theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of trends in levels of confidence of workforce unions in public health sector pay review body processes. \p Karin Smyth: This specific assessment has not been made. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has met regularly with unions to help rebuild the relationship between the Government and National Health Service staff.

Whilst we will continue to use the Pay Review Bodies to set pay, we have listened to union concerns about the process, which is why we have committed to remitting in July this year, with an ambition to announce and implement uplifts as early as possible in 2026/27.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his Department's polices of the request of workforce unions for the establishment of direct pay negotiations in the health sector. \p Karin Smyth: The Pay Review Body (PRB) process is the established mechanism for determining pay uplifts in the public sector. PRBs carefully consider evidence submitted to them from a range of stakeholders, including the Government and trade unions.

The Government is committed to a credible, independent PRB process as the way to set pay for National Health Service staff in England, and there are no plans to replace the process with direct negotiations.

However, we have listened to union concerns about the process, which is why we committed to improving the timeline this year and will look to build on that by remitting the PRBs to begin the next pay round in July, putting us on track to announce pay awards as early as possible in 2026/27.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the real terms value of wages set by Government pay awards in the (a) Dentists and Doctors Pay Review Body and (b) NHS Pay Review Body for 2025-26 on trends in the levels of (i) recruitment and (ii) retention of public sector workforce staff. \p Karin Smyth: This specific assessment has not been made. Pay is an important factor in the National Health Service being able to continue to attract and reward talented staff. Pay review bodies are required to take careful account of the economic and financial evidence submitted by the Government, trades unions, representatives of NHS employers, and others to reach their recommendations on pay.

When considering evidence in order to make pay recommendations, the Dentists and Doctors Pay Review Body and the NHS Pay Review Body pay due regard to many factors, including the potential impact of pay on staff recruitment and retention, as a core component of the terms of reference for pay review bodies.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps with the Secretary of State for Defence to create a formal framework for supporting NHS-employed clinicians who serve as medical Reservists. \p Karin Smyth: Clinicians who serve as Reservists play a vital role in supporting both the National Health Service and the Armed Forces. The Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Defence work with NHS Employers to ensure that NHS organisations are supportive and flexible when it comes to people joining the Armed Forces Reserve, and to enable individuals to train and deploy when needed. All NHS trusts are signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and all have been awarded an Employer Recognition Scheme award to reflect their commitment to supporting our Armed Forces, including the Reserves.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of NHS staffing shortages on the availability of medical Reservists for the armed forces. \p Karin Smyth: No specific assessment has been made. NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation and supports workforce development across the National Health Service, runs a programme that is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Defence to encourage NHS organisations to be supportive and flexible employers when it comes to people joining the Armed Forces Reserve. This ensures that people with the critically important skills that the reserves are looking for, such as doctors, are able to train and deploy when needed.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for diagnostic scans in North Shropshire constituency. \p Karin Smyth: In March 2025, the diagnostic waiting list at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was 14,808, 3,229 of which, or 21.8%, were waiting over six weeks. This compares to a waiting list of 12,771 in March 2024, where 3,165 people, or 24.8%, were waiting over six weeks.

To date, the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) has taken a number of steps to reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests. The Shrewsbury Telford and Wrekin Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Telford is providing additional capacity to see patients away from hospital sites, reducing unnecessary hospital visits. This fully operational, standard CDC is providing cardiorespiratory services, which include echocardiograms, spirometry, and electrocardiograms, as well as radiology, which includes computed tomography, x-ray, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging scans, phlebotomy, and teledermatology services. The CDC is providing capacity for approximately 13,000 diagnostic tests each month.

In addition to the CDC, there are currently two mobile magnetic resonance imaging scanners on site at the Princess Royal Hospital, and an additional room for scanning non-obstetric ultrasound patient referrals has been opened. Through the introduction of this additional capacity, imaging waiting lists have reduced by 41% from the end of January 2025 across the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB. In January, 58% of imaging patients had a scan within six weeks of referral and, in May, 87% of patients had a scan within six weeks of referral.

The Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB recognises that there is further to go in reducing diagnostic waiting times, and the system is now looking to extend opening hours at the Shrewsbury Telford and Wrekin CDC, in order to provide additional diagnostic capacity across all radiology services, alongside current magnetic resonance imaging services that are already open 12 hours a day, seven days a week. This will be supported by continuing work with the independent sector, through the outsourcing of reporting, to ensure scan results are available in a timely manner. Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are committed to sustaining the improvements they are making to ensure patients are having the tests and scans they need at the right time.

NHS England is also engaging with the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB as part of the process to identify the most appropriate locations for new CDCs, and therefore there is the possibility of a second CDC for the population of Shropshire. This process considers that any new CDC will be positioned in a location that addresses local need and health inequalities. Details of future CDCs will be communicated in due course.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reform dental contracts. \p Stephen Kinnock: To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of National Health Service dentists. There are no perfect payment systems and careful consideration needs to be given to any potential changes to the complex dental system, so that we deliver a system better for patients and the profession.

We are continuing to meet the British Dental Association and other representatives of the dental sector to discuss how we can best deliver our shared ambition to improve access for NHS dental patients.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the reasons for the frequency of recent interruptions to online services on the Parliamentary estate. \p Nick Smith: The recent interruption to network services was caused by a problem with the way Parliament-issued devices, such as laptops, connect to our network; this prevented users from accessing the corporate wi-fi network. During this period, users were advised of alternative ways to access services, by connecting to our Wi-Fi Connect service.

The issue has now been resolved and there should be no further impact to users but, as a precaution, wherever possible future work in this area will be scheduled to coincide with recess periods. A representative from the PDS Members’ Services Team is happy to meet with the Member to discuss this and any other issues arising from the outage.

The Digital Service manages all technical issues with the potential to have significant impact to Parliament through a dedicated “Major Incident” process. This is mobilised to help both triage and resolve the technical issue and also to manage the impact, including keeping users informed and implementing any workarounds to minimise disruption.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with British Rowing on ensuring the safety of British athletes. \p Stephanie Peacock: The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.

The Government is aware of the deeply concerning recent media reports in relation to rowing. We have not spoken directly to British Rowing, but have raised this with UK Sport and Sport England, who are both monitoring the situation. UK Sport has also confirmed they are in contact with British Rowing and encourage any member of staff or athlete on Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes to report allegations of unacceptable behaviour to Sport Integrity, their confidential reporting line.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage young people to engage with (a) Scouts, (b) Girlguiding and (c) other youth organisations in Fylde. \p Stephanie Peacock: This Government recognises the transformative role that youth services play in young people’s lives, including the important role that Scouts and Girlguiding play in providing young people with opportunities to take part in new activities, make new friends and build skills for life. I have met with both organisations in my capacity as Minister for Youth.

In a written statement on 15 May 2025, the Secretary of State announced DCMS’ commitment to provide over £28 million to increase access to more and better enriching activities for young people. This includes £7.5 million funding to increase access to uniformed youth groups in areas of unmet demand and reach more young people from harder to reach communities, who are underrepresented in these organisations. Over £2.4 million of this funding has been awarded to the Scouts and over £1.4 million to Girlguiding in 2025/2026. It is the organisation's decision on how best to allocate the funding to meet objectives.

We are also co-producing a new National Youth Strategy with young people and the sectors that support them. The strategy will allow us to put young people back in charge of their own destiny, provide them with meaningful choices and chances and rebuild a thriving and sustainable sector. The Strategy will be published in the summer.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on funding for (a) leisure and (b) swimming facilities. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government recognises that sports clubs and facilities are important to communities up and down the country. High-quality, inclusive facilities help people of all ages get active and provide vital facilities for children to learn to swim and about water safety. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to them and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure swimming facilities lies at local authority level. We are committed to supporting Local Government, recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the sector and by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most through the Local Government Finance Settlement.

The Government encourages local authorities and local leaders to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities (including swimming pools) for the communities they serve, investing in sport and physical activity with a place-based approach, to meet the needs of individual communities. This is complemented by the support and guidance available through the Government’s Arm’s Length Body, Sport England.

