Yasmin Qureshi

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Peerages, styles, titles and honours are granted by the Sovereign.

The Sovereign may change the entitlement to the titles and styles such as “Prince” and “Royal Highness” under the Royal Prerogative. An Act of Parliament is required to remove a peerage once conferred.

Honours can only be revoked by the Sovereign, typically following a recommendation by the Forfeiture Committee to the Prime Minister.

The Emergency Alert system is a UK Government capability that allows time critical life saving information to be broadcast to phones within a certain area.

English is the primary language Emergency Alerts are sent in. This is to ensure standardisation in message clarity and avoids the risk that any rushed translation may result in messaging which poorly conveys the necessary action to the recipient. However, where practicable, alerts impacting Wales will be sent in both English and Welsh.

Local Resilience Forums also work with partners in a local area to alert people of an emergency. Owing to their local knowledge of each area, the Local Resilience Forums are well-equipped to ensure the relevant information is communicated to non-English speakers.

The Cabinet Office will consider the feasibility for future technical improvements to the system in which an alert would come through in the language set by the individual user.

The Prime Minister raised a range of domestic and foreign issues in his meeting with President Xi at the G20 on 18 November. A read-out of this meeting is available on the GOV.UK website.

The UK is one of the leading countries confronting the scourge of modern-day slavery, including forced labour. We engage through bilateral and multilateral fora to find ways to tackle forced labour in global supply chains and ensure workers benefit from high labour standards domestically and internationally. We recognise that trade policy is an important tool in a comprehensive approach to prevent, identify and eliminate forced labour in global supply chains and we are considering measures that can help improve supply chain transparency and traceability.

As well as the Fashion Watchdog or Garment Trade Adjudicator idea, there have been other proposals including licensing and increased guidance on managing supply chains. We will continue to review measures to drive up standards across the sector and monitor global regulatory proposals in the sector.

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote responsible business conduct across the economy. In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses, modern slavery, and environmental harms in global supply chains.

The review will be a neutral, objective appraisal of policy, led by departmental officials. It will consider the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and the merits of alternative means of supporting responsible business practices.

Canada is one of the UK’s closest allies and we are taking various steps to increase UK-Canada trade. Our trading relationship was worth £28 billion in 2024, up 10% in current prices on 2023, and is underpinned by the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.

The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Carney on 12th May and discussed ways to increase cooperation further to deliver for working people in both the UK and Canada. This includes our discussions with Canada on their ratification of the UK’s membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Once ratified, this will provide additional benefits for UK firms seeking to do business in Canada, building on our existing bilateral trade agreement with Canada which already supports trade between our two countries.

We are committed to ensuring carers are supported to balance work and caring responsibilities.

We know flexible working can be particularly valuable for carers, and the Employment Rights Bill will make flexible working available to all workers except where it is genuinely not feasible.

Employees have a right to five days of unpaid carers leave. We are reviewing implementation of this measure, and exploring ways to improve support for carers.

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan provides a ‘Clean Power Capacity Range’ as a foundation to guide rapid policy development and focus delivery, based on scenarios that meet our Clean Power ambitions. There is a breakdown of capacity ranges for the different technology sectors necessary for clean power in 2030, including long duration electricity storage (LDES) - which includes pumped storage hydro (PSH) - and solar. The scenarios developed cannot be exhaustive or definitive, so it is right that government retains some optionality.

To date, the UK has not endorsed any specific treaty on fossil fuels, but will keep this under review. We are committed to working with all international counterparts to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the UK’s domestic and international commitments including from the COP28 Global Stocktake.

The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.

We recognise that any work to phase out animal testing and support the transition to new approach methodologies must be science-led and in lock step with partners.

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and reducing child poverty. We have allocated over £1 billion towards expanding free school meals to all children in households on Universal Credit. This new entitlement will mean over 500,000 of the most disadvantaged children will begin to access free meals, pulling 100,000 children out of poverty. This is in addition to the money we already spend, around £1.5 billion annually, so that over 3 million pupils receive a healthy, nutritious meal during the school day.

As part of the Transitional Protection (McCloud) remedy, affected members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) can choose either final salary or career average benefits for the remedy period (April 2015 to March 2022). From June 2025, the TPS administrator began adjusting pensions for members who selected benefits different from those already in payment.

As of 17 September 2025, 254 pensions had been adjusted. This process takes time, due to the complexity of the calculations required for the Remediable Service Statement (RSS), which reflects benefit choices as of its issue date. Additional calculations are needed if members opt for different benefits, as the pension position may change between RSS issuance and payment adjustment and some of these calculations cannot currently be automated so are done manually by clerical staff. The member’s existing pension benefits continue to be paid during this period, with any subsequent changes backdated with interest applied.

The department continues to monitor these issues very closely and work with Capita to ensure issues of this nature are resolved as quickly as possible, and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is delivered to the highest possible standard.

Media literacy is covered in the citizenship, relationships, sex and health education and computing curriculums.

The department funds the National Centre for Computing Education, which provides teachers with continuing professional development and resources to support the teaching of computing. This includes units on messaging in digital media, the credibility of sources, and identifying ‘fake’ news and edited images, supporting the teaching of artificial intelligence (AI) and media literacy.

