Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what considerations his Department has given to reducing the maximum permitted noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Government recognises that people hold a range of views on consumer fireworks, including their impacts on people, animals and local communities, as well as their importance to businesses and to cultural and religious celebrations. The regulatory framework is kept under review, and I will continue to engage with business, consumer groups and charities to inform future policy decisions, including discussions on the appropriate maximum permitted noise level and impact on animal welfare.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of consumer fireworks on animal welfare.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Government recognises that people hold a range of views on consumer fireworks, including their impacts on people, animals and local communities, as well as their importance to businesses and to cultural and religious celebrations. The regulatory framework is kept under review, and I will continue to engage with business, consumer groups and charities to inform future policy decisions, including discussions on the appropriate maximum permitted noise level and impact on animal welfare.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access arrangements through the family justice system for children whose parents are no longer together; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the child while enabling both parents to play a meaningful role in their child's life where appropriate.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson

Judicial decisions in proceedings in the family courts relating to child arrangements are a matter for the independent judiciary, applying the relevant law.

The Government recognises the important role that both parents play in a child’s life where that involvement is safe, meaningful and positive. We are committed to delivering reforms to the family courts to ensure that the child’s best interests remain at the heart of decision-making.

The child’s welfare must be the court’s paramount consideration and the court must have particular regard to the factors set out in the ‘welfare checklist’ in the Children Act 1989, such as the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned, the impact on the child of any change in circumstances, and how capable each parent is of meeting the child’s needs. Where parental involvement is safe and in the best interests of the child, maintaining the child’s relationship with both parents will be supported by the court.

A key part of our reforms is the repeal of the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 which will change the process of decision-making in family courts in order to ensure that courts make an open-minded assessment of what is in the child’s best interests when making decisions about parental involvement. Courts will continue to make orders for a parent to be involved in a child’s life where that is safe and in the child’s best interests.

The national rollout of the Child Focused Courts will ensure that courts have the information they need to make that assessment effectively. The model frontloads information gathering and risk assessment through the introduction of the Child Impact Report, which provides an assessment of issues through engagement with the parties, the children, and relevant agencies. This report is reviewed by a judge or legal adviser prior to final orders being made or a hearing taking place. This approach increases the evidence available to judges earlier in the case, and reduces the number of cases returning to court, protecting children and families from further trauma.

Together, these reforms equip courts to make safe and informed decisions about child arrangements while still recognising the important role that both parents play in a child’s life where that involvement is in the best interests of the child.

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 impact on patient outcomes of there being no single NHS clinical specialty or department responsible for overseeing the care of people living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other Ehlers-Danlos syndromes; and whether he will consider establishing a nationally coordinated multidisciplinary care model for patients with these conditions.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) comprises a group of conditions that can affect multiple body systems and, as a result, care is often provided by a range of healthcare professionals depending on an individual's symptoms and clinical needs. NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for rare and complex forms of EDS through two specialist centres, while the diagnosis and management of more common forms, including hypermobile EDS (hEDS), are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs).

The Government recognises that people with EDS can experience complex, multisystem symptoms that may require coordinated care. However, there are currently no plans to establish a nationally coordinated multidisciplinary care model specifically for hEDS and other forms of EDS. Responsibility for developing local services and care pathways rests with ICBs, working with clinicians, patients, and patient groups to meet the needs of their populations. NHS England keeps service specifications and clinical frameworks under review to ensure they reflect emerging evidence and patient need.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to publish a consultation on the regulation of consumer fireworks.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Government recognises that people hold a range of views on consumer fireworks, including their impacts on people, animals and local communities, as well as their importance to businesses and to cultural and religious celebrations. The regulatory framework is kept under review, and I will continue to engage with business, consumer groups and charities to inform future policy decisions, including discussions on the appropriate maximum permitted noise level and impact on animal welfare.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Karen Bradley (Chair); Lewis Atkinson; Mr Paul Kohler; Robbie Moore

Found: Tuesday 19 May 2026 Members present: Jamie Stone, in the Chair Paul Davies John Lamont Robbie Moore

Found: the meeting Home Affairs Committee members present: Dame Karen Bradley (Chair); Mr Paul Kohler; Robbie Moore

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Karen Bradley (Chair); Lewis Atkinson; Robbie Moore; Chris Murray