Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to children in voluntary foster care who have (a) drug dependency and (b) mental health needs; and whether he has made an assessment of access to (i) therapy and (ii) treatment for such children.

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

The Department for Education’s National Minimum Standards for fostering makes it clear that local authorities should ensure that children in their care should have prompt access to doctors and other health professionals, including specialist services such as those supporting mental health and drug dependency, when they need these services. Further information on the National Minimum Standards for fostering is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-services-national-minimum-standards

Local authority commissioned community drug and alcohol treatment is free and accessible to all those who need it, including children and young people in voluntary foster care. Funding for alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services is provided through the Public Health Grant (PHG). In addition to the PHG, in 2025/26, the Department of Health and Social Care is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support to ensure that those in need can access high quality help and support. This includes children and young people with, or at risk of developing, drug and/or alcohol problems. As a result of recent increases in funding, as of August 2025, there were 4,374 more children and young people in drug and alcohol treatment. In 2024, 10% of under 18 year olds in drug and alcohol treatment were in care.

For children and young people in distress or struggling with their mental health, including those in voluntary foster care, fast access to early, high-quality support is critical. That is why the 10-Year Health Plan sets out how we will work with schools and colleges to better identify and meet children's mental health needs by expanding mental health support teams in schools and colleges in England, to reach full national coverage by 2029. This will build on the work that has already begun, including providing mental health support for almost one million more young people in schools this year and investing an extra £688 million in Government funding to transform mental health services, hire more staff, and deliver more early interventions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to regulate artificial intelligence.

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

AI is already regulated in the UK, including by competition, data, online safety and sectoral rules. Most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use by our existing regulators.

The government’s approach is also supported by the work of the AI Security Institute which has deepened our understanding of the critical risks posed by frontier AI. The government is committed to ensuring that the UK is prepared for the changes AI will bring.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on supporting children in voluntary foster care to return home in cases where a lack of suitable full-time education provision is a barrier to family reunification.

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

Where a child is accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, our care planning regulations and statutory guidance are clear that there should be a robust care planning and decision-making process to meet the day-to-day needs of the child. Where reunification is in the best interests of the child and will safeguard and promote their welfare, the local authority should set out the support and services to be provided once the child returns home, including suitable education provision.

The department has not carried out an assessment of the cost to local authorities incurred in cases where there has not been suitable educational provision and children have remained in voluntary foster care.

The department’s children’s social care reforms include the national rollout of the Families First Partnership programme, which will embed a new approach to Family Help and greater use of family group decision making. Family Help will wrap support around families where children in care may be able to return home safely. This includes bringing in relevant agencies or individuals from school attendance teams to support sustainable reunification.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to local authorities of keeping children in voluntary foster care due to inadequate local education provision.

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

Where a child is accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, our care planning regulations and statutory guidance are clear that there should be a robust care planning and decision-making process to meet the day-to-day needs of the child. Where reunification is in the best interests of the child and will safeguard and promote their welfare, the local authority should set out the support and services to be provided once the child returns home, including suitable education provision.

The department has not carried out an assessment of the cost to local authorities incurred in cases where there has not been suitable educational provision and children have remained in voluntary foster care.

The department’s children’s social care reforms include the national rollout of the Families First Partnership programme, which will embed a new approach to Family Help and greater use of family group decision making. Family Help will wrap support around families where children in care may be able to return home safely. This includes bringing in relevant agencies or individuals from school attendance teams to support sustainable reunification.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will introduce a minimum 4 per cent annual uplift in core spending power for local authorities with Adults and Children’s Services responsibilities.

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

As set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, this Government will use the first multi-year Settlement in a decade to redirect around £2 billion of existing funding to the places and communities that need it most. We expect the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement, with most councils seeing it increase in cash terms. We will publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year, which will inform local authorities of their provisional multi-year allocations.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities comply with section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department and NHS England work together to support and challenge local areas to improve their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) service delivery where required. This includes carrying out monitoring, support and challenge on any areas of identified weakness, both following an area SEND inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, or if those areas are identified outside of inspection timescales.

