Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to update the early years foundation stage statutory framework to include (a) explicit and (b) enforceable safe sleep guidance for children under two in group care settings.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.

Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.

The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.

Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.

In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to issue new guidance to early years providers on the use of sleep products not suitable for infants under two years of age.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.

Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.

The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.

Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.

In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to make safer sleep training mandatory for early years staff working with babies under two years old.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.

Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.

The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.

Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.

In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the (a) capacity and (b) preparedness of early years providers to safely care for babies under 12 months in the context of the expansion of funded childcare.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, in order to give every child the best start in life. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

In September 2025, subject to parliamentary procedure the department will be introducing changes to the safeguarding requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years settings must follow. The framework can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2.

This includes requirements which will help keep babies under 12 months as safe as possible, such as a new safer eating section, which includes a requirement to have ongoing discussions with parents and/or carers in regard to introducing solid foods.

Last year, in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust the department produced safer sleep guidance which is available on the Foundation Years, which can be accessed here: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

The department also produced guidance with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on supporting distressed babies, available at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2025/01/responding-to-babies-cries-a-guide-for-early-years-educators/, and the importance of positive interactions on baby brain development, available at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2025/01/the-importance-of-positive-interactions-on-baby-brain-development/. These support providers with developing enriching relationships with the babies in their settings, by recognising their social cues and responding appropriately.

The department has already seen a strong response from the early years sector following the introduction of the new entitlement, the latest stage of which was the expansion to 15 hours for eligible children under two in September 2024. 2023 to 2024 saw nearly three times the growth in places (44,000 compared to 15,000) and more than 1.5 times the growth in staff (20,000 compared to 13,000) working in early years compared to 2022 to 2023, showing the early years market is responding positively to the demand. Continuing this growth ahead of September 2025 will allow more families to benefit from the expansion.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will require Ofsted inspectors to undertake specialist training in safe sleep practices for infants during qualifications to inspect early years settings.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.

The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.

Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.

In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.

Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to require Ofsted inspectors to review CCTV footage in assessments of infant sleep safety practices during inspections of early years settings.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.

The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.

Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.

In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.

Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will require early years providers to demonstrate how they (a) assess and (b) manage risks associated with infant sleep practices.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.

Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.

The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.

Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.

In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure Ofsted inspections of early years settings adequately assess adherence to safe sleep guidance for babies under two years old.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.

The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.

Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.

In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.

Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to introduce unannounced Ofsted inspections in early years settings where (a) safeguarding concerns and (b) whistleblowing allegations have been raised.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.

The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.

Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.

In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.

Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on how to provide long term, sustainable funding for transforming palliative and end of life care services.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.

I also recently met Rachael Maskell MP and Baroness Finlay to discuss the progress of their independent commission into palliative and end of life care.

As part of the work to develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we will be carefully considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for a wheelchair-bound patient to access an NHS appointment in (a) Stockport Borough and (b) Greater Manchester in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We promised change, and we’ve delivered early, with a reduction in the list of over 219,000 pathways from July 2024 to February 2025.

We do not hold data on the average waiting time for a wheelchair-bound patient to access a National Health Service appointment. This patient characteristic is not collected in the data which is used to assess waiting times.

The current waiting list for all patients at the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust currently stands at 35,824 patients waiting, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks. The current total waiting list for all patients in Greater Manchester stands at 436,509 as of February 2025, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for an able-bodied patient to access an NHS appointment in (a) Stockport Borough and (b) Greater Manchester in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We promised change, and we have delivered early, with a reduction in the list of over 219,000 pathways from July 2024 to February 2025.

We do not hold data on the average waiting time for able-bodied patients to access a National Health Service appointment. This patient characteristic is not collected in the data which is used to assess waiting times.

The current waiting list for all patients at the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust currently stands at 35,824 patients, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks. The current total waiting list for all patients in Greater Manchester stands at 436,509 as of February 2025, with a median average waiting time of 16 weeks.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has considered increasing funding for the Environment Agency for (a) capital and (b) appraisal work for (i) upstream water storage at Bramhall Green in Cheadle and (ii) other local schemes in preventing flooding.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The proposed capital project in Bramhall Green, Cheadle was not successful in receiving a Grant-in-Aid or Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy funding allocation in 2025/26. A robust prioritisation exercise was undertaken to determine which projects should receive funding and, unfortunately did not qualify. The bidding process for projects in 2026/27 has now opened and Bramhall Green, as well as Chorlton Brook Cheadle will bid to be able to progress next Financial Year. The Environment Agency continues to work with Mersey Rivers Trust in the Cheadle area to explore additional opportunities that can be pursued in the meantime.

