Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the issue of non-stun slaughter will be included in the animal welfare strategy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year. We will set out our priorities for animal welfare in the strategy upon publication.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of families are eligible to participate in the Healthy Start scheme.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uptake figures were for the Healthy Start scheme in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Kosovo counterparts on a bilateral security agreement.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59980. We will update the Hon. Member and other colleagues in the usual way if there are any further developments to report. I met the acting PM of Kosovo on 22 October.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with Kosovo counterparts on (a) strengthening defence and security collaboration and (b) industrial and armed forces cooperation.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo’s independence in 2008, the UK has a strong bilateral defence relationship. We continue to play a leading role in the professionalisation of the Kosovo Security Force since its inception in 2009. Today our cooperation focusses on areas including training and exercising, defence education and defence reform. HMG also continue to explore future defence export opportunities to Kosovo. Alongside bolstering Kosovo’s security and resilience, this cooperation aims to support jobs throughout the United Kingdom and maintain our world-class defence-industrial base. Defence exports as well as bilateral defence cooperation were issues discussed when the Kosovan Director for Policy and Strategy met with UK Defence officials in the margins of DSEI in September.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to the public purse is for compensation paid to (a) (i) former and (ii) current armed forces personnel and (b) their solicitors in relation to the use of Lariam by the Armed Forces.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is unable to disclose the total amount of damages paid out for common law claims related to Lariam as they are subject to the usual confidentiality undertaking agreed with claimants' legal representatives. The same applies to claimant legal costs.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2025 to Question 77519 on Armed Forces: Mefloquine, when he expects the issue of claimants' legal costs to be resolved.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The claimant's legal costs are the subject of negotiation between the parties, and it is hoped that they will be resolved soon. It is not currently possible to provide a timeline.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
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 (a) identify and (b) remove deteriorating asbestos in (i) schools and (ii) hospitals.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The safety of those using and working in buildings including schools and hospitals is extremely important.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) require all duty holders to assess whether asbestos is present, what condition it is in and whether it gives rise to a risk of exposure. They must then draw up a plan to manage the risk associated with asbestos, which must include removal if it cannot be safely managed where it is located. Asbestos must also be removed before any major refurbishment work and before demolition.
Responsibility for keeping schools and hospitals safe and well-maintained lies with the respective duty holders and they are expected to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos effectively, in line with their legal duties.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to work with other Government and Devolved Administrations to ensure that public sector duty holders are aware of and comply with their responsibilities for asbestos management, taking enforcement action where necessary.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much the Government has spent on litigations with the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign group in each year since 2015.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We do not hold yearly breakdowns. Based on the information held, since 2015, the recorded legal costs on litigations with WASPI including disbursements and VAT are £82,700.84.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress his Department has made on establishing an asbestos census.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Asbestos in non-domestic buildings is a key ministerial priority. As part of its work, I have asked HSE to explore how it can develop our understanding of the legacy of asbestos in Great Britian, by building a more objective and reliable evidence base of the extent of asbestos in the built environment through a census, to inform longer-term strategy for continuing its safe removal over time.
HSE is taking a phased approach to the development of this work, focussing initially on the government estate.
HSE provides regular updates and assurance to ministers about its approach to asbestos management.