Where a local authority does not meet its duties, including in relation to securing provision in accordance with education, health and care plans, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. This includes a range of universal, targeted and intensive support through departmental programmes, such as our expert advisers and commissioners.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board and (b) other integrated care boards provide (i) adequate funding and (ii) clear guidance to general practitioners to support the implementation of shared care agreements for patients requiring ongoing medication.

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

Shared care arrangements between a general practitioner (GP) and a specialist are voluntary and are not part of the GP Contract. GPs do not receive additional funding for participating in shared care arrangements and may decline on clinical or capacity grounds.

Guidance issued by the General Medical Council supports GPs in deciding whether to accept shared care responsibilities, ensuring that any prescriptions or referrals are clinically appropriate. Where a GP does not enter into a shared care arrangement, responsibility for ongoing treatment, including prescribing, remains with the specialist clinician.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB, are responsible for arranging health services in line with local population needs and relevant guidance. ICBs follow NHS England’s guidance on shared care protocols, including the Responsibility for Prescribing Between Primary and Secondary/Tertiary Care framework. Within the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB this framework is overseen by the Surrey Heartlands Medicines Optimisation Group. Implementation may vary between GPs due to factors such as clinical capacity, digital infrastructure, and local agreements. Regarding funding, the ICB’s approach is consistent with national policy expectations that integrated care systems should ensure equitable access to medicines and safe, sustainable shared care arrangements.

Whilst a specific assessment has not been undertaken, to support consistency of access, the Department’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, published on 3 July 2025, sets out plans for a Single National Formulary (SNF) for medicines. The SNF will replace the current system of local formularies, with a national oversight board sequencing products based on clinical and cost-effectiveness, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This approach is intended to drive rapid and equitable adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective medicines across England.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the extent of regional variations in access to (a) shared care agreements and (b) prescribed treatments; and what steps he is taking to help ensure consistency of access to these in all integrated care boards.

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

Shared care arrangements between a general practitioner (GP) and a specialist are voluntary and are not part of the GP Contract. GPs do not receive additional funding for participating in shared care arrangements and may decline on clinical or capacity grounds.

Guidance issued by the General Medical Council supports GPs in deciding whether to accept shared care responsibilities, ensuring that any prescriptions or referrals are clinically appropriate. Where a GP does not enter into a shared care arrangement, responsibility for ongoing treatment, including prescribing, remains with the specialist clinician.

Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB, are responsible for arranging health services in line with local population needs and relevant guidance. ICBs follow NHS England’s guidance on shared care protocols, including the Responsibility for Prescribing Between Primary and Secondary/Tertiary Care framework. Within the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB this framework is overseen by the Surrey Heartlands Medicines Optimisation Group. Implementation may vary between GPs due to factors such as clinical capacity, digital infrastructure, and local agreements. Regarding funding, the ICB’s approach is consistent with national policy expectations that integrated care systems should ensure equitable access to medicines and safe, sustainable shared care arrangements.

Whilst a specific assessment has not been undertaken, to support consistency of access, the Department’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, published on 3 July 2025, sets out plans for a Single National Formulary (SNF) for medicines. The SNF will replace the current system of local formularies, with a national oversight board sequencing products based on clinical and cost-effectiveness, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This approach is intended to drive rapid and equitable adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective medicines across England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish an updated timeline for the implementation of the (a) deposit return scheme and (b) extended producer responsibility schemes.

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

Our Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging came into force in January, and notices of liabilities have recently been issued. From 2026 fee modulation will be introduced to encourage producers to use more recyclable and sustainable packaging.

The Deposit Return Scheme regulations for England and Northern Ireland came into force in January 2025, and June 2025 by Scottish Government, to run the Deposit Return Scheme. The scheme will launch in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in October 2027.