Nearby Poise Brook in Hazel Grove received £340k funding this year, including Grant in Aid allocation of £42,000. This was awarded to support the continuation of appraisal work and to further assess the shortlisted options. Should a viable scheme be identified through this work, it has the potential to bring significant benefits to the communities of Hazel Grove, Torkington, and Offerton Green, enhancing their resilience and providing greater peace of mind for the future.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish an impact assessment on the potential impact of the proposed changes to disability benefits on voluntary organisations before the legislation is introduced.

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

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children live in households claiming (a) income-based employment and support allowance and (b) new style employment and support allowance.

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

The information requested is not held.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an additional allowance for divorced persons before inheritance tax is payable by their next of kin.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The estates of all individuals benefit from a £325,000 nil-rate band for inheritance tax. The residence nil-rate band is a further £175,000 and it is available to those passing on a qualifying residence on death to their direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren. This means qualifying estates, whether or not the deceased was married or single at the time of death, can pass on up to £500,000 in these circumstances.

A surviving spouse or civil partner is able to pass on up to £1 million in certain circumstances if the estate of the first spouse or civil partner did not use any of their nil-rate band or residence nil-rate band. This could be because all the assets were left to the surviving spouse or civil partner, and the exemption for transfers between spouses and civil partners applied.

Any unused nil-rate band or residence nil-rate band is not transferable between other individuals. However, the rules for all individuals mean that two divorced individuals can still pass on up to £500,000 each, and so up to £1 million in total, to their children without an inheritance tax liability because of these nil-rate bands.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of households that claim Universal Credit and are affected by the two-child limit (a) were affected from the start of their claim and (b) were previously affected under a claim for Tax Credits.

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

Of the 380,000 Universal Credit (UC) households affected by the policy in April 2024, 236,000 (61%) were affected in their first assessment period on UC and the rest became affected in a subsequent assessment period. Using slightly different data to allow linking to Child Tax Credit (CTC) data, 106,000 (28%) of households affected on UC in April 2024 had a previous CTC claim at some point and 99,000 (27%) were affected by the two-child policy during their CTC claim.

Figures and percentages provided may not sum to the total due to rounding and use of different data sets.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016 on the number of complaints from residents about the proposed site locations of new poles and cabinets for telecommunications equipment.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is aware of public concerns about the deployment of additional broadband infrastructure, despite the guidance provided in the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016. This is why I asked operators to consider revising the Code of Practice to take into account communities’ concerns. Operators have responded by convening the Telecommunications Poles Working Group, which has now published its best practice recommendations, setting out expectations for how operators can pay due regard to community interests. The Government will continue to monitor the impact of these recommendations on public concern about the deployment of broadband infrastructure.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact on waiting for an NHS dental appointment for (a) people in wheelchairs and (b) able- bodied people.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No specific assessment has been made on the impact of waiting for a National Health Service dental appointment for people in wheelchairs or able-bodied people. The Government is committed to NHS dental services being available for all who need them. We recognise that certain groups of patients may be vulnerable to oral health problems, and may find it more difficult to access dental care.

We are tackling the challenges for all patients trying to access NHS dental appointments with a rescue plan providing 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and by recruiting new dentists to the areas that need them most.

Many high street dental practices are wheelchair-accessible and patients can contact local practices directly to inquire about their facilities. If patients in wheelchairs have difficultly locating a high street dentist that caters to their specific accessibility requirements, community dental services provide specialised dental services to people with additional needs. Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and ensuring that the relevant dental services are available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the increase in the number of people that will have palliative care needs over the next 10 years.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Currently, approximately 600,000 people die per year in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that up to 90% of deaths could benefit from palliative and end of life care.

The Office for National Statistics has projected that, by 2040, approximately 800,000 people a year will die in the UK. Also, current trends point to a growing proportion of people dying from chronic disease, particularly cancer and dementia. Taking these considerations together, it has been estimated that the number of people needing palliative and end of life care could increase by 42% by 2040.

We have committed to develop a 10-Year Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future, by driving three shifts in the way health care is delivered, from hospital to community, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digital. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders as we develop the plan.

In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan. I have followed up with meetings with officials from the Department and NHS England. I also recently met with my Hon. Friend the Member for York Central, and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, to discuss the progress of their independent commission into palliative and end of life care, including the commission’s first of three reports, published on 13 May, to which we will formally respond in the coming weeks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the is taking to help increase the number of midwifery staff in hospitals in Greater Manchester.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Decisions about the recruitment of midwifery staff are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level to ensure they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

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 increase the number of midwives in Stepping Hill hospital.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Decisions about the recruitment of midwifery staff are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level to ensure they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the Lawn Tennis Association on the implementation of the 2024–2029 padel strategy.

