theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on NHS GP practices. \p Stephen Kinnock: We have made necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise will be implemented in April 2025.

We recently announced a proposed funding uplift for general practices (GPs) for 2025/26 of £889 million, representing a 7.2% cash growth, estimated at approximately 4.8% in real terms growth. This is the largest uplift to GP funding since the beginning of the five-year framework, and means that we are reversing the recent trend, with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to GPs. We are currently consulting the profession on corresponding reforms to the GP Contract that would improve access, increase continuity of care, enhance GP recruitment, and reduce bureaucracy.
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Sam Carling:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of challenges of accessing mental health provision in rural communities. \p Stephen Kinnock: Waiting lists for those wanting to access mental health provisions are too high across England, in areas with fewer mental health services and including those in rural communities.

People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve or need, which is why we will fix the system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health and that people can be confident of accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.

Nationally, we plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across children and adult mental health services in England to reduce delays and provide faster treatment. We will also introduce access to a specialist mental health professional in every school.

In addition, people of all ages who are in crisis or who are concerned about a family or loved one can now call 111, select the mental health option, and speak to a trained mental health professional. National Health Service staff can guide callers with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternative services, like crisis cafés or safe havens, which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to accident and emergency or a hospital admission. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to commission care to meet the needs of their local population.
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of NHS England's Op COURAGE service in providing mental health support to veterans including the (a) accessibility of that service and (b) effectiveness of signposting to that service by GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England commissions Op COURAGE, an integrated mental health and wellbeing service for veterans. Op COURAGE has received over 5,000 referrals since April 2024. In addition to these services, integrated care boards commission NHS Talking Therapies, which have received over 13,400 referrals over the same time period.

In the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, veterans can access National Health Service commissioned mental health services through their general practice (GP). Veterans can also contact Op COURAGE directly themselves, or a referral can be made on their behalf by a clinician or a family member. The service has been designed to support veterans from all areas, and is delivered from a range of locations, including NHS trusts, GPs, Poppy Shops, veteran hubs, and drop-in centres.

In England, the NHS has commissioned the veteran friendly GP accreditation programme to recognise and support practices in delivering the best possible care and treatment for patients who have served in the armed forces. This includes referrals to Op COURAGE, where it is appropriate to do so. As of January 2025, 99% of primary care networks had at least one accredited GP in their area.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support dental laboratories; and whether he plans to use a review of NHS Dentistry contracts to protect them. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.

The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.

The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to improve public oral health education in rural areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will take steps to work with the Lead Ministers for Disability to help ensure disabled children receive specialist equipment in a timely manner. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's New Hospitals Programme: plan for implementation, published on 20 January 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delay in the Royal Berkshire Hospital's construction start date to 2037-2039 on (a) patients and (b) staff. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to make Sleepio accessible to NHS patients in Lambeth. \p Karin Smyth: Sleepio is available for local commissioning by integrated care systems should they choose to commission this product, as part of local insomnia care and treatment pathways.

No central assessments relating to funding or availability of this product are currently planned.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making women with endometriosis eligible for flu vaccinations. \p Andrew Gwynne: Eligibility for the seasonal influenza vaccination programme is based, each year, on the expert advice and recommendations of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) with the aim to protect those most at risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. This advice is kept under regular review.

The latest JCVI advice for the 2025/26 flu season is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccines-2025-to-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-influenza-vaccines-for-2025-to-2026
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 23033 on Equality, whether the duty will require police and crime commissioners to prioritise specific (a) crime types, (b) localities and (c) minority groups. \p Anneliese Dodds: The duty will not require police and crime commissioners to prioritise specific (a) crime types, (b) localities or (c) minority groups. The duty requires specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage.
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Kirsteen Sullivan:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to (a) enact section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 and (b) take steps to improve gender representation in candidates for (i) local and (ii) devolved elections ahead of those elections. \p Anneliese Dodds: I am proud that progress is being made, with 40% of MPs now women, but we want to see this replicated at all levels of Government. Last summer my Ministerial colleague Bridget Philipson met with members of 50:50 Parliament, where they discussed the importance of gender equality in parliament and the barriers that women can face.

The government is committed to commencing the Equality Act 2010’s provision requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections. We are currently exploring when to commence the section 106 provisions. We believe that every party has a duty to demonstrate greater progress towards better representation of the population that they seek to serve.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Independent review of children's social care: final report, published on 23 May 2022, whether she plans to implement the recommendation on care experience and caring as protected characteristics. \p Anneliese Dodds: We know care leavers have some of the worst long-term life outcomes in society. We are therefore committed to ensuring children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in education, employment and training. Through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill we will be driving forward our commitments on children’s social care, including improved support for care leavers.

As announced by the Prime Minister on 24 September 2024, care leavers under age 25 will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing. We have also established a care leaver Ministerial Board, which brings together Ministers from key Departments, to improve support for care leavers across Government.