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 review the application of the long-term empty homes council tax premium in cases where (a) properties are awaiting sale, (b) the owner is serving in the armed forces and required to live on base and (c) properties are empty due to other circumstances outside the owner’s control.

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

It is for councils to decide whether to charge the premium in their area, taking account of local circumstances. The Department has introduced a number of exceptions to the empty homes premium which came into effect from April 2025. These include exceptions for up to a year for dwellings actively marketed for sale or let and for dwellings which is or would be the sole or main residence of a member of the armed services, who has been provided with a dwelling as a result of such service. In addition to mandatory exceptions councils have the discretionary power to set their own local exceptions to premiums or offer discounts. The government has published guidance on the implementation of premiums and exceptions and is available here.

The government remains committed to keeping all taxes and elements of the local government finance system under review and will consider options for reform where there is clear evidence that change would deliver better outcomes for residents and councils alike.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce measures to (a) restrict practical driving test bookings to a candidate’s local area and (b) prevent fraudulent activity on third-party platforms offering driving test swaps.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country.

DVSA is working hard to reduce the average waiting times, using the responses gathered from its public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. The consultation closed on 23 July. On 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced the outcome of the consultation to improve car driving test booking rules.

In the coming months, DVSA will:

• Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests
• Introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.
• Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times.

DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced new terms and conditions for use of the service driving instructors and trainers use to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils. Since this change DVSA has issued 275 warnings, 404 suspensions, and closed 894 business accounts.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to introduce legislative proposals to require on-device safety technology capable of detecting and preventing livestreamed child sexual abuse on devices sold in the UK.

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

We are committed to preventing the livestreaming of child sexual abuse, including through strengthening our online safety regime if appropriate. There is currently limited evidence about the application and effectiveness of on-device controls. However, Ofcom has recently launched a call for evidence on age assurance and app stores. We will continue to focus on implementing the protective measures contained within the Online Safety Act, while considering the potential benefits and impacts of this technology and others like it in parallel. Any future intervention will be proportionate and evidence based.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to improve oversight mechanisms for (a) executors and (b) attorneys under Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

A wide range of safeguards are available in legislation to hold executors accountable for the performance of their duties in administering the estate of a deceased person. Protections for beneficiaries if executors are incapable of fulfilling their duties or abuse their positions include:

• Renunciation – an executor is able to renounce their office if they find the role too difficult or their health is too poor, work commitments too great or it is impractical (for example they live abroad).
• Capacity – a person who lacks mental capacity to act as an executor cannot do so while such incapacity lasts.
• Passing over – Section 116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 empowers courts to pass over an executor where it is considered necessary or expedient and appoint an administrator.
• Citation to accept or renounce a grant – the courts can summon an executor where they have failed to act to apply for probate or renounce their office and if they do not appear their rights as an executor cease.
• Citation to take probate – an application to court where an executor has taken some steps without formalising their role.
• Inventory and Accounts – an application can be made by a beneficiary to the court to require an executor to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate.
• Removal – applications can be made under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 to remove and replace an executor after probate where there are grounds to do so.
• Fraud – allegations of executors committing criminal offences such as fraud can be investigated by the police.

Given the wide range of safeguards, and the checks and balances the legislation provides (given the challenges faced by and onerous duty imposed on executors) the Government has no plans to reform the current mechanisms for holding executors and other personal representatives to account.

Attorneys appointed under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) are chosen by the donor themselves, reflecting their trust and personal decision about who should act on their behalf. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) ensures the LPA is valid before registering it and can investigate concerns raised with them about an attorney’s conduct. However, the OPG does not have statutory powers to proactively monitor attorneys where no concerns have been reported.

There are also important safeguards built into the LPA process, such as the certificate provider who plays a key role in confirming that the donor understands the arrangement and is not under undue pressure. There is also a statutory waiting period prior to registration, to allow for objections against registration to be raised. These measures, alongside the donor’s choice of attorney, provide a level of security within the current framework.

