Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the transition for NHS patients between paediatric and adult care in the NHS.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. This includes ensuring that children receive the appropriate care and support whenever they need it.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out how the Government aims to support children and young people as they navigate the National Health Service, ensuring they feel comfortable and confident in managing their own health and care from 16 years old where appropriate. This includes supporting young people as they move from child to adolescent and adult services, making sure that care is developmentally appropriate throughout.

NHS England has developed guidance for integrated care boards and healthcare providers to aid the design of transition pathways that improve health outcomes for all young people. This guidance will be published in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of extending the statutory override for local authorities until the end of 2027/28 on the financial security of those local authorities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises that local authorities are continuing to face significant pressure from Dedicated Schools Grant deficits on their accounts. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government engages regularly with local authorities and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy on the impact of the Dedicated Schools Grant deficits, and in June 2025, we announced a two-year extension to the Dedicated Schools Grant Statutory Override to support local authorities to manage these impacts. We recognise that the size of deficits that some councils may accrue while the Dedicated Schools Grant Statutory Override is in place may not be manageable with local resources alone. We will provide further detail on our plans to support local authorities with historic and accruing deficits and conditions for accessing such support later in the Local Government Finance Settlement process.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist occupational therapists to support children and young people with SEND in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including occupational therapy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As we look to reform the SEND system, we want to improve how services that support early identification and intervention and whole school inclusive practice are jointly commissioned and made available to schools. The local authorities and the Integrated Care Board as joint commissioners of services will continue to play an important role in this.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that any changes to SEND provision include access to occupational therapy for children and young people with SEND in mainstream schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including occupational therapy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As we look to reform the SEND system, we want to improve how services that support early identification and intervention and whole school inclusive practice are jointly commissioned and made available to schools. The local authorities and the Integrated Care Board as joint commissioners of services will continue to play an important role in this.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide dedicated funding for (a) sensory-friendly adaptations and (b) other environmental adjustments in schools to support the inclusion of children and young people with SEND.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

In December, the department announced at least £3 billion for high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30, to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or who require alternative provision. This funding is intended to create facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs. It can also be used to adapt mainstream schools to be more accessible and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

The department will confirm local authority allocations later in the spring.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that occupational therapists are consulted in the design of (a) new school buildings and (b) new learning environments, funded through school capital investment programmes.

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

Departmental construction programmes build or rebuild schools in line with our design and construction standards. These standards integrate statutory requirements for accessibility and equitable use in all new or rebuilt school settings, including mainstream.

Since our specifications are prepared by industry experts and reference the latest standards and guidance for accessible, equitable and inclusive environments, it is not necessary to engage with occupational therapists.

We use evidence from building-in-use studies to ensure the specifications guiding our designs meet end-user needs and are updated when necessary.

Stakeholder engagement forms an integral part of the delivery process for all projects using the department’s suite of documentation.

The Equality Act 2010 requires local authorities to prepare accessibility strategies for the schools for which they are the responsible bodies. There is a similar duty for individual schools of all types to develop accessibility plans.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January to Question 103107 on Monuments, whether he is taking steps to ensure that scheduled monuments will (a) continue to be protected under planning rules and (b) not be considered as Grey Belt land.

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

Scheduled Monuments continue to be protected as designated heritage assets of the highest significance under both the current National Planning Policy Framework and the draft revised Framework which is currently out for consultation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56135, on Motor Insurance, what recent progress the cross-Government taskforce on motor insurance has made.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The cross-government Motor Insurance Taskforce published its final report in December 2025, setting out actions being taken by government, regulators and industry to help reduce premium costs. Departments and regulators are now taking forward the relevant actions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade of the adequacy of the accessibility of the Government Gateway for small business owners.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Government Gateway is a service managed and operated by HM Revenue and Customs. HMRC keeps the accessibility of the service under ongoing review in line with statutory requirements for public sector digital services.

While no formal joint assessment has been undertaken with the Department for Business and Trade specifically on the accessibility of Government Gateway for small business owners, HMRC routinely engages with user groups, including small businesses, to identify barriers and improve the service experience.

The latest accessibility statement, updated on 8 April 2024, sets out the current level of compliance, known issues, and planned improvements. It is available here:

https://www.access.service.gov.uk/accessibility

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to negotiate the harmonisation of the amount of time that UK nationals can spend in the EU under the 90 in 180 day Schengen rule with the amount of time that EU nationals can spend in the UK with her EU counterparts.

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

HMG officials and Ministers, including myself, regularly engage the EU and EU Member State counterparts on a range of issues affecting UK nationals. The UK and the EU allow for visa-free, short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals.

The UK allows EU citizens visa-free travel for up to six months; the EU allows for visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period which is standard for third nationals travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve treatment for patients with Pectus Excavatum.

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

There are a number of non-surgical management options to support people diagnosed with a pectus deformity, including posture and exercise programmes, bracing, and psychological support.

For surgical treatments, NHS England reviewed the evidence to treat pectus excavatum in patients and issued an interim clinical commissioning urgent policy statement published in April 2023. NHS England concluded that there is enough evidence to make surgical treatment available as a routine commissioning treatment option for patients of all ages with pectus excavatum resulting in very severe physiological symptoms. The criteria for surgery can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PRN00394-interim-clinical-commissioning-urgent-policy-statement-pectus-surgery.pdf

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the risk to non-farmed animals of disease transmission from the nearby presence of a fish farm.