In 2024, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) provided £0.5 million to scale up two programmes, to provide media literacy support to teachers, children aged 11 to 16, parents/carers and other professionals working with families.

The Educate against Hate website also hosts a series of online media literacy resources which seek to help young people evaluate the validity of information. This can be accessed at: https://www.educateagainsthate.com/.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s interim report notes the rise of AI and trends in digital information and that it is necessary that the curriculum keep pace with these changes, including a renewed focus on digital and media literacy and critical thinking skills. The interim report is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s interim report notes the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information and that it is necessary that the curriculum keep pace with these changes, including a renewed focus on digital and media literacy and critical thinking skills. The interim report is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.

The report raises concerns around the challenges young people face when transitioning from education into adulthood, including uncertainty around post-16 options, employment and transitions to adult services. The department will consider these themes and the issues raised in the report and discuss with stakeholders as we progress our special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform work.

The department knows that successful transitions must be well-planned. Preparing all children and young people with SEND for adulthood is a key part of the SEND system and should begin from the earliest point. All local authorities must set out the support available to help children and young people with SEND prepare for and transition to adulthood as part of their local offer. This includes support to help children and young people move between phases of education and preparation for adult life.

For those with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, there must be a focus from year 9 onwards on preparing the young person for adulthood as part of their plan’s annual review. This focus must continue until the young person’s EHC plan ceases. Planning for the transition to adulthood should result in clear outcomes being agreed that are ambitious and stretching, and which are tailored to the needs and interests of the young person.

Last year the Government published the UK Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP). It sets out how all four UK Governments will support farmers, growers and other land managers to increase their use of sustainable farming practices to reduce the potential harm from pesticides. The NAP introduces a UK domestic target to reduce the potential pressures from pesticides on the environment by 10% by 2030.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) also pays farmers and land managers to carry out actions that support the sustainable production of food and boost farm productivity and resilience, while protecting and enhancing the environment.

The Government remains committed to ending the use in England of the three neonicotinoid pesticides (thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid) that threaten vital pollinators, including through emergency authorisations.

Acetamiprid does not pose the same risk to pollinators and is authorised for use on sugar beet and other crops both in Great Britain and the European Union. The Health and Safety Executive recently approved an emergency authorisation for a second spray - only when specific conditions are met - due to the exceptionally high pressure from aphids being faced by sugar beet farmers this year.

The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out that ending the use of cages and crates is a key priority for this Government. We will be consulting on the transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems, in due course.

Defra funds the UK Food and Drink Pact, a voluntary agreement with industry to tackle food waste. Through the Pact, we support delivery of the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, which offers guidance for businesses on reducing food waste in their operations. Catering businesses who supply schools and school kitchen staff can use this guidance to reduce their food waste.

Simpler Recycling reforms ensure that across England, people can recycle the same materials, including food waste, whether at home, work or school. As of 31 March 2025, schools are required to make arrangements for the collection of food waste.

In 2025, there were 14 inspections of game bird farms in England and 3 in Wales. There were no non-compliances noted in relation to the birds’ housing or environment.

There have been no allocations to Greater Manchester under national road safety funding schemes in each of the last three years. Local authorities are responsible for prioritising road safety measures within their existing transport and highways budgets.

The Government remains committed to improving road safety and the condition of local roads. While there is no ring‑fenced road safety funding, Greater Manchester will benefit from wider transport and highways investment, including £15,572,000 in highways maintenance incentive funding in 2026/27 and a £2.47 billion Transport for City Regions settlement for 2027–32 to support local transport priorities, which may include road safety initiatives.

Improving road safety is a key priority. Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government is working hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users.

The Road Safety Strategy published on 7th January sets out the Department’s intention to establish a data-led road safety investigation branch to learn lessons from road incidents, by taking a strategic, thematic approach, focusing on patterns of collisions, injury trends, and systemic safety issues. It will adopt a test-and-learn approach, using real-world evidence to inform targeted safety interventions, data-driven policies, and proactive prevention and enforcement strategies.

Young drivers account for only 6% of driving licence holders but were involved in 24% of fatal and serious collisions in 2024.

This is why on 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. This includes consulting on a Minimum Learning Period before learner drivers can take their test. This would allow learners more time to gain essential experience, for example in different weather conditions, before driving independently and reduce the risk to themselves and other drivers.

We are also consulting on a lower drink drive limit for newly qualified drivers with the intention of reducing collisions amongst this group.

Safety directions are issued under Schedule 3A of the Merchant Shipping Act (MSA) 1995 (as amended); Schedule 1 of the Marine Safety Act 2003 was inserted as Schedule 3A of the MSA 1995 (as amended).

In the period in question, ships’ masters were directed under Schedule 3A powers on four occasions:

1. On 16 March 2013, the master, owners and insurers of the general cargo vessel Danio were directed to notify their plans or intentions, including the appointment of competent salvors, following the grounding of the vessel.