On the specific question of protected characteristics, the Government often receives requests for new characteristics such as "carer experience"” to be added to the Equality Act 2010. While many of these carry merit, it would not be practical to legislate because of the public and private sector burdens that this would create. The Equality Act 2010 will already protect many care leavers under the indirect discrimination provisions, because a disproportionately high number are likely to be from an ethnic minority and/ or have a disability. They may also benefit from the age discrimination protections in the Act.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Solicitor General, whether her Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Lucy Rigby: The Attorney General’s Office does not offer its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. The Civil Service Management Code states that, ‘Departments and agencies may only grant shared parental leave in accordance with the statutory requirements governing eligibility for this category of leave’.

However, some staff could qualify for statutory shared parental leave on their first day of service with a particular department because they already have service with another department.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Solicitor General, whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. \p Lucy Rigby: The Attorney General’s Office receives shared HR services from the Government Legal Department (GLD) and the criteria for applying for paternity leave is that the individual must have worked for GLD for at least 26 continuous weeks or immediately prior to the 15th week before the baby’s due date (where there is a pregnancy) and for adoption, either by the end of the week they are matched with the child (UK adoptions) or the date the child enters the UK or when they want their pay to start (overseas adoptions).

Some staff could qualify for statutory paternity leave on their first day of service with their department because they already have qualifying service with another Civil Service organisation.

Under the Employment Rights Bill currently before Parliament, subject to Parliamentary approval paternity leave will become a day one right across the Civil Service.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
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Alison Griffiths:To ask the Solicitor General, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Lucy Rigby: All dismissals are handled in line with current legislation and appropriate Codes of Practice. Where an employee feels they may have been unfairly dismissed, appropriate internal appeal routes may be instigated.

Where an employee is unable to solve a problem internally they may be able to go to an employment tribunal to claim unfair dismissal, as set out in legislation.

This position will be reviewed when unfair dismissal rights are updated in line with proposals in the Employment Rights Bill.
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Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Kirsty McNeill: All dismissals are handled in line with current legislation and appropriate Codes of Practice. Where an employee feels they may have been unfairly dismissed, appropriate internal appeal routes may be instigated.

Where an employee is unable to solve a problem internally they may be able to go to an employment tribunal to claim unfair dismissal, as set out in legislation.

This position will be reviewed when unfair dismissal rights are updated in line with proposals in the Employment Rights Bill.

It may be helpful to explain that the Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers and determine the terms and conditions for their employees.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. \p Kirsty McNeill: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers and determine the terms and conditions for their employees.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Kirsty McNeill: No. The Civil Service Management Code states that, ‘Departments and agencies may only grant shared parental leave in accordance with the statutory requirements governing eligibility for this category of leave.’ However, some staff could qualify for statutory shared parental leave on their first day of service with a particular department because they already have service with another department.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.

It may be helpful to explain that the Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers and determine the terms and conditions for their employees.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had discussions with Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce on oil and gas licences in the North Sea. \p Kirsty McNeill: North Sea oil and gas will continue to be an important part of the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. The Government will soon consult on the implementation of our manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in the North Sea, and - while this process is being led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - the Secretary of State is happy to continue to discuss this matter with a variety of stakeholders, as required. Aberdeen and the wider Northeast remain central to our clean energy ambitions.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to balance the development of offshore renewable energy projects with the sustainability of Scotland’s fishing industry. \p Kirsty McNeill: The UK and Scottish Governments share the ambition for Scotland to lead and fully benefit from the clean energy transition. But this change needs to be managed responsibly and in dialogue with a range of industries. Marine planning and fisheries are devolved matters and it is therefore for the Scottish Government to determine the optimal balance between the two, in line with their broader priorities.

My Department remains in contact with Scotland’s fishing industry and the Scottish Government on a range of issues, as we manage the transition to net zero.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) reduce bureaucracy on and (b) help increase the competitiveness in international markets of Scotland's seafood industry. \p Kirsty McNeill: Fisheries and marine policy are devolved matters and therefore for the Scottish Government to determine within Scotland.

Promoting Scotland internationally is one of the Scotland Office’s four priorities. As demonstrated through the Secretary of State for Scotland’s recent trip to Southeast Asia, the Brand Scotland programme is all about championing Scotland's leading industries and export products in international markets, such as Scottish seafood.

Meanwhile this government is developing a long-overdue industrial strategy, working to attract investment, and looking at measures to ensure regulation is proportionate and helps support businesses in Scotland and across the UK.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Scottish fishing industry on negotiations with the EU on access to British waters by EU fishing vessels. \p Kirsty McNeill: My Department is in regular contact with Scotland’s fishing industry and the Scottish Government on a range of issues.

My colleagues at Defra are also committed to engaging with fisheries stakeholders across the UK, and to co-delivering its policies and programmes in partnership with them. We will also always listen to what the EU has to say on the matter, but we are absolutely determined to protect the interests of our fishers, including in Scotland, and continue to fulfil our international commitments to protect the marine environment.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on new Small Modular Reactors in Scotland. \p Kirsty McNeill: New nuclear power stations will play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. This Labour Government was elected on a promise to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector, including through Small Modular Reactors.

The Scottish Government is responsible for energy consenting in Scotland, and is opposed to building new nuclear power stations using current technologies. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are committed to working closely with its ministers, to ensure communities in Scotland can benefit from this essential transition.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with Sumburgh Airport on the proposed increase in Air Passenger Duty. \p Kirsty McNeill: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced increases to Air Passenger Duty (APD) in last year’s Autumn Budget, to take effect from April this year.