Looking forward, the OPG and the Ministry of Justice are progressing a modernisation project that aims to increase safeguards and improve access to LPAs, which will be achieved by introducing a digital channel to make and register an LPA, while improving the existing paper channel. This will make LPAs easier to understand, and break down barriers to starting an LPA.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what safeguards exist for beneficiaries when executors are (a) incapable of fulfilling their duties and (b) abusing their position.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

A wide range of safeguards are available in legislation to hold executors accountable for the performance of their duties in administering the estate of a deceased person. Protections for beneficiaries if executors are incapable of fulfilling their duties or abuse their positions include:

• Renunciation – an executor is able to renounce their office if they find the role too difficult or their health is too poor, work commitments too great or it is impractical (for example they live abroad).
• Capacity – a person who lacks mental capacity to act as an executor cannot do so while such incapacity lasts.
• Passing over – Section 116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 empowers courts to pass over an executor where it is considered necessary or expedient and appoint an administrator.
• Citation to accept or renounce a grant – the courts can summon an executor where they have failed to act to apply for probate or renounce their office and if they do not appear their rights as an executor cease.
• Citation to take probate – an application to court where an executor has taken some steps without formalising their role.
• Inventory and Accounts – an application can be made by a beneficiary to the court to require an executor to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate.
• Removal – applications can be made under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 to remove and replace an executor after probate where there are grounds to do so.
• Fraud – allegations of executors committing criminal offences such as fraud can be investigated by the police.

Given the wide range of safeguards, and the checks and balances the legislation provides (given the challenges faced by and onerous duty imposed on executors) the Government has no plans to reform the current mechanisms for holding executors and other personal representatives to account.

Attorneys appointed under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) are chosen by the donor themselves, reflecting their trust and personal decision about who should act on their behalf. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) ensures the LPA is valid before registering it and can investigate concerns raised with them about an attorney’s conduct. However, the OPG does not have statutory powers to proactively monitor attorneys where no concerns have been reported.

There are also important safeguards built into the LPA process, such as the certificate provider who plays a key role in confirming that the donor understands the arrangement and is not under undue pressure. There is also a statutory waiting period prior to registration, to allow for objections against registration to be raised. These measures, alongside the donor’s choice of attorney, provide a level of security within the current framework.

Looking forward, the OPG and the Ministry of Justice are progressing a modernisation project that aims to increase safeguards and improve access to LPAs, which will be achieved by introducing a digital channel to make and register an LPA, while improving the existing paper channel. This will make LPAs easier to understand, and break down barriers to starting an LPA.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the affordability of employability courses for students; and whether she plans to increase funding to help improve access to such courses.

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

Approximately £8.6 billion 16 to 19 programme funding has been allocated during the 2025/26 academic year to colleges, schools and other providers of education and training. This funding enables young people to take part in study programmes or T levels. These are designed to enable students to progress to employment, an apprenticeship or further study including higher education.

Responsibility for adult skills has moved from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Through the adult skills fund (ASF), we have allocated £1.4 billion in academic year 2025/26, ensuring that adults can access the education and training they need to get into employment or progress in work.

Currently, 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority, who are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and the allocation of the ASF to learning providers.

In non-devolved areas, adults who earn less than £25,750, are eligible for full funding through the ASF, ensuring courses are accessible for those who are either unemployed or on the lowest incomes.

110 years of the Women's Institute

Water bills

Fly-tipping and illegal waste dumping by criminal gangs

Tackling van and tool theft

Decarbonising refrigerated transport

Support for the UK-Ukraine Trauma and Recovery Collaborative

Mouth Cancer Action Month

50th Anniversary of women’s right to independent mortgages

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on 20 November 2025

Family Business Week 2025

Protections for animals and people

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and the plight of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad

Britain’s canals and rivers

Jordan Codices

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025

Cancer waiting times

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Support for the Shakespeare Curriculum Project

Conduct of Samir Zitouni and Stephen Crean on the 18.25 Doncaster to Kings Cross train on 1 November 2025

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Zöe Franklin; Dr Rupa