Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Department has considered participating in Alternative Dispute Resolution or mediation in relation to the ongoing legal proceedings associated with the WASPI campaign.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd (WASPI) are seeking permission from the High Court to bring a Judicial Review on our response to the Ombudsman’s report. We are not able to comment on live litigation, but full details of our decision in this case are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-parliamentary-and-health-service-o29mbudsmans-investigation-into-womens-state-pension-age-communications-and-associated-issues.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the comparative cost to the public purse of compensating women affected by maladministration in State Pension Age communications.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd (WASPI) are seeking permission from the High Court to bring a Judicial Review on our response to the Ombudsman’s report. We are not able to comment on live litigation, but full details of our decision in this case are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-parliamentary-and-health-service-o29mbudsmans-investigation-into-womens-state-pension-age-communications-and-associated-issues

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the further legal costs that may be incurred by the Department in relation to ongoing litigation concerning compensation for women affected by maladministration in State Pension Age communications.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd (WASPI) are seeking permission from the High Court to bring a Judicial Review on our response to the Ombudsman’s report. We do not comment on live litigation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the identification and support of unpaid carers within NHS services.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales

The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers, to improve how unpaid carers are recognised, how support is offered, and how they can be helped to reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives.

Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to assess carers’ needs and, where eligible needs are identified, to provide support to help carers maintain their wellbeing. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.

Any carers experiencing challenges with their mental health can seek support from their general practitioner or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service. In addition, anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now speak to a trained National Health Service professional at any time of the day, through the mental health option on NHS 111.

While caring can be deeply rewarding, we know that pressures arising from it can affect a carer’s financial stability. The Government is spending record amounts on supporting unpaid carers through the benefits system. This includes forecast spending of £4.6 billion in 2025/26 to over one million unpaid carers receiving Carer’s Allowance. The rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased in line with the Consumer Price Index, to £86.45 a week in 2026/27. And in April 2025, the Government raised the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit by a record amount, and it increased again to £204 net earnings a week for 2026/27. This enables unpaid carers to earn more through paid work and still keep Carer’s Allowance.

The Government also provides support to unpaid carers through income-related benefits, which can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities. Universal Credit and Pension Credit pay an extra £2,500 a year to 1.1 million unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition respectively.

In addition, the Government is reviewing the implementation of carer’s leave and looking at where any improvements may be needed to ensure that employment rights for unpaid carers are fit for the modern world of work. This includes a public consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, which was launched on 9 June 2026. More information on the consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-employment-rights-for-unpaid-carers-and-parents-of-seriously-ill-children

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of financial support available to unpaid carers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales

The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers, to improve how unpaid carers are recognised, how support is offered, and how they can be helped to reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives.

Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to assess carers’ needs and, where eligible needs are identified, to provide support to help carers maintain their wellbeing. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.

Any carers experiencing challenges with their mental health can seek support from their general practitioner or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service. In addition, anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now speak to a trained National Health Service professional at any time of the day, through the mental health option on NHS 111.

While caring can be deeply rewarding, we know that pressures arising from it can affect a carer’s financial stability. The Government is spending record amounts on supporting unpaid carers through the benefits system. This includes forecast spending of £4.6 billion in 2025/26 to over one million unpaid carers receiving Carer’s Allowance. The rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased in line with the Consumer Price Index, to £86.45 a week in 2026/27. And in April 2025, the Government raised the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit by a record amount, and it increased again to £204 net earnings a week for 2026/27. This enables unpaid carers to earn more through paid work and still keep Carer’s Allowance.

The Government also provides support to unpaid carers through income-related benefits, which can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities. Universal Credit and Pension Credit pay an extra £2,500 a year to 1.1 million unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition respectively.

In addition, the Government is reviewing the implementation of carer’s leave and looking at where any improvements may be needed to ensure that employment rights for unpaid carers are fit for the modern world of work. This includes a public consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, which was launched on 9 June 2026. More information on the consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-employment-rights-for-unpaid-carers-and-parents-of-seriously-ill-children

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the physical and mental health of unpaid carers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales

The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers, to improve how unpaid carers are recognised, how support is offered, and how they can be helped to reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives.

Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to assess carers’ needs and, where eligible needs are identified, to provide support to help carers maintain their wellbeing. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.

Any carers experiencing challenges with their mental health can seek support from their general practitioner or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service. In addition, anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now speak to a trained National Health Service professional at any time of the day, through the mental health option on NHS 111.

While caring can be deeply rewarding, we know that pressures arising from it can affect a carer’s financial stability. The Government is spending record amounts on supporting unpaid carers through the benefits system. This includes forecast spending of £4.6 billion in 2025/26 to over one million unpaid carers receiving Carer’s Allowance. The rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased in line with the Consumer Price Index, to £86.45 a week in 2026/27. And in April 2025, the Government raised the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit by a record amount, and it increased again to £204 net earnings a week for 2026/27. This enables unpaid carers to earn more through paid work and still keep Carer’s Allowance.

The Government also provides support to unpaid carers through income-related benefits, which can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities. Universal Credit and Pension Credit pay an extra £2,500 a year to 1.1 million unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition respectively.

In addition, the Government is reviewing the implementation of carer’s leave and looking at where any improvements may be needed to ensure that employment rights for unpaid carers are fit for the modern world of work. This includes a public consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, which was launched on 9 June 2026. More information on the consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-employment-rights-for-unpaid-carers-and-parents-of-seriously-ill-children

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is developing a cross-government action plan for unpaid carers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales

The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers, to improve how unpaid carers are recognised, how support is offered, and how they can be helped to reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives.

Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to assess carers’ needs and, where eligible needs are identified, to provide support to help carers maintain their wellbeing. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.

Any carers experiencing challenges with their mental health can seek support from their general practitioner or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service. In addition, anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now speak to a trained National Health Service professional at any time of the day, through the mental health option on NHS 111.

While caring can be deeply rewarding, we know that pressures arising from it can affect a carer’s financial stability. The Government is spending record amounts on supporting unpaid carers through the benefits system. This includes forecast spending of £4.6 billion in 2025/26 to over one million unpaid carers receiving Carer’s Allowance. The rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased in line with the Consumer Price Index, to £86.45 a week in 2026/27. And in April 2025, the Government raised the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit by a record amount, and it increased again to £204 net earnings a week for 2026/27. This enables unpaid carers to earn more through paid work and still keep Carer’s Allowance.

The Government also provides support to unpaid carers through income-related benefits, which can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities. Universal Credit and Pension Credit pay an extra £2,500 a year to 1.1 million unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition respectively.

In addition, the Government is reviewing the implementation of carer’s leave and looking at where any improvements may be needed to ensure that employment rights for unpaid carers are fit for the modern world of work. This includes a public consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, which was launched on 9 June 2026. More information on the consultation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-employment-rights-for-unpaid-carers-and-parents-of-seriously-ill-children

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the timeframe for consulting on changes to home to school transport provision and the implementation of any proposed changes.

Answered by Olivia Bailey

The ‘Travel to school for children of compulsory school age’ statutory guidance makes clear that, where a local authority is proposing to make changes to their school travel policy which may affect children’s eligibility, they should consult locally for at least 28 working days during term time. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel.

The guidance also says they must make sure their policy is available by 19 September each year so that parents may take it into account when deciding which schools to apply for during the normal admissions round. Wherever possible, local authorities should phase in changes so that children who begin attending a school under one set of travel arrangements continue to benefit from those arrangements until they leave that school.

Durham Miners’ Gala 2026

Durham Markets 175th anniversary

Prohibiting Members of Parliament from having paid second jobs

London South Bank University industrial dispute

Richard Pengelly

Industrial dispute of staff in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Autonomy’s report entitled Cleaning Up Politics

Technology companies and crimes against Palestinians

Five-year indefinite leave to remain pathway for Skilled Worker visa holders (No. 2)

Release of Venezuela's gold reserves held at the Bank of England

Ownership and regulation of water

Working in high temperatures

Found: Members present: Cat Smith (Chair); James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Sir Christopher Chope; Mary Kelly Foy

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Cat Smith (Chair); James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Mary Kelly Foy