Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her department has made of whether charities which exist to promote creationism fulfil a public benefit.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This government welcomes the fact that our charity sector is diverse and varied, respecting and reflecting a broad range of public views.
Some organisations which promote creationism are registered as charities under the advancement of religion, which remains an important and relevant charitable purpose in modern society. The legal test for charitable status is set out in the Charities Act 2011, and requires charities to have wholly charitable purposes that are for the public benefit. Any detriment or harm that results from the charity pursuing its charitable purpose must not outweigh the benefit it provides.
There are no plans to reassess or change the advancement of religion as a charitable purpose as set out in the Charities Act 2011.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce pay inequalities between Further Education staff and staff in schools and academised sixth form colleges.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Further education (FE) colleges and sixth form colleges are responsible for setting and negotiating pay within colleges and have the freedom to implement pay arrangements within their own local circumstances. In addition, there are sector-led arrangements for pay in FE colleges and sixth form colleges through the National Joint Forum and National Joint Council.
Last year, we announced an additional £190 million for colleges and other 16 to 19 providers for the 2025/26 financial year. We are providing nearly £9 billion in 16 to 19 programme funding for the 2026/27 academic year. This funding will support both FE colleges and sixth form colleges in addressing pressures, including supporting recruitment and retention of excellent specialist teachers.
Our targeted retention incentive offer is designed to retain eligible FE teachers in technical subjects with payments of up to £6,000 after tax. In its first year, nearly 6,000 teachers received a payment. Eligible teachers at FE colleges, sixth form colleges and 16 to 19 only academies and schools are able to access the scheme.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the NHS takes to provide healthcare to pupils with medical conditions in schools.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever. Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies, and pupil referral units in England to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.
The Department for Education is consulting on updating this statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with medical conditions. The consultation is available at the following link:
In addition, the National Health Service provides targeted support through school and community nursing, and through Mental Health Support Teams in schools.
On 5 February, Standardising community health services – core component descriptions was published, to support integrated care boards in the strategic commissioning of community health services, and is available at the following link:
This document outlines the core responsibilities of special school and community children’s nursing services, including their role in supporting children with medical conditions to access education settings.
The Government also committed to rolling out Mental Health Support Teams to cover all pupils and learners in education settings in England by 2029. Mental Health Support Teams provide early access to evidence-based interventions for common mental health needs, especially anxiety and depression.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the NHS takes to support pupils with medical conditions in schools.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever. Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies, and pupil referral units in England to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.
The Department for Education is consulting on updating this statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with medical conditions. The consultation is available at the following link:
In addition, the National Health Service provides targeted support through school and community nursing, and through Mental Health Support Teams in schools.
On 5 February, Standardising community health services – core component descriptions was published, to support integrated care boards in the strategic commissioning of community health services, and is available at the following link:
This document outlines the core responsibilities of special school and community children’s nursing services, including their role in supporting children with medical conditions to access education settings.
The Government also committed to rolling out Mental Health Support Teams to cover all pupils and learners in education settings in England by 2029. Mental Health Support Teams provide early access to evidence-based interventions for common mental health needs, especially anxiety and depression.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the department is taking to establish a universally commissioned emergency eye care pathway to end the postcode lottery of these service in England.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet local need. This can include community minor and urgent eye care services, with decisions on provision made locally to reflect population need and existing service capacity.
Optometrists are required to follow local protocols for referring patients into secondary care including for emergency and urgent cases. These pathways will take into account National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance where appropriate.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people aged 16-24 are claiming the Universal Credit health element while in full-time non-advanced education under Universal Credit rules.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps is the government taking to include charitable housing providers within the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 123092 on 31 March 2026.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that reforms to energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector drives heat demand reduction via insulation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Reformed Energy Performance Certificates will assess properties’ energy performance against several metrics, one of which is fabric performance. The new minimum energy efficiency standards will require private rented homes to first meet a ‘C’ rating for fabric performance unless a relevant exemption is in place. The prioritisation of fabric measures will help ensure a reduction in heat demand, delivering bill savings for tenants and lifting households out of fuel poverty.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
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 help ensure that referral services for women and girls impacted by violence and abuse will be evidence-based.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Department has committed to roll-out a domestic abuse and sexual violence referral service, “Steps to Safety” across all integrated care boards by 2029.
This will ensure that all clinical and non-clinical staff in general practices in every area of England can connect victims and survivors with specialist services. The programme builds on innovative, evidence-based approaches already operating in England, and will include evaluation of the services in order to continue building a strong evidence base for what works to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action the Government is taking to address harmful cat breeding practices, including the breeding of wildcat hybrids.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stourbridge on 24 March 2026 PQ UIN 121217.