Sport England tracks usage of swimming pools through Moving Communities to understand usage, including by children and by a user’s home postcode, to build an evidence base on usage in areas of higher deprivation.

Sport England are closely monitoring swimming pool stock through their Active Places tool. This evidence shows that since 2015 there has been a total of 291 swimming pool closures (on sites owned by Local Authorities), whilst there have been a total of 254 new swimming pools opened during this period.

We will continue to engage with a full range of stakeholders to explore how we can work towards securing a vibrant future for swimming pools, enabling them to continue delivering their full potential for public health, economic growth, and the wellbeing of our communities.

All future funding of sports facilities beyond 2025/26 will be considered following the Spending Review and the Government will set out further plans in due course.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame of 13 March 2025 on the honours list. \p Stephanie Peacock: A response was sent to the hon. Member for Henley and Thame on Monday 9th June 2025. I apologise for the delay.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to introduce a national strategy for (a) community leisure provision and (b) swimming facilities. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government recognises that sports clubs and facilities are important to communities up and down the country. High-quality, inclusive facilities help people get active. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to them and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity.

Sport and physical activity, especially activities such as swimming, play a vital role in tackling the health challenges facing our nation through helping to treat and manage a wide range of health conditions. Swimming is not just a great way to get active, it is a fundamental life skill.

Sport England Active Places data evidences that since 2015 there has been a total of 291 swimming pool closures (on sites owned by Local Authorities), whilst there have been a total of 254 new swimming pools opened during this period.

We will continue to engage with Swim England, ukactive, and other key stakeholders to explore how we can work towards securing a vibrant future for swimming pools, enabling them to continue delivering their full potential for public health, economic growth, and the wellbeing of our communities.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure swimming facilities lies at local authority level. We are committed to supporting Local Government, recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the sector and by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most through the Local Government Finance Settlement.

We do not have plans to set targets, as it is for local areas to determine what they need, but we believe that robust plans should be in place.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to extend funding for (a) free and (b) subsidised swimming for children from low-income families. \p Stephanie Peacock: Local Authorities are responsible for swimming provision, taking decisions locally in line with local strategies and contractual positions.

Pupils have the opportunity at primary school to learn to swim and be safe in and around water. The National Curriculum for Physical Education states that all schools must provide swimming instruction in either key stage 1 or 2 and that pupils should be taught to:

swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres

use a range of strokes effectively (for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke)

perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Primary schools can use their PE and sport Premium funding to provide top-up swimming and water safety lessons for those pupils that do not meet national curriculum requirements after they have completed core swimming and water safety lessons.

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone and we recognise that there are barriers which prevent some people from getting active. We are committed to breaking down the barriers that contribute to these persisting inequalities in participation and want to ensure that everyone can experience the physical, mental and social benefits that come with being active.

As part of this, Sport England’s long-term strategy, Uniting the Movement, prioritises tackling these longstanding inequalities, focusing on providing more support and more investment targeted towards least active groups.

Sport England also track usage of swimming pools through Moving Communities to understand usage levels by children and by a user’s home postcode, to build an evidence base on usage in areas of higher deprivation.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure greater transparency on the individual works of art displayed by public bodies from the Government Art Collection. \p Chris Bryant: The Government Art Collection contains over 15,000 works of art which are displayed in UK government buildings in the UK, and in more than 125 countries around the world. All artworks in the Government Art Collection are listed online and their locations can be searched.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of AI on creative industries. \p Chris Bryant: The government has laid out its assessment of this issue in several debates this year and has published a consultation on the subject of AI and Copyright. AI is increasingly being used as a tool in the creative process, from music and film production to publishing, architecture and design. As of September 2024 more than 38% of Creative Industries businesses said they have used AI technologies, with nearly 50% using AI to improve business operations.

