Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what impact assessment her Department has carried out in relation to the standard of fire safety in schools following the publication of ‘Technical requirements for the design and construction of school and college buildings and outdoor environments’, dated January 2026, and associated change in requirement to follow BB 100 (2007 version).

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

The department's fire safety guidance is set out in Building Bulletin 100, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.

All new school buildings must comply with building regulations and be signed off by a registered building inspector. Where automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers) are considered necessary to protect pupils and staff, they must be installed.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of BB 100 (2007 version) with regards to fire safety in schools.

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

The department's fire safety guidance is set out in Building Bulletin 100, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.

All new school buildings must comply with building regulations and be signed off by a registered building inspector. Where automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers) are considered necessary to protect pupils and staff, they must be installed.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of sprinkler systems with regards to fire safety in schools.

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

The department's fire safety guidance is set out in Building Bulletin 100, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.

All new school buildings must comply with building regulations and be signed off by a registered building inspector. Where automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers) are considered necessary to protect pupils and staff, they must be installed.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the standard of fire safety in schools.

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

The department's fire safety guidance is set out in Building Bulletin 100, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.

All new school buildings must comply with building regulations and be signed off by a registered building inspector. Where automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers) are considered necessary to protect pupils and staff, they must be installed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing local Healthwatch organisations on the transparency of patient feedback in the Grantham and Bourne constituency.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.

The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.

An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments

An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-healthwatch-equality-impact-assessment

No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of abolishing local Healthwatch organisations on the confidence of individuals to raise concerns relating to health and social care services.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.

The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.

An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments

An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-healthwatch-equality-impact-assessment

No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing Healthwatch Lincolnshire on care.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.

The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.

An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments

An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-healthwatch-equality-impact-assessment

No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the performance of Healthwatch Lincolnshire.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.

The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.

An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments

An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-healthwatch-equality-impact-assessment

No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the role of independence in the work of local Healthwatch organisations.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government greatly values the work of local Healthwatch organisations, in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.

The reforms in the Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice in health and social care by bringing it closer to those who make decisions, ensuring patients' views are more effectively reflected in decision-making and have a greater impact on services.

An Impact Assessment, which includes the abolition of local Healthwatch, was published alongside the Health Bill, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments

An Equality Impact Assessment on the abolition of Healthwatch was also published at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-healthwatch-equality-impact-assessment

No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.

Found: House of Commons Palace of Westminster London SW1A 0AA Gareth Davies Comptroller and Auditor

Found: I am copying this letter to Gareth Davies, Permanent Secretary, in your Department.

Found: Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office, Jonny Mood, Director, National

Found: Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office, and Marnya Jain, Alternate Treasury

Found: 2026 Cat Little CB, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Chief Operating Officer, Civil Service; Gareth Davies

Found: Gareth Davies, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Head of the National Audit Office, Vicky Davis,

Found: The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Gareth Davies, is an Officer of the House of Commons and

Found: The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Gareth Davies, is an Officer of the House of Commons and

Found: Gareth Davies Comptroller and Auditor General 11 September 2026 National Audit Office 157-197 Buckingham

Found: Gareth Davies Comptroller and Auditor General 11 September 2026 National Audit Office 157-197 Buckingham

Found: Gareth Davies Comptroller and Auditor General 7 September 2026 National Audit Office 157-197 Buckingham

Found: Gareth Davies Comptroller and Auditor General National Audit Office 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road

Found: Gareth Davies Comptroller and Auditor General National Audit Office 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road