properties are actively being marketed but remain unsold.

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

The Government recognises that there may be circumstances where it is not appropriate for council tax charges to apply. In relation to council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes, the Government has introduced a range of mandatory exceptions, including for certain dwellings being actively marketed for sale or let for up to a year. The government has published guidance setting out when premiums can apply and where dwellings must be excepted, this can be found at gov.uk, here.

Local authorities have considerable discretion under existing legislation to grant council tax discounts and reductions where they consider this appropriate in light of local circumstances.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how people with lived experience of ME/CFS will be involved in the design and delivery of the awareness campaign.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

Lived experience had an integral role during the development of the final myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) delivery plan. The awareness plan will also require continued support from people with lived experience, and the ME/CFS community, for the distribution and promotion of any materials produced. The campaign will aim to focus on capturing attention and delivering key messages, which will then serve as a gateway to finding more information.

Departmental officials are currently considering how to involve people with lived experience of ME/CFS in the design and delivery of the ME/CFS awareness campaign, in addition to also exploring options for the format of the awareness campaign.

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 whether advice and guidance has reduced referrals to specialist gynaecology services.

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

Between April 2025 and January 2026, there were over 233,000 Advice and Guidance requests for gynaecology. Of these, over 99,000 resulted in patients being supported to get care in the right place without unnecessarily being added to elective gynaecology waiting lists, with patients receiving appropriate care in primary and community settings instead.

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 her Department's policies of the scientific evidence on the welfare impacts of routine tail docking and castration in lambs.

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

The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to the potential merits of requiring the use of effective pain relief when tail docking or castration is carried out on lambs.

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

The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

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 restrict the routine use of tail docking and castration in lambs to exceptional circumstances under veterinary supervision.

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

The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

Chichester Priory Park Cricket Club, 175th anniversary

Hampshire Day 2026

Orkney creel fishery, Community Catch Standard accreditation

Spotlight Dance Academy, Minehead

Local Housing Allowance rates

Military housing

Defence Investment Plan

Retirement of Godfrey Asare and Margaret Labulo from the Members' Tea Room

20th anniversary of Shine Harrogate

Torbay RNLI 160th anniversary

Alex Thaddeus Hairdressing, Cupar

Essential energy guarantee

Closure of High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre

Hedgehog Rescue

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Russian sanctions

NARPO Love or Money Campaign

Palantir and the NHS (No. 2)

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

NHS funding for mental health services

Touring artists mobility arrangements

Adequacy of early years funding in Hampshire

Deaths of humanitarian de-miners from Norwegian People's Aid

Brinkworth Dairy

Protections for UK egg producers

Wokingham's Best Pub Competition

Improving access to elected office for disabled candidates

Found: Chair); James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Sir Christopher Chope; Mary Kelly Foy; John Lamont; Tom Morrison