It may foster innovation and efficiency but it may also significantly disrupt the sector. Under the Data (Use and Access) Bill the government has committed to setting out a detailed economic impact assessment and a report on the use of copyright material for AI training. Our Secretary of State has also committed to a series of roundtables with DSIT Secretary of State Peter Kyle with representatives from across the CIs, to ensure our brilliant artists benefit in working with the AI sector to harness the opportunities this technology provides.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2025 to Question 55112 on Music Venues: Finance, what steps her Department is taking to ensure equitable access to the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund in (a) Fylde constituency, (b) regions with fewer existing grassroots music venues and (c) all English regions. \p Chris Bryant: The Supporting Grassroots Music Fund is open to applications from rehearsal and recording studios, promoters, festivals, and venues for live and electronic music performance, from across the whole of England. Arts Council England supports and encourages applicants from across England including through its network of area-based relationship managers.

The Government and the live music industry are working together to drive progress on an industry-led levy on tickets for stadium and arena shows, to support grassroots music. We welcome commitments by artists and the wider industry to implement the ticket levy, and steps taken by industry to set up a charitable trust to distribute funds from the levy.

As part of the Spending Review 2025, the Government has announced a significant increase in funding for the Creative Industries. The Government’s industrial strategy is prioritising the creative industries and we will set out actions to drive music sector growth in the upcoming Creative Industries Sector Plan.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed US tariffs on foreign-produced films on the UK film industry. \p Chris Bryant: There are no tariffs on the UK film industry, but we continue to monitor the situation closely and recognise the seriousness of this issue.

We continue to take a calm and balanced approach to our discussions with the US following our recent UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

The US and the UK have a special, mutually beneficial relationship, unique cultural and linguistic ties. Our film sectors are heavily connected, founded on decades of partnership and exchange.

Our commitment to helping our film and TV industry flourish remains absolute and it is important to maintain the conditions that allow our sectors to continue to flourish together and avoid measures which undermine these conditions.
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Chris Webb:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations on voluntary organisations. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport welcomes the development of new guidance in the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s code of practice that provides legal clarity and practical support for organisations to ensure that the rights of all are protected under the law.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on revisions to its code of practice for services, public functions and associations in light of the recent UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland v the Scottish Ministers. We encourage voluntary sector organisations that have an interest to participate in the consultation, which is due to close on 30 June 2025.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is timetable is for the publication of the Defence Investment Plan. \p Maria Eagle: As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the Defence Investment Plan will be published in the Autumn.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to produce the first attack submarine. \p Maria Eagle: The SSNA Programme is currently in the detailed design phase, which includes determining crew numbers. The aim is to deliver the first UK submarines into service in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute-Class vessels.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to increase the Army Active Reserve numbers by 20 per cent. \p Al Carns: As the SDR has recommended, it is our intention to increase the UK's Active Reserve forces by at least 20 per cent.

We recognise the need to adopt a whole of society approach to defence and the requirement for defence in depth. We are committed to growing the reserves. This will be part of an integrated approach to growing all of Defence’s Reserves. We are looking hard at policies to ensure we can meet the intent when funding allows. In the meantime, we are making better use of the resources available already by urgently reinvigorating how we engage with those ex-Regulars who have a mobilisation obligation (the Strategic Reserve), and reviewing our Reserves model. We are also improving recruitment and retention within the Active Reserves through more flexible careers, better accommodation, and more stable, family-friendly postings.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department took to consult with service (a) personnel and (b) veterans during the development of the Strategic Defence Review 2025. \p Al Carns: The MOD issued a call for evidence, explicitly inviting responses from military personnel and veterans that saw 1,700 individuals provide over 8,000 responses. We also conducted an internal survey to gather additional insights from those currently serving which saw 800 responses. The Review and Challenge Panels also included serving and retired military personnel.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take in order to implement Recommendation 1 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. \p Luke Pollard: This Government is endorsing the vision and accepting all 62 recommendations in the SDR, which will be implemented. We are developing a new Defence Investment Plan to deliver the SDR's new vision. We will ensure the Plan is deliverable and affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technology opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. This will supersede the old-style Defence Equipment Plan. This will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our frontline forces at speed and, importantly, invest in and grow the UK economy. The Defence Investment Plan will be completed in Autumn 2025. Another key factor in success in the coming years will be the Defence Reform programme which is driving the deepest defence reforms for 50 years. The SDR recognises that one cannot succeed without the other and that where the SDR states what Defence must do in the next decade and beyond, Defence Reform will ultimately determine how, and how successfully, it is delivered.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered providing a sea route for humanitarian aid to Gaza. \p Luke Pollard: The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) leads on coordinating the HMG’s humanitarian response to deliver lifesaving assistance to the civilian population in Gaza.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided military support when needed to facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance, including through providing support to the Cypriot Maritime Aid Corridor and the US’ temporary pier initiative in 2024.