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

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) are responsible for the delivery of aquatic animal health controls in England and Wales. The FHI maintains a comprehensive programme of inspections to assess farmed fish health, designed to prevent the introduction and spread of the most serious listed and emerging diseases, and ensure that all aquaculture production businesses operate under approved biosecurity plans. These plans must take account of the potential for infectious disease transmission to wild aquatic animals and set out measures to minimise that risk.

The recently published Animal Welfare Strategy for England set out that we will commission the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on the welfare of farmed fish prior to slaughter. Amongst other things this project will consider the effects of stocking densities. The Animal Welfare Strategy also commits to introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish into legislation, subject to consultation.

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 will take to improving the health of farmed fish during production; and if she will give consideration to increasing spacing to reduce the risk of disease transmission between fish.

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

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) are responsible for the delivery of aquatic animal health controls in England and Wales. The FHI maintains a comprehensive programme of inspections to assess farmed fish health, designed to prevent the introduction and spread of the most serious listed and emerging diseases, and ensure that all aquaculture production businesses operate under approved biosecurity plans. These plans must take account of the potential for infectious disease transmission to wild aquatic animals and set out measures to minimise that risk.

The recently published Animal Welfare Strategy for England set out that we will commission the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on the welfare of farmed fish prior to slaughter. Amongst other things this project will consider the effects of stocking densities. The Animal Welfare Strategy also commits to introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish into legislation, subject to consultation.

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 potential impact of changing the rules which prevent families from bidding for social houses that have too few bedrooms on waiting times for social housing.

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

The government expects registered providers of social housing to develop solutions that make best use of their stock.

When framing the rules which determine the size of property to allocate to different households and in different circumstances, local housing authorities are free to set their own criteria, provided they do not result in a household being statutorily overcrowded.

As announced in our National Plan to End Homelessness in December last year, we will work with stakeholders to review and update statutory guidance on social housing allocations to ensure that allocations reflect local need and effectively support vulnerable households.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support small businesses with their provision of (a) barbering and (b) hairdressing apprenticeships.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105881. 

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 plans to take to help support UK (a) farmers and (b) fishers where (i) animal welfare standards and (ii) climate and nature policies contribute to higher farming costs, in the context of the cost of imported produce.

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

The Government has been clear that it will protect farmers in trade deals. The Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. It will create new export opportunities for our high-quality British produce.

Supporting British farmers and boosting the nation’s food security are key priorities for the Government. The Government allocated £11.8 billion this Parliament to sustainable farming and food production, targeting public money where it delivers most value.

In terms of wider support to the fishing industry, the Government is committed to the industry’s long-term prosperity and sustainability, which is why we launched the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating with his EU counterparts to secure an exemption for professional drivers from the 90 in 180 day Schengen rule.

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

The Schengen 90/180-day immigration rule has applied since 2021 to all UK nationals (including professional drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and coaches) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory. As such, it is not UK Government policy.

The Government will continue to listen to concerns raised by sectors affected by these rules and will advocate for British citizens abroad. Ultimately any exemptions or amendments to Schengen rules are a matter for Member States and the EU.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to negotiate an agreement with her EU counterparts to permit British HGV drivers to register biometric details away from the UK/EU border under the Entry/Exit System.

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

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented by the EU to improve border security. Whilst the UK Government continues to actively engage with the EU as they continue EES implementation, it is not a UK Government initiative.

It is for individual Member States to determine how to register biometric details. The pre-registration of details does not replace checks by the border authorities.

The UK Government is working closely with the EU as they roll out their EES checks to encourage a streamlined registration process that will minimise disruption for travellers. This is in addition to close engagement that the Department has had with travel operators and hauliers to support their preparation for EES and to reiterate travel requirements for the Schengen area.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Department's policy paper entitled Animal Welfare Strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, whether her Department plans to publish a timetable for the introduction of dog licences for dog breeders.

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

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a twelve-month period needs to have a valid licence from their local authority.

The Government is committed to ending puppy farming and the low welfare breeding of dogs. As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government has committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform. Next steps will be announced in due course.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on the (a) uptake and (b) drop-out rates in (i) barbering and (ii) hairdressing apprenticeships over the last 7 years.

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

Statistics on apprenticeships are published in the Apprenticeships accredited official statistics publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship starts on barbering and hairdressing apprenticeships can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/ccfd7de7-48a4-4913-19a0-08de58cbc7ae

Apprenticeship achievement rates can be found here:

• 2021/22 to 2023/24 academic years: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/64773b20-6850-4200-19a3-08de58cbc7ae
• 2018/19 to 2020/21 academic years: Apprenticeship Achievement Rates Standards and Frameworks

• Achievement rates for the 2024/25 academic year will be published in March 2026 in the Apprenticeships: March 2026 statistics publication.

Review of the student loan system

Scientific hearing on animal experiments

Grey belt policy and the impact on villages and rural communities

World Cancer Day and breast cancer

Flooding as a result of Storm Chandra

Artificial Intelligence chatbots

World Cancer Day

Signing of the Hamburg Declaration

President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

Hospices and end of life care

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Role of the House of Lords in scrutinising legislation

Gardens Trust statutory consultee status

Horse and rider road safety

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

Social media for under 16s

Found: Sarah Russell (Labour; Congleton) Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservative; Solihull West and Shirley) Vikki Slade

Found: present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Pam Cox; Sir Ashley Fox; Warinder Juss; Tessa Munt; Sarah Russell; Vikki Slade

Found: present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Pam Cox; Sir Ashley Fox; Warinder Juss; Tessa Munt; Sarah Russell; Vikki Slade

Found: present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Pam Cox; Sir Ashley Fox; Warinder Juss; Tessa Munt; Sarah Russell; Vikki Slade