Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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:
No assessment has been made of the impact on individual areas.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 6104, if he will provide an aggregate estimate, or estimated range, of the total cost of relocating the units and training functions based at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As referenced in my previous answer of 9 June 2026 to Question 6104, a comprehensive Value for Money assessment has been conducted to inform the current plan. This assessment includes detailed consideration of capital costs, moving costs, running costs, disposal receipts, as well as non-financial benefits and disbenefits. The economic case demonstrates that the disposal of Prince William of Gloucester (PWoG) Barracks represents positive value to the public purse.
While exact capital cost figures remain commercially sensitive, the economic case estimates that providing equivalent training capacity at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright will result in reduced running costs across both infrastructure and personnel, thereby contributing to overall savings.
Precise annual running costs of Grantham are not centralised and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Regarding the annual running cost of providing the equivalent training capacity of Army Training Regiment Grantham at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright, I refer the honourable member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Veterans and Personnel, on 4 June 2026 to Question 5714. Until future plans are fully determined, it is not possible to provide precise costing estimates at this time. Furthermore, the department does not routinely release forecast figures.
With respect to an aggregate estimate or range of the total cost of relocating the units and training functions based at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, as noted in my previous response, such forecast costs are commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be disclosed.
The approved plan represents a financially prudent approach that balances capital investment with ongoing savings, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality Army Reserve training in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.