We continue to monitor the situation and consider what further assistance Defence could contribute to the HMG and international efforts.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the Defence Industrial Strategy. \p Maria Eagle: This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned.

The Defence Industrial Strategy will be published in the coming months.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many permanent civil servants in his Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Al Carns: At any point in time, there is likely to be a small number of individuals who have been displaced due to restructures within their business units or, for example, have returned from a loan from another department and their role no longer exists. The exact number changes on a day-to-day basis.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to include specific reference to LGBT veterans in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan. \p Al Carns: This Government acknowledges the historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the Armed Forces was regrettable, wrong and completely unacceptable. We are currently developing a new Veterans’ Strategy to be published later this year. It will be inclusive of the needs and experiences of all veterans, including the LGBT community.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54377 on Veterans: Housing, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using data from Op Fortitude to undertake a review of the supply and demand of single occupancy housing for veterans. \p Al Carns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June 2025 to Question 57385.

Veterans: Housing (docx, 16.9KB)
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the 2.5% increase to defence spending on 25 February 2025 will fund the Chagos deal. \p Luke Pollard: The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question (a) 56739, (b) 56740 and (c) 56741 on Strategic Defence Review, tabled on 3 June 2025. \p Luke Pollard: I responded to the right hon. Member's Questions 56739 and 56740 on 11 June 2025 and to Question 56741 on 10 June 2025.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long the Global Combat Air Programme development phase is expected to last. \p Maria Eagle: Work is ongoing with our GCAP Partners Japan and Italy to establish the core platform concept and set up the structures needed, ready to launch the Development Phase in 2025.

The programme's ambition remains to deliver an aircraft into service from 2035, and the detailed milestones will be agreed following completion of the Concept and Assessment phase.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_137

Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the expected change in cost for Defence Nuclear Enterprise until 2033. \p Maria Eagle: As stated in an update to the Public Accounts Committee in December 2023, the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) forecast an equipment plan spend of £117.8 billion over the period 2023-33. Over the same period to 2033, the current forecast for DNE equipment plan spend has increased by about £10 billion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_138

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to introduce a national alternative to the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme. \p Janet Daby: The government is committed to ensuring every young person can develop the skills they need to succeed in work and life. We want them to have access to good quality careers advice as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity, under our Plan for Change.

Nationally, schools and colleges can access a range of digital and in-person support to help them inform their students about technical routes, such as apprenticeships. This support includes T Levels Ambassador Networks, the Skills for Apprenticeships support page (part of the government’s Skills for Life – ‘It All Starts With Skills’ communications campaign), and The Careers and Enterprise Company’s (CEC) resource directory.

Locally, through careers hubs, data and front-line insights support conversations about what is preventing take-up of technical and vocational pathways at the local level, enabling local partners to devise solutions. The government will continue to invest in high-quality careers education for young people, including boosting skills pathways such as apprenticeships and other technical education routes.

We will continue investing in wider careers infrastructure, including careers hubs, to ensure successful implementation of our careers programme.

Careers hubs, supported by CEC, will continue locally to address barriers relating to apprenticeships and technical education awareness and uptake.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_139

Amanda Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing student loans for apprentices. \p Janet Daby: Apprenticeships are jobs with training, allowing apprentices to earn a wage whilst getting hands-on industry experience. Apprenticeships training is funded by the government and by employers, meaning that apprentices do not have to pay towards the cost of their training. For this reason, apprentices are not eligible for student finance, but we remain committed to ensuring that apprentice wages support the attraction of talented individuals into apprenticeships.

