Manuela Perteghella

The Ministerial Board on Care Leavers, chaired by the Secretary of State for Education, works to identify how each department can respond to the unique challenges that care leavers face across all aspects of their lives – opening up, for example, a world of employment opportunities by adding care leavers to social value requirements for government procurement.

The Equality Act 2010 already protects many care leavers under the indirect discrimination provisions, because a disproportionately high number are likely to be from particular protected characteristics.

We are a mission-led Government and women’s equality is at the heart of all of our missions. As part of that work Equalities Ministers have regular conversations with colleagues on a range of women’s health issues, including on the implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy which covers musculoskeletal conditions.

Women’s health is a fundamental part of our 10-year plan to Build an NHS Fit for the Future, which is why on 4th February 2025, DHSC announced details of the Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH) Trial, backed by £11 million of government support via the NIHR. Through this research, almost 700,000 women from across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier.

We are a mission-led Government and women’s equality is at the heart of all of our missions. As part of that work Equalities Ministers have regular conversations with colleagues on a range of women’s health issues, including on the implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy which covers musculoskeletal conditions.

Women’s health is a fundamental part of our 10-year plan to Build an NHS Fit for the Future, which is why on 4th February 2025, DHSC announced details of the Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH) Trial, backed by £11 million of government support via the NIHR. Through this research, almost 700,000 women from across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier.

The Government recognises that care leavers have some of the worst long-term life outcomes in society. We are therefore committed to ensuring children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in education, employment and training. Through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill we will be driving forward our commitments on children’s social care, including improved support for care leavers. We have also established a care leaver Ministerial Board, which brings together Ministers from key Departments, to improve support for care leavers across Government.

We are determined to tackle stigma and discrimination faced by care-experienced young people. We want to create a culture where all those who play a role in the lives of children in care and care leavers are ambitious for them to reach their full potential. While we do not have plans to make care-experience a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to extending corporate parenting responsibilities to government departments and relevant public bodies to ensure that services and support to children in care and care leavers better take account of the challenges they face.

Where legislation is required, Parliament will scrutinise this in the usual way.

The GOV.UK One Login system is fully operational. Users can set up an account, sign in and then prove their identity to access an initial set of 122 government services.

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals. Any notices relating to public procurement will be accessible via https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk.

While the evidence of negative health impacts from chemical flame retardants (CFRs) in furniture is limited, the Government recognises concern about their widespread use.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFRs) do not stipulate the use of CFRs but they are the main way for manufacturers to ensure products pass the current flammability requirements. Manufacturers must be compliant with all relevant UK chemicals regulations, including UK REACH.

The Government launched a consultation on 31 March setting out our intention to reform the FFRs to facilitate a reduction in CFRs whilst maintaining a high level of fire safety.

Sudan is at the heart of our diplomatic efforts. We are doing everything possible to end the horrific violence that is taking place, to protect civilians, deliver aid, and secure a lasting ceasefire.

There is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of the country and we are not aware of any UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.

We rigorously assess export licences to prevent diversion or misuse, including via third countries. Where credible concerns arise we will take action, including refusing, suspending, or revoking licences. The risk of diversion is the single biggest reason export licences are refused. Breaches of our export controls are subject to criminal sanction.

Sudan is at the heart of our diplomatic efforts. We are doing everything possible to end the horrific violence that is taking place, to protect civilians, deliver aid, and secure a lasting ceasefire.

There is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of the country and we are not aware of any UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.

We rigorously assess export licences to prevent diversion or misuse, including via third countries. Where credible concerns arise we will take action, including refusing, suspending, or revoking licences. The risk of diversion is the single biggest reason export licences are refused. Breaches of our export controls are subject to criminal sanction.

Identity verification at Companies House is a new requirement for company directors. Some charities are incorporated as companies, and some companies limited by guarantee call their directors ‘trustees’. Only trustees who are company directors must verify under the new requirements. Previously no identity verification process existed for these roles. Individuals can verify their identity through Companies House routes or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. The process has been designed to be as straightforward and accessible as possible and where identity cannot be verified online, users may be directed to complete the process in person at a participating Post Office.

HM Government includes information on export licence outcomes as part of official statistics published on GOV.UK. The information sought can be found at gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. Open Licences are also published online, including details on permitted countries and regions.

Additionally, detailed information on extant licences to Israel has been published up to 31 July 2025, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025.

