theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will assess the potential impact of changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund on the number of applications received to that fund; and if she will publish that assessment. \p Janet Daby: The department expects the number of applications to the adoption and special guardianship support fund to continue to increase, in line with previous years. The changes we introduced were designed to maximise the number of children who can get support in this year. Application numbers are collected and assessed on a weekly basis as part of routine management reporting.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the work of foster carers in Sutton Coldfield constituency. \p Janet Daby: Birmingham local authority, which includes Sutton Coldfield constituency, receives support from Fosterlink. This government-funded service provides diagnostic support to councils’ fostering recruitment and assessment services. Fosterlink’s work with Birmingham identified strengths and areas for development, making recommendations for improvements. Foster carers in Sutton Coldfield can also access ‘Fosterline’, a free helpline for current and prospective foster carers.

More broadly, as part of children’s social care reform, we are providing £15 million of funding in 2025/26 to recruit and retain more foster carers. We will provide an additional £25 million for fostering covering the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years. As part of this model, we are supporting foster carers and children by expanding ‘The Mockingbird Family Model’. Evaluation shows that Mockingbird improves carer retention, meaning that local authorities have a greater number of suitable fostering places available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the variation in demand for adoption services across local authorities. \p Janet Daby: The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) provides funds to local authorities and regional adoption agencies to pay for essential therapeutic services for adoptive, special guardianship order and child arrangement order children who were previously in care. It is not available for children who remain in care. This year the £50 million fund will enable eligible adoptive and kinship families to access a significant package of therapeutic support, tailored to meet their individual needs, including for those children who have experienced abuse, amounting to £3,000 per child. Where needed, local authorities and regional adoption agencies can use their own funding to increase the amount of therapy.

While the department does collect and publish annual data on the demand for ASGSF services, no wider information about demand for adoption services is currently collected. The latest publicly available ASGSF data covering the period 2023/24 can be found here: https://www.coram.org.uk/resource/asgsf_2024_data_insights/.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2025 to Question 42565 on Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the time taken to confirm funding for the 2025-26 financial year on the number of applications to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund that were not carried forward by adoption agencies. \p Janet Daby: The number of applications returned for re-work after the announcement was 727. This allowed changes to be made to align with the grant criteria where necessary and also allowed confirmation that the local authority or regional adoption agency still wished to submit the application.

Applications are now being assessed and approved within the usual timeframes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to ensure that children in foster care arrangements are placed in a suitable home. \p Janet Daby: The department is supporting local authorities to recruit and retain more foster carers so that councils can find more suitable foster homes, resulting in greater choice for better placement matching for the children in their care. Currently, there are 10 fostering regional programmes active across England, collaborating with 64% of all local authorities to recruit and retain foster carers who will provide loving homes local to the children who need them.

As part of children’s social care reform, we are providing £15 million of funding in 2025/26 to recruit and retain more foster carers. We will also provide an additional £25 million for fostering covering the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years. As part of this model, we are supporting foster carers and children by expanding ‘The Mockingbird Family Model’. Evaluation shows that Mockingbird improves carer retention, meaning that local authorities have a greater number of suitable fostering places available.

In addition, the department funds ‘Fosterlink’, a diagnostic support service for local authority fostering services, which reviews current processes to identify areas for service and practice improvements to support recruitment and retention. The department is also continuing to fund ‘Fosterline’, a free helpline service for current and prospective foster carers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason the change in the VAT status of private school fees was introduced during the school year. \p Stephen Morgan: Tax policy is a matter for HM Treasury.

As set out in the government response to the technical note on applying VAT to private school fees, the government believes it was right to introduce these changes as soon as possible in order to raise the funding needed to help deliver our education priorities for the 94% of children who attend state schools in the UK. This response is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools.

As a result of the January 2025 start date, the VAT policy is forecast to raise £460 million in the 2024/25 financial year.

The January 2025 start date gave schools and parents five months to prepare from the date the policy was announced.

HMRC has taken action to support private schools through the change, including providing detailed guidance, running webinars and allocating additional resource to process VAT registration applications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to levy funding for level 7 apprenticeships on the educational opportunities available in Stoke-on-Trent. \p Janet Daby: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43275.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of religious education teacher trainees held degrees in subjects other than religious education in the 2024-25 academic year; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the subject knowledge enhancement grant for religious education on the quality of religious education provision. \p Catherine McKinnell: Religious education (RE) is not a degree subject recognised by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The closest subject in HESA’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy is theology and religious studies. In 2024/25, there were 444 new entrants to RE initial teacher training (ITT), for whom we have data on first degree subject. Of these, 89 (20%) had degrees in subjects categorised as theology and religious studies, and 355 (80%) had degrees in other subjects. Some degree subjects, such as philosophy, that are not included within theology and religious studies, may contain relevant content for RE. It is the responsibility of the accredited ITT provider to determine the suitability of a candidate applying for ITT. The department publishes the ITT criteria which sets out the minimum requirements that a candidate must meet to be eligible for ITT.

