Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people assessed at a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment as having a terminal condition did not receive PIP under the Special Rules in each of the latest 12 months for which data is available.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not collect information centrally for analysis on whether a claimant’s condition is terminal.

The Special Rules for End of Life allow people nearing the end of their life to get faster and easier access to PIP at the highest rates. The Department considers anyone likely to have fewer than 12 months to live as nearing the end of life.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a Minister for Youth.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I am the Minister for Youth.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has assessed the potential merits of establishing a Royal Commission on Youth on the challenges facing future generations.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This government recognises the scale of the challenges facing young people and is fully committed to addressing them.

That is why we published the ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ which sets out a 10-year plan to ensure every young person has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. It is underpinned by extensive research and insights, including a national survey and The Big Ambition Analysis for the National Youth Strategy. We will hold yearly national hearings on the progress of the Strategy and publish an interim delivery report in 2027.

We recognise that some of the challenges impacting young people have a systemic nature and the government is conducting specific reviews and consultations on key cross-cutting challenges. This includes the independent Milburn review analysing drivers of youth inactivity, the consultation on children’s use of technology as well as the reforms to the SEND system.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling concessionary bus pass holders to use services before 9am.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, between 9.30am and 11.00pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays. The duration of the concessionary period was set out in the Transport Act 2000. The ENCTS costs around £795 million annually in reimbursement to operators. Any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the times of use, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

However, local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending travel times.

The Government has confirmed over £3 billion from 2026/27 to the end of the Spending review period to support local leaders and bus operators across England to improve bus services. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will be allocated £17.1 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £6 million they are already receiving this financial year. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, which could include extending discretionary concessions locally.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to facilitate the introduction of Article 4 directions in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation by local authorities.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local planning authorities already have powers to limit the proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) through 'Article 4' directions.

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 level of financial support for foster carers.

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

Foster carers do not foster for financial reward, but need adequate support to ensure that they, and the children in their care, can achieve and thrive.

The department has set the National Minimum Allowance to cover the cost of looking after a child. The amount depends on the age and location of the child, but ranges from £176 to £309 per week, and increases annually along with tax relief and in line with inflation to reflect the cost of living.

The department recognises that wider support, such as fees and expenses, remain inconsistent. To better understand this variation and the impact this has on recruitment and retention, we have committed to an in-depth study of fostering finances. Alongside this, we will work closely with local authorities to understand and promote the full range of incentives they offer to carers, such as council tax discounts or exemptions and reduced rate local authority parking.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out the support available for children in care to help them prepare for life post-18 years.

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

Local authorities have the primary responsibility for supporting care leavers and must publish their ‘local offer’ for care leavers, setting out their legal entitlements, plus any further discretionary support they provide. All care leavers are entitled to support from a Personal Adviser (PA), whose role is to help care leavers access support from mainstream services, such as housing, healthcare, benefits, and to provide practical and emotional support to help them prepare for the challenges of adulthood. PAs work with the young person to develop a pathway plan which should include their career aspirations and ambitions, providing access to high quality information, advice and guidance to inform their plans for continuing education, training or employment.

The department is going further through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, placing a new duty on local authorities to provide Staying Close support to care leavers up to the age of 25 where their welfare requires it. The bill also requires local authorities to publish information on their arrangements for supporting care leavers’ transition to adulthood, and seeks to change housing legislation so that care leavers cannot be found intentionally homeless.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the allocation of public funding exclusively to National Portfolio Organisations on non-national portfolio organisations.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government’s support for culture is not exclusively for National Portfolio Organisations (NPO). In particular, Arts Council England (ACE) capital funding in the current Spending Review period is not limited to NPOs. For example, the Government launched the £425 million Creative Foundations Fund, an open-access capital programme supporting arts and cultural organisations across England to address urgent estate and infrastructure needs. The first £85 million round was open to any eligible organisations, with a further £340 million to be allocated by ACE in due course.

The government has also decided to invest additional funding in ACE to support the NPO Programme within the wider context of large-scale open-access funds. As this programme is periodically open to competition, it allows opportunities for new entrants while supporting around 1,000 key cultural institutions across England. The extra funding will help address cost pressures and provide greater stability.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to ensure that public funding supports the parts of the cultural ecosystem most at risk, including the grassroots music sector.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DCMS and Arts Council England (ACE) are already focusing funding on the areas of the cultural sector most at risk, using both dedicated funds and wider investment. We have been clear that significant government investment, such as the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund, is focused on supporting organisations, particularly in underserved areas, to protect vulnerable cultural infrastructure and local venues, ensuring access nationwide. Arts Council England also directs National Lottery and National Portfolio funding toward underserved areas, prioritising inclusivity, community access and long-term sustainability across the sector.

In addition, in response to Baroness Hodge’s review of ACE, we have highlighted the importance of ensuring that support is directed towards the places that need it most.

We will also soon publish a Music Plan, drawing together all that the Government is doing to support the music industry. This includes the Government's Music Growth Package of up to £30m over three years, which aims to strengthen the talent pipeline, sustain vital music infrastructure and remove barriers to touring, supporting live performance and providing export opportunities to keep UK music globally competitive.

Our Creative Places Growth Fund will provide £150m in total over 3 years to 6 Mayoral Strategic Authorities for them to distribute, according to local barriers and opportunities. This will allow areas to maximise the impact of national interventions, including the grassroots music sector.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the scope of the baseline report on child poverty; and whether it will outline what reduction in child poverty his Department aims to achieve for the 10 year strategy period.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The baseline report will provide further details on our approach to monitoring and evaluating the Child Poverty Strategy, as initially set out in the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework published alongside the Strategy, alongside the latest statistics and evidence.