This Government suspended around 30 export licences to Israel in September 2024, and since that time has refused more than 40 further applications where it was assessed there was a clear risk the items might be used in military operations in Gaza.

The Government has decided not to replace ECO4 when it ends this year. While the scheme has played an important role, it has faced significant challenges, particularly around poor-quality installations.

This does not mean reducing support for low-income households. The Warm Homes Plan will provide targeted assistance through public funding and support the workforce to access new opportunities through £15bn of investment. The Government also announced at the Budget an additional £1.5bn in grant-funding for low-income families.

To support this transition, ECO4 has been extended until the end of 2026 to enable remediation and minimise disruption to the supply chain.

Energy supplier obligation schemes will not be continuing. The government has agreed to a 9-month extension of ECO4 until 31 December 2026 to allow installers to carry out any remedial works needed following findings of non-compliance in external wall insulation. The extension will support the remediation process and assist an orderly close-down of ECO where energy suppliers can fulfil their delivery obligations, however it is not supported by a new levy or increased targets.

Since ECO was launched in January 2013, it has delivered around 4.5 million measures in around 2.6 million properties (up to the end of February 2026). Of these measures, 52% were insulation measures while the rest were heating and micro-generation measures.

An evaluation of ECO4 is underway, which is looking at scheme impacts on supply chain growth, specialisation and workload from the perspectives of installers, as well as the proportion of ECO4 beneficiary households who were in fuel poverty prior to ECO4. Evaluation reports will be published later this year.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth (Jayne Kirkham) on 18 December 2025 to Question 100172.

Updated analysis has since been published alongside the Government Response.

The Government recognises the importance of regulatory stability for maintaining an attractive investment environment. The Government also considers that it is appropriate to periodically review schemes to ensure they continue to represent value for money for the households and businesses that bear the costs of this support. As the scheme is now closed, these changes will apply to existing Feed-in Tariffs generators. However, generators will continue to receive inflation-indexed payments for the full lifetime of their support.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) regulatory regime gives platforms clear duties to prevent and remove child sexual abuse material and non-consensual deepfakes. Providers must fully assess risks and design services to be safe. For example, Ofcom has announced an investigation into X to assess if it has complied with its duties to protect people in the UK from content that is illegal in the UK.

The Government keeps all legislative frameworks under review and has also announced that it will bring into effect a new offence covering the creation of non-consensual intimate images.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) regulatory regime gives platforms clear duties to prevent and remove child sexual abuse material and non-consensual deepfakes. Providers must fully assess risks and design services to be safe. For example, Ofcom has announced an investigation into X to assess if it has complied with its duties to protect people in the UK from content that is illegal in the UK.

The Government keeps all legislative frameworks under review and has also announced that it will bring into effect a new offence covering the creation of non-consensual intimate images.

The Government takes the integrity and security of our democratic processes seriously, including from the threat posed by mis/disinformation.

The UK’s Online Safety Act captures disinformation aimed at disrupting elections where it is a criminal offence in the scope of the regulatory framework. This includes the Foreign Interference Offence, which requires all in-scope companies to act against a range of state-linked disinformation and interference online.

As the department responsible for managing the risk posed by online mis/disinformation targeting electoral processes, DSIT also supports ongoing work through the government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce to tackle the full scope of threats to democracy.

The Government has no plans to alter the copyright framework in relation to archiving at the present time. However, the Government keeps the UK copyright framework under constant review. This includes the archiving and preservation exception to copyright outlined in section 42 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

The Government welcomes continued developments from the public library sector on e-licensing and e-book lending. Arts Council England funded Libraries Connected to deliver a pilot project to explore mutual benefits of increasing the affordability and availability of eBooks in public libraries. A project summary report was published in February 2025.

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements, we support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research (the 3Rs). Work to support this transition must be science-led and in lock step with partners.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

The government provides support for international touring theatre, including Shakespeare productions, primarily through strategic funding delivered by Arts Council England (ACE).

ACE's core investment strengthens theatre resilience across England via the National Portfolio Investment Programme. In 2025/26, ACE provided over £112 million to nearly 200 theatres, while total funding to theatre organisations across all programmes reached £276.9 million, helping organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company remain globally competitive.

Recent sector analysis shows that theatre contributes around £2.39 billion in GVA and supports over 200,000 jobs, with international activity forming a key part of this footprint. Evidence from Arts Council England’s State of Touring demonstrates that while domestic touring is often loss-making, international touring can generate surplus income, supported by higher fees and guarantees overseas, which helps subsidise UK-based work.