The department continually reviews the support available to trainee teachers and the annual review of the subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) package will take place before the new academic year to ensure that available SKE provision is focused on the candidates who need it the most.

The department remains committed to recruiting the teachers we need. We have announced an ITT financial incentives package worth up to £233 million for the 2025/26 ITT recruitment cycle, a £37 million increase on the last cycle. This includes a £10,000 tax-free bursary for RE trainee teachers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the use of discriminatory language in schools in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Stephen Morgan: The department is clear that any incident of discrimination and derogatory language is unacceptable and should be dealt with quickly and effectively by schools. All members of the school community are responsible for creating a positive, safe environment in which threats or abuse are not tolerated and everyone is treated respectfully.

The ‘Behaviour in schools’ guidance outlines that school staff should challenge all inappropriate language and behaviour between pupils, never normalising abusive language or behaviour by disregarding it or treating it as ‘banter’.

The relationships, sex and health education curriculum has a strong focus on equality, respect, the harmful impact of stereotyping, and the importance of valuing difference.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with an EHCP in Wiltshire are currently placed in educational provision outside of the local authority area. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department publishes local authority level information on cross border movement, which is where pupils attend school in a different local authority to the one where they live, in the following annual accredited official statistics publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2023-24.

As of January 2024, there were 245 pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan living in Wiltshire and attending a primary, secondary or special school outside the local authority. This information does not include cases where the pupil attends an independent, general hospital school or non-maintained special school.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the value of funding for each child with an education, health and care plan is calculated. \p Catherine McKinnell: An education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment ensures that a child or young person’s needs are assessed in a joined-up way across education, health and social care services.

The assessment process must identify if the child or young person has any special educational needs, together with any relevant health or social care needs. If the local authority then decides to issue an EHC plan, it must set long term outcomes for the child or young person and specify provision which will deliver those outcomes. The local authority is then statutorily required to secure the special educational provision specified in the EHC plan.

Local authorities provide additional funding to mainstream schools when the costs of the specified special provision exceed £6,000 per pupil per annum, and also fund children and young people with EHC plans in special schools and other settings. Local authorities have a degree of discretion as to how their high needs budget is allocated to those schools and other settings for those with EHC plans, and use different methods to calculate the allocations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of literacy education in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Catherine McKinnell: High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.

The English Hubs programme supports the teaching of phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure. Surrey Heath’s nearest English Hub is Whiteknights English Hub.

In the 2025/26 financial year, the government has committed £27.7 million to support and drive high and rising standards in reading and writing.

In the 2025/26 academic year, this funding will deliver a range of support for schools, including new training for primary schools which will be delivered through the English Hubs programme. This will help children progress from the early stages of phonics through to reading fluently by the time they leave primary school. There will also be new support and training for secondary schools to support reading at key stage 3.

The department will also publish a writing framework this summer, which will support schools in delivering high quality writing provision across England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help increase the number of school places for children with SEND in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department has now published allocations for £740 million in high needs provision capital allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with special educational needs and disabilities, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

Slough Borough Council has been allocated £2.6 million for 2025/26 and West Berkshire Council has been allocated just under £1.5 million. It is up to the local authorities to make decisions about the places they create and to prioritise their funding to meet local needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to regularly review the Government’s statutory guidance from 2017 in relation to supporting pupils with allergies at school. \p Catherine McKinnell: Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance on ‘Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school’ makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions, including allergies. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.The department will keep the statutory guidance under review as we take forward our commitment to delivering an inclusive mainstream system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of directly providing a proportion of SEN funding to schools. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Overall schools funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year and will total over £64.8 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.

Local authorities are required by regulations to identify for each of their mainstream schools an amount, sometimes referred to as a notional budget, within their overall budget, which helps the school understand what might be required to meet the additional cost of supporting pupils with special educational needs, up to £6,000 per pupil per annum. Local authorities, working with their schools, calculate this amount using proportions of their local formula factor values in accordance with regulations. Most authorities use a combination of funding from the basic entitlement factor, the deprivation factors, and the low prior attainment factors in their local formula.

Local authorities also support schools with SEND support costs in excess of that £6,000 threshold, by allocating funds directly from their high needs budgets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure full kinship support to all recipients of kinship care. \p Janet Daby: The government recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children.

Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are seeking to mandate local authorities to publish a kinship local offer which sets out the information and support in a local authority's area for children living in kinship care and kinship carers. The measure will also define what kinship care is for the purpose of the requirement of the kinship care local offer. These measures will make it clear for local authorities, schools and other statutory services what support is available to those involved in a kinship arrangement.

In addition, in October 2024, the department published the kinship care statutory guidance for local authorities, which outlines the framework for the provision of support for kinship families. We have also recently announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance.

The government is also extending the delivery of over 140 peer support groups across England, available for all kinship carers to access, where they can come together to share stories, exchange advice and support each other. We are also delivering a package of training and support that all kinship carers across England can access.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to encourage (a) children’s services, (b) educational institutes and (c) health services to direct all new kinship carers to (i) charities dedicated to kinship care, (ii) bereavement services and (iii) other appropriate sources of support. \p Janet Daby: The department is working across government to improve awareness and access to support for kinship carers. Through the Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill, we are enshrining the first definition of kinship care in law and mandating local authorities to publish their kinship local offer, increasing their accountability for ensuring kinship families are getting the information they need.

As set out in statutory guidance in October 2024, local authorities must publish the support and services local authorities should provide to kinship families in a clear, accessible way. The publication should also provide information about charities dedicated to kinship care that practitioners in children’s services, educational institutes and health services can signpost kinship carers to.

The department funds the charity Kinship to deliver over 140 peer support groups and a training package that all kinship carers across England can access. As part of their role, Kinship works with multi-agency partners to ensure that kinship carers are aware of and can access the support they need through these contracts.

Finally, the Children’s Social Care National Framework applies to those who work in and with local authority children’s social care and sets a clear expectation that ‘leaders will know and signpost to the support kinship cares and children in kinship care are eligible for’. Educational institutions and health services therefore share this duty.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) tackle obesity and (b) encourage healthy eating in schools. \p Stephen Morgan: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

We are committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and the department encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating. The national curriculum sets the expectation that pupils are taught about the importance of healthy eating and nutrition.

We encourage all schools to provide healthy, tasty and nutritious food and drink. Governing boards have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the school food standards. In November 2024, the department, along with the National Governance Association, launched online training on school food to support governors and trustees with this duty.

We will break down barriers to physical education (PE) and school sport, ensuring all children can achieve and thrive through increased physical activity. The PE curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, are physically active for sustained periods and lead healthy and active lives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to increase the foster care allowance for children in kinship care. \p Janet Daby: The government recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. They often take on this role at a time when they were least expecting to raise a family, and the department recognises the challenges they face.

In October 2024, the government announced £40 million to trial a new kinship allowance in some local authorities in England. We will test whether paying an allowance can help increase the number of children taken in by kinship carers. ​​We will share further details and the process for selecting local authorities in due course.​

Local authorities have the powers to provide a range of services, including financial support, to support children and families. As local authorities know their carers best, they have the power to decide what financial support should be provided, and any payments should be made in accordance with their model for assessing needs. The government does not set a maximum or minimum allowance. While the government recognises the financial constraints on local authorities, guidance makes it clear that children and young people should receive the support that they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when decisions will be made on the future of (a) Infinity Park Spencer Academy and (b) New House Farm Church of England Primary in South Derbyshire constituency. \p Stephen Morgan: The mainstream free schools review is ongoing and departmental officials are in the final stages of working through the evidence gathered from Derbyshire County Council, Derby Diocesan Academy Trust and the Spencer Academies Trust. No decisions have been made yet and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will not take decisions without considering the key evidence and data.

The department will provide an update in due course.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 49038 tabled by the hon. Member for Twickenham on 29 April 2025. \p Janet Daby: The response to Written Parliamentary Question 49038 was published on 16 May 2025.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to take steps to encourage kinship role recruitment. \p Janet Daby: The department is committed to supporting kinship carers and ensuring that children in kinship care arrangements have the opportunity to thrive. This includes removing barriers from carers coming forward, where that is in the child’s best interests. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance to test whether paying an allowance to cover the additional costs of supporting the child can help increase the number of children taken in by family members and friends. This is the single biggest investment made by government in kinship care to date.

Unlike in foster care, there is no general pool of kinship carers to recruit from. Kinship arrangements happen when a specific child cannot remain with their parents, and a relative or close family friend steps in, often at short notice. As such, terms like ‘recruitment’ or ‘adequate levels’ do not apply in the same way. Instead, the department’s focus is on ensuring that when these situations arise, families are supported to step forward.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will create a register of all orphaned children in the UK that includes (a) the living situation of the child and (b) any support offered to (i) the child and (ii) any person with caring responsibilities. \p Janet Daby: The government is determined to ensure that children who have lost their parents live in a loving and stable home, with the opportunities they deserve.