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

I have regular discussions with national governing bodies of sport, including the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), on a range of issues including padel, and I welcome their strategic ambition to grow padel by making it accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to maintain the current residence nil rate inheritance tax band of £175,000.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to UIN 44920.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take through the NHS 10 year plan to increase the number of NHS midwives.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and those who support our workforce, and how we ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

Getting the NHS back to working for patients means ending the workforce crisis across the health service. We intend to take a fresh look at the Long Term Workforce Plan, to ensure it fully aligns with the level of ambition and reforms required following the 10-Year Health Plan. Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual NHS trusts.

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 ensure that Integrated Care Boards are able to support the revenue consequences of primary care estate expansions enabled by capital investment.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice (GP) surgeries across England.

These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care. By working within existing footprints there will be no additional revenue costs associated to the work funded by the PCUMF

This will directly address the issue of staff who cannot work at full capacity due to space limitations and will enable practices to offer more appointments with their existing workforce through better use of space. The Government has already hired more than 1,500 extra GPs and announced an £889 million funding boost, the biggest for the sector in years.

To ensure good management of public money, the schemes that have been selected will of course be subject to final business case approvals and due diligence. Integrated care boards and GP federations will not be able to unilaterally realign the schemes which have already been agreed, however if an individual surgery is not able to proceed, then local leaders will select another priority scheme to utilise the funding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) integrated care boards and (b) local GP federations will be able to reprioritise bids for funding under the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice (GP) surgeries across England.

These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care. By working within existing footprints there will be no additional revenue costs associated to the work funded by the PCUMF

This will directly address the issue of staff who cannot work at full capacity due to space limitations and will enable practices to offer more appointments with their existing workforce through better use of space. The Government has already hired more than 1,500 extra GPs and announced an £889 million funding boost, the biggest for the sector in years.

To ensure good management of public money, the schemes that have been selected will of course be subject to final business case approvals and due diligence. Integrated care boards and GP federations will not be able to unilaterally realign the schemes which have already been agreed, however if an individual surgery is not able to proceed, then local leaders will select another priority scheme to utilise the funding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that GP practices with (a) poor building quality, (b) insufficient capacity and (c) other significant estate issues are allocated funding through future rounds of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new facilities, significant upgrades, or other targeted capital investments, to ensure we have world class infrastructure across the entire NHS estate.

We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund, supporting improved use of existing buildings and space, boosting productivity, and enabling delivery of more appointments. Further support for NHS organisations delivering local and national priorities beyond this financial year is being considered as part of the Government’s Spending Review.

However, general practices are not reimbursed for service charges nor additionally funded to undertake maintenance and improvements, and are independent contractors who should fund investment in maintaining their estate by utilising their own funds, borrowing, or through partnerships with third party developers.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness in providing adequate protection for residents from unsuitable apparatus and lines of (a) Part 11 and (b) Part 12 of the Electronic Communications Code.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Electronic Communications Code provides rights and obligations intended to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks, subject to conditions and restrictions set out in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003. Ofcom, the independent regulator, has powers to take enforcement action against any breaches of the 2003 Regulations.

Nonetheless, I am aware of community concerns with the deployment of new broadband infrastructure. Following my meeting with the industry, the Telecommunications Poles Working Group Best Practice Recommendations have been published, which includes an industry commitment to always consider the interests of communities.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to hold operators to account on their progress since the UK Network Operator industry roundtable discussion on 12 September 2024.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Electronic Communications Code provides rights and obligations intended to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks, subject to conditions and restrictions set out in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003. Ofcom, the independent regulator, has powers to take enforcement action against any breaches of the 2003 Regulations.

Nonetheless, I am aware of community concerns with the deployment of new broadband infrastructure. Following my meeting with the industry, the Telecommunications Poles Working Group Best Practice Recommendations have been published, which includes an industry commitment to always consider the interests of communities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to enable parents who need to withdraw their child from school when SEND support is insufficient to do so.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Parents have a right to educate a child of compulsory school age otherwise than at school, provided that the education is suitable. Home education can be demanding and so should only ever be an informed and positive choice. If their child is in a mainstream school, parents can withdraw their child by notifying the school that they wish to home educate. If their child is in a special school under arrangements made by a local authority, then the parent must first seek local authority consent. This additional check is not intended to keep children in a setting that does not meet their needs, but rather to ensure that there are no educational suitability issues resulting from the loss of the support at the school.