Additional touring support includes the Incentivising Touring programme, which offers repayable grants, as well as National Lottery Project Grants for international partnerships.

My Department also seeks to address practical barriers for touring professionals through ongoing engagement with international partners.

Shakespeare has no equal for global recognition and influence in English literature and continues to be a source of inspiration for new productions and creations across all artforms and media which the British Council supports and champions globally.

The UK Government provides support to the British Council through the grant-in-aid for its arts and culture work, supporting organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. In addition, many Shakespeare organisations receive support through Arts Council England (ACE).

The British Council has a number of digital resources available on their website following the major year-long global programme of events on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016, where more than 140 countries took part in the festivities, with people experiencing Shakespeare through film screenings, exhibitions, performances and in schools, alongside a programme of unique online collaborations.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That’s why the Government is investing £98 million into the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2025/26 to build and upgrade pitches and facilities UK wide.

On top of this, we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK over the next four years. We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, and will then set out further plans on how future funding will be allocated across the UK.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sports and health club facilities in England, through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

The Government’s Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) scheme provides financial benefits for certain community sports clubs, so long as they meet certain eligibility criteria. The purpose of the scheme is to decrease costs for grassroots sports clubs, making them more financially sustainable, and allowing them to deliver the benefits of sport and physical activity for their local communities.

We are committed to giving British creators increased security at work and providing the creative industries with a regulatory and fiscal environment where their imagination and innovation can flourish.

A significant proportion (28%) of the creative industries workforce is self-employed. As outlined in the Plan to Make Work Pay, we will support and champion self-employed workers by strengthening rights and protections to help them thrive. This includes the right to a written contract; action to tackle late payments; and extending health and safety and blacklisting protections to self-employed workers. Self-employed workers will also benefit from our plans to strengthen trade union rights. We will also explore how to implement the targeted and specific manifesto commitments to enhance protections for self-employed workers through consultation.

We are working with creative industry stakeholders to consider the recommendations of the Good Work Review, a sectoral deep dive funded by DCMS into job quality and working practice. This sets out a number of priorities, including developing dedicated support and guidance for self-employed creators. We are working closely with the sector as it responds to these recommendations.

DCMS and its public bodies, including Arts Council England and the British Film Institute, are taking proactive steps to support self-employed workers in the creative industries with Arts Council England supporting more than 1,200 individual practitioners through National Lottery Project Grants totalling almost £30 million, and more than 1,200 individuals through the £14.5 million Developing Your Creative Practice Programme.

This Government is working collaboratively across departments to look at how best to help touring artists, and improve arrangements for musicians, performing artists and their support staff being able to tour across the EU.

The Government provides support for UK artists through initiatives such as the Music Export Growth Scheme, co-funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and the International Showcase Fund, which is funded by the DBT. These schemes are designed to help artists access international markets, expand their reach, and promote the UK’s creative talent globally.

We will engage with the new European Commission and EU Member States, seeking improved arrangements across the European continent without a return to free movement. Our priority remains ensuring that UK artists can continue to thrive on the global stage.

I refer the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon to the answer of 22 May 2026 to Question 1462.

Until reorganisation formally takes effect, local authorities retain their statutory duties and decision‑making powers. Authorities proposing the permanent closure of a maintained school must continue to follow existing legislation and the department’s statutory guidance on school organisation, including the guidance on opening and closing maintained schools. This guidance sets out the statutory process, consultation requirements and decision‑making criteria, and applies irrespective of future local government.

A formal decision letter confirming that the Academy order for Great Alne Primary School has been revoked was issued on 16 April 2026, following a request from Warwickshire County Council submitted on 25 February 2026.

The government believes pupils should both achieve and thrive in education. While schools should encourage pupils to do their best, the department does not recommend excessive preparation for primary assessments and certainly not at the expense of wellbeing. We know schools work hard to ensure SATs are conducted in a supportive and non-stressful manner, with pupil wellbeing prioritised.

Statutory tests and assessments at primary school help measure the attainment of pupils in relation to the standards set out in the national curriculum and help teachers and parents identify where pupils may need additional support in a certain subject area. The tests are developed through robust processes, including input from teachers and special educational needs experts, and trials with year 6 pupils. Schools can use access arrangements where appropriate, and alternative assessments exist for pupils working below expected standards. The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis, concluded that the primary assessment system is generally working well and remains important for evaluating progress.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.