Many orphaned children will be raised by a friend or family member through kinship care. Where this is in the child’s best interest, the local authority can secure a long term home for the child through a number of arrangements, or this can be done privately. Kinship carers often take on this role when they were least expecting to raise a family. This is why the government has announced £40 million to trial a new kinship allowance. Furthermore, the virtual school head role was expanded in September 2024 to include championing the education, attendance and attainment of children in kinship care.

Where orphaned children are unable to live with wider family networks, they may enter the care system. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a stable, loving home for all children in care. For most children, foster care is likely to be the most suitable option, as they can be supported in a family-centred environment. Our national minimum standards clarify that children in foster care deserve to be treated as any good parent would treat their own children.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure good quality therapy for care experienced children in a timely manner that meets the needs of families. \p Janet Daby: The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 require an assessment of the health needs for every child when they enter care and a plan devised to address their needs. Together with the Department of Health and Social Care, the department is reviewing existing statutory guidance, including these regulations, to further ensure care-experienced young people receive the support needed for their health and wellbeing, including access to the requisite treatment or therapy. The guidance will strengthen expectations on key local and national organisations regarding promotion of the cohort’s physical, emotional and mental health, including acting on any early signs of health issues.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce corporate parenting responsibilities on government departments and relevant public bodies, to ensure these partners take account of care-experienced young people’s vulnerabilities when designing policies and delivering services. This will include organisations that deliver health and wellbeing services.

Annual pupil premium plus funding of £2,570, managed by the local authority’s virtual school head, is available to support looked-after children and can be used to facilitate therapeutic services and support.
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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of exempting parents from fines for school absences caused by their child's (a) neuro diverse needs and (b) pathological demand avoidance. \p Stephen Morgan: Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Thanks to the efforts of the sector, overall absence is moving in the right direction, with children attending over 3.1 million more days this year compared to last, and over 100,000 fewer children persistently absent.

Some children face complex barriers to attendance, such as pupils who have special educational needs and disabilities. Whatever the cause of absence, school staff should always first work with families and pupils to understand the barriers to attendance and provide support where possible. This might include providing pastoral support or making reasonable adjustments where a pupil has a disability. Our statutory guidance expects this ‘support first’ approach from all types of school. The guidance can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance.

The law does not exempt parents from receiving penalty notices for absence based solely on their child’s characteristics. It is up to the school and the local authority to decide whether to issue a penalty notice for unauthorised absence or not. They retain discretion about whether to issue a penalty notice because only they know the specific facts of the particular case.

The decision to issue a penalty notice must be made on an individual case by case basis and should only be used in cases where it is deemed likely to change parental behaviour and improve attendance, and in cases where support has already been provided and has not worked or not been engaged with or is not appropriate. For example, in cases of holidays taken in term-time.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) support, (b) benefits and (c) resources her Department provides to (i) humanitarian and (ii) healthcare workers with PTSD who have worked in warzones and are unable to return to work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: For all Universal Credit (UC) customers with health conditions and disabilities additional support is based on the outcome of a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). The outcome may be that they are found to have Limited Capability for Work (LCW), Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) or be found fit for work. An extra amount of UC is awarded if a customer is found to have LCWRA.

Government is committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits so that it promotes and enables employment among as many people as possible. The system must also work to reduce poverty for disabled people and those with health conditions and support disabled people to live independently. It is also vital to ensure that the system is financially sustainable in the long term.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper, published in March 2025, set out our plans to reform benefits and support for disabled people and people with health conditions. The reforms will ensure the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected, so they can live with dignity and security, while supporting those who can work to do so.

This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure workplaces are accessible for people with (a) multiple medical conditions and (b) less visible disabilities. \p Sir Stephen Timms: This Government is committed to improving the access to and retention of disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace.

To this end, as part of Get Britain Working, the Keep Britain Working review being undertaken by Sir Charlie Mayfield is considering what more employers and government can do to enable employers to recruit and retain people with health conditions and disabilities and promote healthy and inclusive workplaces.

The Pathways to Work paper builds on this by consulting on enhancements to support for workplace adjustments. Earlier this year, we also launched an independent panel of academics with expertise and experiences of neurodiversity to advise us on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work.

