Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with trade unions on the proposed new water regulator for England.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Minister Hardy met with Defra Group Trade Unions on the 16 April to discuss how the Department will continue to engage with Trade Unions on the programme of water reforms.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether steps are being taken to provide staff transferring to a new water regulator in England with (a) a single set of terms and conditions, (b) access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme, (c) access to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, (d) job security and (e) protection and support for those with disabilities and other needs.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The department will follow all Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) legislation or Cabinet Office Statement of Practice regulations as the details regarding the creation of the new regulator are finalised.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
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 merits of ensuring a nationwide presence of offices for the new water regulator in England.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is working with stakeholders, including existing water regulators, on the strategic design of the new regulator to ensure it is able to support delivery of the Government’s vision set out in the Water White Paper. A range of options for its operating model are being considered. Decisions on the location and distribution of offices will be taken in due course.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there were (a) formal minutes and (b) formal agendas for the meetings held between Ministers and Water company CEOs for the last three months of 2025.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers meet regularly with a range of stakeholders, including Water Company CEOs. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support the recruitment and training of midwives and (b) increase the availability of employment opportunities for newly qualified midwives.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are working with NHS England and the Nursing and Midwifery Council to ensure that midwifery training consistently delivers modern maternity care that respects a woman’s choice and individual circumstances. We are also introducing a new set of professional standards for modern employment in spring 2026, to deliver our ambition to make the National Health Service the best place to work.
The Graduate Guarantee in 2025, backed by £8 million, delivered more than 850 additional roles for newly qualified midwives. NHS England is working closely with universities and employers to align graduate numbers with vacancies through improved workforce planning, enhanced support for students, and coordinated local recruitment.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with the Institute of Physics and Royal Astronomical Society on the planned changes to the budget of the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next four years, including £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30, and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.
DSIT maintains regular engagement with a broad range of sector organisations, and has engaged with the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society on this particular issue. DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful engagement with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Department has conducted an impact assessment on changes in the level of funding by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on trends in the level of (a) economic development and (b) STEM training, research and development.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next four years, including £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30, and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.
DSIT maintains regular engagement with a broad range of sector organisations, and has engaged with the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society on this particular issue. DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful engagement with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the content of the advice he has been given on the contract and performance of Palantir and the Federated Data Platform, particularly in relation to triggering the break clause in March 2027.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ministers in the Department have been apprised of the nature of the NHS Federated Platform contract, that the seven-year contract term is split into an initial three-year term, plus extension options of two years, plus one year and one year, and that the initial term ends in March 2027. They have been notified therefore that the contract will be reviewed and, in line with standard contract management processes, that a decision will be needed on its extension. Ministers have received written and verbal briefing on the ongoing rollout of the NHS Federated Platform and the benefits achieved, including information which is published quarterly by NHS England at the following link:
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how she plans to support businesses groups who wish to remain trans inclusive in the context of the updated EHRC Code of Practice.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government received an updated draft Code of Practice from the EHRC on 13 April, and, whilst we cannot comment on the draft Code, we intend to lay it in Parliament in May.
We have always been clear that duty bearers should set their policies in line with the law. If they are uncertain as to how to apply the Equality Act 2010, they should obtain specialist legal advice.
We have also always been clear that the laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment remain in place.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to include Trans safety in the implementation of the updated EHRC Code of Practice.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government received an updated draft Code of Practice from the EHRC on 13 April, and, whilst we cannot comment on the draft Code, we intend to lay it in Parliament in May.
We have always been clear that duty bearers should set their policies in line with the law. If they are uncertain as to how to apply the Equality Act 2010, they should obtain specialist legal advice.
We have also always been clear that the laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment remain in place.