Our Child Poverty Strategy fulfils our commitment to reducing poverty this Parliament, lifting 550,000 children out of poverty, and sets out our ambition to tackle its structural drivers as part of a long-term, 10-year strategy. This Government has taken decisive action, with the interventions in the Strategy set to lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.

From the very beginning of our time in government we have done what is needed to tackle child poverty – we have increased the minimum wage, expanded Free School Meals, invested in social and affordable housing, funded more Best Start Family Hubs, and removed the two-child limit.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the government has conducted a risk assessment of whether, as a result of the proposed reforms to the END system, schools could be discouraged from identifying children as having SEND due to inadequate resourcing and capacity.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In the SEND reform consultation document, we stated that the department intends to create clear statutory duties for schools, including identifying and meeting needs as early as possible and ensuring that they monitor children and young people’s progress to ensure timely and effective interventions. Parents can also continue to seek a needs assessment and obtain resolution via mediation or through appealing to the tribunal if necessary.

To support schools to meet this legal duty, the department will develop National Inclusion Standards that set out evidence-informed tools, strategies and approaches for educators to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs. By 2028, we will have invested up to £15 million to build the evidence base for and then bring into effect National Inclusion Standards.

This comes alongside significant investment to bolster capacity and expertise. This includes £4 billion over three years, which includes £1.8 billion so every community has access to Experts at Hand, £1.6 billion directly to schools for early intervention, and over £200 million to train all staff across early years, schools and colleges.

The children’s rights impact assessment conducted by the department on the proposed reforms in the SEND consultation document is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69985b75047739fe61889ebe/SEND_reform_child_s_rights_impact_assessment.pdf.

For schools and colleges, we will over time rebalance funding, by moving a portion of funding currently distributed through local authorities from high needs budgets directly into mainstream core budgets, to support earlier intervention and a more proactive approach to meeting needs. Alongside this, mainstream settings will continue to receive high needs funding from local authorities which covers the costs of delivery of a specialist provision package for those with the most complex needs, including through specialist bases.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of taking steps to tackle noise pollution caused by high powered cars and motorbikes.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government takes the impact of excessive noise on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for cars and motorcycles are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market.

It is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be for addressing issues with excessive vehicle noise within their area. The use of noise camera technology has already been taken forward by some local authorities.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people that were claiming Personal Independent Payment and in receipt of the both enhanced components died (a) in total and (b) who had accessed PIP under the Special Rules for terminal illness route in the last year for which information is available.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested can be found in the table provided below.

Table 1: People who have died who were recipients of Personal Independence Payment Enhanced Daily Living and Mobility components

Notes:

- Values have been rounded to the nearest 10.

- Figures are for claimants under DWP Policy Ownership (England, Wales and Abroad) and exclude claimants where PIP has been devolved to the Scottish Government in Scotland or The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

- Figures include people of both working age and those who are aged above state pension age.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her department has made on the potential impact of the changes to umbrella company regulations on non-profit umbrella providers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From 6 April 2026, recruitment agencies are responsible for ensuring that Pay As You Earn and National Insurance contributions obligations are met when they choose to use an umbrella company to engage a worker. Where these obligations are not met, HMRC will recover underpayments from the recruitment agency. If there is no recruitment agency involved in an arrangement with an umbrella company, this responsibility will fall to the end client business.

These rules apply to all umbrella companies, regardless of corporate structure. They do not change the amount that umbrella companies, including not-for-profit umbrella companies, have to account for under Pay As You Earn when they pay their employees. The government keeps tax policies under review. However, there are no plans to change the treatment of not-for-profit umbrella companies within these rules.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her department has any plans to formally recognise not-for-profit umbrella models within the new regulations.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From 6 April 2026, recruitment agencies are responsible for ensuring that Pay As You Earn and National Insurance contributions obligations are met when they choose to use an umbrella company to engage a worker. Where these obligations are not met, HMRC will recover underpayments from the recruitment agency. If there is no recruitment agency involved in an arrangement with an umbrella company, this responsibility will fall to the end client business.

These rules apply to all umbrella companies, regardless of corporate structure. They do not change the amount that umbrella companies, including not-for-profit umbrella companies, have to account for under Pay As You Earn when they pay their employees. The government keeps tax policies under review. However, there are no plans to change the treatment of not-for-profit umbrella companies within these rules.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with a Personal Independence Payment Special Rules award reached the end of their three-year award period and had their benefits award reviewed in each of the last 12 months for which data is available.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Over the past 12 months, 30 individuals with a Personal Independence Payment Special Rules award reached the end of their three-year award period and had benefits reassessed.

Monthly breakdowns cannot be provided due to disclosure control. In the majority of months over the last 12-month period, there were fewer than 5 Special Rules for End of Life claims which reached their award period’s end and were reassessed.

Notes:

- The figure provided is rounded to the nearest 10.

- The figure is for claimants under DWP policy ownership (England, Wales and abroad) and exclude claimants where PIP has been devolved to the Scottish Government in Scotland or the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's document entitled BCP Council: Increased Penalty Charge Notice and Associated Charges Trial, published around February 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that report's recommendations on motorists and local authorities; and whether her Department plans to adopt the recommendations of that report.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is reviewing the findings of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council month‑long trial of higher PCNs.

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2026

Women and heart disease

Legal protections for individuals making protected disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

British citizens' right to a family life with spouses in the UK

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

13th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh

Restructuring at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

World Curlew Day

Planned reductions to BBC staff

Workers Memorial Day

UN General Assembly Resolution A/80/L.48 on declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as a crime against humanity

Student Loans Company repayments

Use of restraint of children in the asylum system removal process

MS Awareness Week 2026

Valentina Gomez and the protection of public order and community cohesion

Health and Social Care

Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners

Impact of war in the Middle East on the cost of living