In the meantime, we continue to run a digital information service which provided tailored guidance for businesses to support employees to remain in work and to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme which encourages employers to create inclusive and accessible workplaces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department’s consultation entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, updated on 2 May 2025, on (a) the NHS and (b) local government services. \p Sir Stephen Timms: No assessment has yet been made. 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.

There will be no immediate changes. Changes to PIP eligibility and rebalancing of UC are not coming into effect immediately. Our intention is these changes will start to come into effect from April 2026 for UC and November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. PIP is not based on condition diagnosis but on functional disability as the result of one or more conditions, and is awarded as a contribution to the additional costs which result.

We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment which I will lead, and we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_33

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department’s consultation entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, updated on 2 May 2025, whether she plans to commission further impact assessments to consider (a) gender, (b) ethnicity, (c) caring responsibilities and (d) regional disparities. \p Sir Stephen Timms: 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.

There will be no immediate changes. Changes to PIP eligibility and rebalancing of UC are not coming into effect immediately. Our intention is these changes will start to come into effect from April 2026 for UC and November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval.

No one will lose access to PIP immediately. The changes, subject to parliamentary approval, would be brought in from November 2026. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time.

After taking account of behavioural changes, OBR predicts that 370,000 people who will be receiving PIP at the point of implementation of the four point requirement in November 2026, will have lost their PIP Daily Living entitlement by 2029/30. Of all PIP recipients at the point of implementation, 9 in 10 will not lose PIP during the subsequent 3 years from this change.

The number of people currently on PIP and did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we do not want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. PIP is not based on condition diagnosis but on functional disability as the result of one or more conditions, and is awarded as a contribution to the additional costs which result.

We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment which I will lead, and we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_34

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the new four point rule for daily living on households where there are more than one claimant who will no longer qualify. \p Sir Stephen Timms: No assessment has been made. The Department does not hold data on the number of other people living in the households of individual Personal Independence Payment claimants.

Information on the proportion of households that receive multiple Personal Independence Payment awards can be found in the answer to PQ 48279 here Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.

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).

After taking account of behavioural changes, OBR predicts that 370,000 people who will be receiving PIP at the point of implementation of the four point requirement in November 2026, will have lost their PIP Daily Living entitlement by 2029/30. Of all PIP recipients at the point of implementation, 9 in 10 will not lose PIP during the subsequent 3 years from this change.
wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_35

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with moderate but wide-ranging needs are not negatively impacted by the new four point rule for daily living. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why, in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working (published on 18 March), we are consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

The PIP assessment considers the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. Therefore, the impact in each case will depend on an individual’s circumstances. For those already on PIP, the changes will only apply from November 2026 at their next award review, subject to parliamentary approval. People will be reviewed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstance. More information on the impacts and equality analysis for these changes published on 26 March can be found: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK .
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_36

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the proportion of Universal Credit recipients that are not proficient in English; and what support in learning English is provided. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department does not hold information about the proportion of Universal Credit recipients that are not proficient in English.

Skills are essential to helping claimants get into and progress in work. Work Coaches offer all claimants a wide range of support, including referral to essential skills provision like English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). They engage in skills discussions with claimants to provide tailored, flexible advice and support.

DfE funds ESOL provision for adults 19+ through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF). Individuals aged 19 and over can be fully funded or co-funded to study ESOL depending on their employment status and salary, and provided they meet the residency criteria set out in the ASF Funding and Performance Management Rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_37

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason Access to Work funding is not provided for overtime. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Access to Work aims to support the recruitment and retention of disabled people in employment. The grant supports workplace adjustments that go beyond what would normally be expected from an employer through their duty to provide reasonable adjustments as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

To ensure that grants provide adequate support for customers in the majority of circumstances, grant awards for employed customers are based on the number of hours they are contracted to work.

We always encourage people to speak to their employer about any workplace adjustments in the first instance, including in instances where a customer requires additional support beyond their contracted hours.

As part of our Plan for Change, and as set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper published in March, we are consulting on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the programme to help more disabled people into work and support employers, ensuring value for money for taxpayers. We will review all aspects of the Scheme following the conclusion of the consultation, and carefully assess the impact of any proposed changes.

We encourage people to have their views and voices heard on how they think the programme and the welfare system could be improved.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-21 conversation_38

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Bereavement Support Payments in covering the (a) immediate and (b) ongoing costs faced by bereaved families. \p Andrew Western: There has been no recent assessment of the adequacy of Bereavement Support Payment covering (a) immediate and (b) on going costs to bereaved families. The Bereavement Support Payment qualitative research published in 2021 explored how the lump sum and the monthly payments were used.

Bereavement Support Payment is intended to help people through the immediate period following a bereavement. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process, but there is no legal requirement to uprate it.