2. On 3 February 2017, the master and owners of the bulk carrier V Due were directed to remove their ship from the port of Liverpool to take the undamaged cargo on board the ship for discharge to another port. The ship had previously been directed into the port of Liverpool after a cargo combustion fire on board and damaged cargo was subsequently discharged in the port.

3. On 19 July 2018, the master, owners and insurers of general cargo vessel Priscilla were directed to appoint competent salvors following the grounding of the vessel.

4. On 23 December 2018, the master and owners of the bulk carrier Kuzma Minin were directed to move the ship from an anchorage position to a casualty mooring buoy in Falmouth harbour. The ship had previously run aground and was then refloated in port controlled waters.

Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign.

We are considering other measures to address this problem and protect young drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety - the first in over a decade.

PIP assessors give due consideration to all available evidence when completing their advice to the Department. DWP decision makers also consider all available evidence when making entitlement decisions on PIP.

The Department closely monitors all aspects of the process including the performance of the assessment providers and the quality of assessments. All providers work with the department on plans to continuously improve assessment quality through a range of measures including audit, clinical observations, tailored training and development plans, providing feedback and in the support available to assessors.

We set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper our intention to improve the experience for people who use the system of health and disability benefits. This includes exploring ways to improve PIP assessments through digitalising transfer of medical information.

We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we will, in future, record assessments by default, unless the claimant asks that the assessment should not be recorded. This will give us the means to check what happened when an assessment is found later to have been incorrect, and, we expect, an effective lever for improvement

We want new mothers to be able to take time away from work in the later stages of their pregnancy and in the months following childbirth, in the interests of their own and their baby’s health and wellbeing.

Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid by the State, for those who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay, and is classed as unearned income for Universal Credit purposes. As such, in determining the entitlement to Universal Credit, Maternity Allowance is deducted pound for pound from the total value of the award.

Where an individual claims Universal Credit, their award is adjusted to take account of other financial support that the customer is already receiving – including earnings, other income and benefits. This principle applies to other benefits: for example, the same approach is applied to new style Jobseeker’s Allowance and new style Employment and Support Allowance.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 5 December 2024 to question UIN 16635.

The Government recognises the challenges unpaid carers are facing and is determined to provide them with the help and support they need and deserve. It is looking closely at how the benefit system currently does this. The Carer’s Allowance earnings limit for 2025/26 will be announced in due course.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of benefits and State Pensions. The outcome of the Secretary of State’s review will be announced in the usual way.

No assessment has been made of the merit of increasing the carer element of Universal Credit outside of the annual review.

The Government recognises how worrying heart health can be for the families of young people. The National Health Service already offers cardiac tests for young people who present with symptoms that could indicate a cardiac issue.

In considering whether any screening programme should be introduced, the Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. Where the committee is confident that offering screening provides more good than harm, they recommend a screening programme.

In 2019, the UK NSC reviewed screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old. The conclusion of that review was that population screening should not be offered, as research showed that current tests are not accurate enough to use on young people with no symptoms.

Last month the UK NSC opened a public consultation to seek comments from members of the public and stakeholders on screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death. The consultation is open till 31 August, and we encourage those with an interest to contribute, at the following link:

https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 August 2026 in response to Question 18253.

Local authorities and integrated care boards share responsibility for undertaking a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), working through health and wellbeing boards, to assess current and future health and social care needs. This assessment then informs the commissioning and delivery of health and care services. Guidance on JSNAs makes clear that they should cover the needs of vulnerable groups, including homeless people.

More broadly, the Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to deliver on the ambitions set out in the National Plan to End Homelessness. This includes a commitment that no one eligible for homelessness assistance is discharged to the street after a hospital stay.

In addition, we have established a new national adult safeguarding board in response to Baroness Casey’s adult social care reform recommendations. One of the initial priorities of this board is to update the Care Act statutory guidance on adult safeguarding to drive better multi-agency implementation and practice across a wide range of issues, including homelessness.

NHS England's Dental Record Keeping Standards states that every clinical record should include the patient's presenting complaint and diagnosis, with the diagnosis expected to include the underlying cause. These standards apply to the recording of dental conditions generally, including cases where the presentation is due to underlying trauma.

Where a patient presents with dental trauma linked to epilepsy, the seizure-related cause would be expected to be recorded in the same way a clinician would record the cause of any other dental injury or condition. There are no current plans to introduce a separate recording category for seizure-related trauma, as the existing standards already require the underlying cause to be captured as part of the diagnosis. Further information can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/dental-record-keeping-standards-a-consensus-approach.pdf

NHS England's Dental Record Keeping Standards states that every clinical record should include the patient's presenting complaint and diagnosis, with the diagnosis expected to include the underlying cause. These standards apply to the recording of dental conditions generally, including cases where the presentation is due to underlying trauma.

Where a patient presents with dental trauma linked to epilepsy, the seizure-related cause would be expected to be recorded in the same way a clinician would record the cause of any other dental injury or condition. There are no current plans to introduce a separate recording category for seizure-related trauma, as the existing standards already require the underlying cause to be captured as part of the diagnosis. Further information can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/dental-record-keeping-standards-a-consensus-approach.pdf