On 1 April 2025, the Apprentice National Minimum Wage (ANMW) increased by 18% to £7.55 per hour, from £6.40, which will help to encourage more young people to upskill via apprenticeships. Apprentices under 19, or aged 19 and above and in the first year of their apprenticeship, are entitled to the ANMW. In all other cases, apprentices must receive at least the correct national minimum wage for their age, although many employers choose to pay more than the minimum.

This government also wants to ensure that more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can undertake apprenticeships. We continue to pay a bursary of £3,000 to apprentices under the age of 25 who have been, or are, in local authority care. The bursary is paid in instalments over the first year of the apprenticeship, supporting care leavers as they transition into employment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_140

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of withdrawing funding for level 7 apprenticeships for people aged 22 and over on workforce planning in critical public services. \p Janet Daby: This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

From January 2026 the government will no longer fund level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22. This will enable apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers.

This decision was informed by a wide range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding.

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_141

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Level 7 apprenticeships in helping people to attain higher-level qualifications while in paid employment. \p Janet Daby: The department knows that level 7 apprenticeships can open up opportunities for young people, supporting them to begin careers as solicitors or accountants for example, and we are keen for this to continue. That is why, in line with our mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we will continue to fund level 7 apprenticeships for those under the age of 22, or those aged 22 to 24 who have an education, health and care plan or have been in local authority care. We are also encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. This will enable apprenticeship opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve therapeutic continuity for adoptive families. \p Janet Daby: The department has supported therapeutic continuity in a range of ways. Therapy which began in 2024/25 could continue into 2025/26 for up to 12 months under transitional funding arrangements. Applications may continue to be made for therapy lasting up to 31 March 2026. The eligibility criteria for the adoption and special guardianship support fund have remained stable, enabling children to continue receiving therapy. The department has also maintained the range of therapies which may be funded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_143

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49523 on Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, what her planned timetable is for making available the equalities impact assessment. \p Janet Daby: The equalities impact assessment will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_144

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, whether her Department has considered (a) changes to interest rates, (b) changes to repayment thresholds and (c) other policy changes to help prevent loan balances from increasing despite regular repayments. \p Janet Daby: The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. The student finance system removes upfront financial barriers so that everyone with the ability and desire to enter higher education can do so.

Student loan debt is not like other debt. Monthly repayments depend on earnings, not on interest rates or the amount borrowed. No-one who earns under the student loan repayment threshold is required to make any repayments. At the end of the loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy. No commercial loan offers this level of protection.

Furthermore, since August 2023, loans for new undergraduate borrowers have been issued on Plan 5 terms. These have an interest rate set in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation. This means Plan 5 borrowers will not repay more than they originally borrow over the lifetime of their loans, when adjusted for inflation.

The department will set out longer-term plans for higher education reform as part of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper this summer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_145

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure that young people with care experience have support available from local authorities until the age of 30. \p Janet Daby: The department is committed to tackling stigma and discrimination faced by care-experienced children and young people. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce corporate parenting responsibilities for government departments and other relevant public bodies. This will ensure corporate parents are aware of issues that could negatively impact on children in care and care leavers.

The leaving care grant for care leavers was increased from £2,000 to £3,000 from April 2023.

To support them to engage in education, employment, and training, care leavers are entitled to a £3,000 bursary for apprenticeships and a £2,000 bursary for university. They are also prioritised for the 16-19 bursary in further education.

Over 600 businesses, including John Lewis, Sky, and Amazon, have signed the department’s care leaver covenant, offering employment and training opportunities. The government's civil service care leaver internship scheme has provided over 1,000 paid jobs across government. Care leavers who access Staying Close will receive support to engage in education, employment and training.

The government currently has no plans to extend support to care leavers to age 30.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-13 conversation_146

Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to review the age cap on funding for (a) Level 6 and (b) Level 7 apprenticeships. \p Janet Daby: This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

From January 2026 the government will no longer fund level 7 apprenticeships except for young apprentices under the age of 22. This will enable apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers.

Level 6 apprenticeships will continue to be funded for all ages (16+) by the government.