If parents have concerns that their child’s special educational needs (SEN) are not being met in school, then they should discuss these concerns with the school. If their child has an education, health and care plan, then they should also talk to their local authority. In either case, the package of support may need to be reviewed.

The department is aware of the challenges in the special educational needs and disabilities SEND system, and the government has been clear that a more inclusive education system is needed to give children and young people the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with recruitment agencies on compliance with their new responsibilities in relation to umbrella company legislation by April 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is introducing legislation to close the tax gap and make the tax system fairer by making recruitment agencies using umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, this is expected to protect around £2.8 billion from being lost to umbrella company non-compliance across the scorecard period to 2029-30.

Officials have engaged extensively with representatives of the recruitment industry in relation to this measure and will continue to do so.

The government will set out full details of how this measure will operate, alongside draft legislation, later this year. The government will engage with stakeholders to ensure that they have the opportunity to provide feedback before legislation is introduced into Parliament.

The government is committed to supporting businesses to prepare for the implementation of this measure and, to this end, will publish technical guidance for businesses that will be affected by it.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria were used to determine which GP surgeries received funding under the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund in the 2025-26 financial year; and what role integrated care boards had in the decision-making process.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.

We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.

NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.

The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England held discussions with (a) NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and (b) Place Leads in Stockport before finalising the list of GP practices funded through the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.

We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.

NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.

The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund is being used for (a) digitisation projects and (b) physical improvements to GP premises.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.

We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.

NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.

The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund has been allocated to practices in Greater Manchester.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We recently announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (PCUMF) to deliver upgrades this financial year to more than a thousand general practice surgeries across England.

We have made sure that every single region across the country receives part of the funding, so benefits are felt nationwide. Decisions were made based on the highest priority of need and where the investment would quickly create additional clinical space, specifically to deliver more appointments.

NHS England worked with all the integrated care boards (ICBs), including in Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified as meeting their communities’ most urgent needs.

The Greater Manchester ICB has been allocated £5.6 million from the PCUMF to be spent on physical improvements resulting in additional clinical space and increased access to appointments. Digital transformation projects were not considered to be in scope for the £102 million of funding.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to ensure that home educators' right to privacy is protected, in the context of the proposed home schooling register.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department takes its data protection obligations seriously and is committed to high standards of information security, privacy and transparency. All data received by the department, including as part of the children not in school (CNIS) registers, will be processed in accordance with UK-GDPR principles. No individual personal data from CNIS registers will be published by the department.

The department is conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment and are consulting with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure all data protection risks have been considered and appropriate mitigation are in place before any processing of data has begun. The Data Protection Impact Assessment will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated as required.

Parents have the right under UK-GDPR to object to how their data is used. However, this right is not absolute. If the department or other agencies outlined in the Bill have compelling, legitimate grounds to continue using the parent’s data that outweigh the parent’s rights, they can refuse the parent’s request.

We will outline in future statutory guidance to local authorities how they should inform parents about their rights around data sharing and processing at the point of registration and/or providing updates for the registers.

Hong Kong nationals in the UK

Men's Health Week 2025

Impact of EU 90/180 day rule on UK citizens

Madleen Freedom Flotilla Ship

Chinese Embassy

Dental provision in the South West

National Carers Week 2025 and the Women in the North report

Lionesses and Welsh women’s national team at the UEFA Women’s European Championship in Switzerland

Reform of NHS dentistry services

Christian persecution in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Gaza (No. 2)

Progress in UK-EU relations

World Bee Day (No. 2)

Ian Gibson Fellowship

Rail services between Rose Hill Marple and Manchester Piccadilly

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

Dementia Action Week

Jewish LGBTQ+ groups at Pride

Political parties at Pride

Trans+ History Week

UK-EU Summit

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Found: authority. 47 COMMITTEE STAGE Monday 19 May 2025 _NC58 Gideon Amos Vikki Slade Olly Glover Tom Morrison

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Found: authority. 47 COMMITTEE STAGE Friday 16 May 2025 _NC58 Gideon Amos Vikki Slade Olly Glover Tom Morrison

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Found: on page 65 15 COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 14 May 2025 Not called_122 Gideon Amos Olly Glover Tom Morrison

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Submit Evidence (by 31 Jul 2025)

The Speaker has requested that the Procedure Committee conduct a review of the operation of the sub judice resolution in the House of Commons. The resolution is intended to preserve ‘comity’ between the courts and the House, to avoid Parliament influencing, or appearing to attempt to influence, the outcome of court proceedings, and to avoid Parliament acting as an alternative forum for resolution of matters that are before the courts.