Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what budget has been allocated for water fluoridation over the next five years; and if she will provide a breakdown of the amount proposed to be spent on (a) upgrading or replacing existing fluoridation infrastructure, (b) annual revenue costs for operating existing fluoridation schemes, (c) introducing new fluoridation schemes, including the proposed expansion in the North East of England, and (d) feasibility studies for potential future expansion of water fluoridation, including the locations where such studies are being undertaken.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Further to the answer provided on 16 February in response to Question HL14539, I can confirm that, over the current Spending Review period, £136 million has been earmarked for community water fluoridation, but I am unable at this stage to provide the Hon. Member with the specific requested breakdown of that spending. Further information on feasibility studies is published at the following links:

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001947-2026

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056982-2026

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002996-2026

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether home educated children and young people are included within the Government's national strategy for suicide prevention training in schools.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government’s ‘Suicide prevention in England: 5-year cross-sector strategy’ identifies children and young people as a priority group for suicide prevention. The plan sets out a range of actions to improve mental health support, strengthen early intervention and ensure that children and young people can access appropriate support when needed.

Home educated children and young people are included within the strategy’s focus on children and young people and can access the wider mental health and suicide prevention support available through health services, local suicide prevention arrangements and voluntary and community sector organisations.

More broadly, the government is committed to improving mental health support and preventing suicide among all children and young people. This includes action across education, health and community services, as well as investment in earlier intervention through the development of Young Futures Hubs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Treasury is taking to support capital investment by manufacturing businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

This government wants the UK to be one of the best places in the world to invest, build and grow a business – and that starts with a tax system that is competitive, predictable and stable. This government has maintained the lowest rate of corporate tax in the G7, topped the rankings for OECD countries in terms of capital allowances for plant and machinery due to our generous full expensing offer, and led a flexible and competitive regime for intangible assets.

Through delivery of our 10-year Advanced Manufacturing sector plan, this government also aims to nearly double annual business investment in the advanced manufacturing sector to £39bn by 2035.

That’s why we backed our Advanced Manufacturing sector with up to £4.3 billion in funding out to 2030, including up to £2.8 billion in R&D. Alongside this, we have provided a further £2 billion of R&D and capital funding available for automotive from 2030 to 2035 and up to £2.3bn for the UK’s aerospace industry over the 10 year period.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to help young people who are not in education, employment or training access employment in manufacturing.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy.

This investment will create up to 500,000 opportunities. This includes around 300,000 opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, alongside up to 200,000 employment opportunities through a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers hiring 18 to 24-year-oldst who have been on Universal Credit for over six months. Also, a new £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy employers hiring 16 to 24-year-olds, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job.

DWP's Strategic Relationship Team works with manufacturing employers to promote apprenticeships, work experience, careers events and employability activity for young people, including those who are NEET. This includes aligning employer recruitment activity with Jobcentre support, developing pathways into engineering and advanced manufacturing careers, and working with employers to address skills shortages and increase opportunities for young people entering the sector.

The Department has also supported activity around National Manufacturing Day to raise awareness of careers in modern manufacturing, challenge outdated perceptions of the sector and promote opportunities including apprenticeships and work experience. In addition, manufacturing employers are making use of the Youth Job Grant, helping more young people who have been unemployed for longer periods move into sustained work.

Found: West) (Chair) Tom Collins (Labour; Worcester) Emily Darlington (Labour; Milton Keynes Central) Maya Ellis