This Government is committed to supporting the aviation industry and passengers while restoring stability, increasing investment, and reforming our economy. However, this Government inherited a £22 billion black hole from the previous administration, and as such, the Chancellor has had to make difficult decisions. Against this backdrop, the UK Government has added just £2 to APD rates in 2026-27 for those flying economy to short-haul destinations, but has increased higher rates for private jets by 50%. This is intended to ensure that contributions are proportionate and fair, while minimising impacts for the majority of travellers.

The Secretary of State for Scotland has met with Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports since being appointed and will continue to engage with the aviation sector on a range of issues.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the hon. Member for Warrington North, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the percentage increases were for (a) MP's staffing budgets and (b) IPSA staffing expenditure between financial years 2018-19 and 2024-25. \p Charlotte Nichols: IPSA's proposed budgets are scrutinised each year by the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Authority and approved by the House of Commons.

MPs' staffing budgets have increased by 63.3% between 2018-19 and 2024-25. In 2018-19, the London Staffing Budget was £164,460 and the non-London Saffing Budget was £153,620. In 2024-25, the London Staffing Budget was £268,550 and the non-London Saffing Budget was £250,820.

IPSA staffing expenditure has increased by 47.8% between 2018-19 and 2023-24 (the most recent year for which there is a full year expenditure) in response to MPs clearly expressed wish to see service standards significantly improved.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to break down the barriers to opportunity in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire. \p Georgia Gould: The department is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity for children and young people in both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire. Our approach is rooted in evidence and targeted investment to ensure every child has the best start in life.

‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’, sets out the immediate steps to deliver on our commitment to have a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn. The strategy is backed by close to £1.5 billion over the next three years to make early education and childcare more accessible and affordable, improve quality in the early years and reception, and expand and strengthen family services. In October this year, Staffordshire received a development grant of £262,449.

In Staffordshire, we have funded eight schools to establish new breakfast clubs from this term, two of which are in Newcastle-under-Lyme, improving readiness to learn. Alongside this, we have supported the opening of eight new or expanded school-based nurseries, increasing access to high-quality early years provision.

We have worked in partnership with local authorities and schools to improve attendance at schools in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, tackling the biggest barrier to children achieving at school. We are working in close partnership with Staffordshire County Council to deliver ambitious targets for raising attainment, particularly for disadvantaged pupils as they begin statutory education so more children achieve a good level of development. Through the regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme, we are supporting 12 schools across the county to enable young people to achieve and thrive.

These measures form part of a wider strategy to reduce inequalities and ensure that children in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across Staffordshire can access the opportunities they deserve.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure school closures due to extreme weather do not affect educational outcomes. \p Georgia Gould: It is for individual settings and responsible bodies to decide on closures based on their own risk assessment. Closures should be a last resort, and the priority is to keep settings open where safe. The department’s guidance for schools includes information on remote education when pupils cannot attend. Remote learning should only be used when attendance is impossible but learning can continue.

The department’s emergency planning guidance outlines how schools should provide remote education, and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings#exam-and-assessment-disruption. The department has also issued non-statutory guidance on providing remote education guidance for schools which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-guidance-for-schools/providing-remote-education-guidance-for-schools. Guidance for parents on remote education is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-information-to-parents-template.

Schools can make use of free resources provided by Oak National Academy, which includes comprehensive, curriculum-aligned lesson materials across all key stages and subjects. These can be accessed online and adapted by teachers. More information is available at: https://www.thenational.academy.

All schools and colleges must have contingency plans to ensure exams and assessments proceed during disruption. Detailed guidance on managing exam or assessment disruption can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exam-system-contingency-plan-england-wales-and-northern-ireland/what-schools-and-colleges-should-do-if-exams-or-other-assessments-are-seriously-disrupted.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the potential implications for her policies of the outcome of the joint Ofsted and CQC Area SEND Inspection published on 13 May 2025. \p Georgia Gould: Cambridgeshire local area partnership was inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) from 27 to 31 January 2025. The inspection outcome was that the local areas partnership’s arrangements lead to inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Five areas for improvement were identified and the department is working with the local partnership to monitor improvement in these five areas.

Where a council does not meet its duties, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. We offer a range of universal, targeted and intensive support through department-managed programmes, such as our sector led improvement Partners.

The current Ofsted/CQC area SEND inspection framework was launched in January 2023. All local areas are due to receive a full inspection under this framework by the end of 2027, driving better outcomes and standards in the system.

As part of our Plan for Change, the department is determined to fix the SEND system and restore the trust of parents. We will bring forward a full Schools White Paper early in the new year.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether any assessment has been made of the potential impact of allowing academy trusts to prioritise feeder schools within their own trust in their admissions policy on the average distance that children have to travel to school. \p Georgia Gould: The School Admissions Code permits a trust naming another school in the trust as a feeder school. As with any selection of a feeder school, the trust must ensure that the named school is chosen on reasonable grounds, and the arrangements must be lawful and fair according to local circumstances.

Admission authorities must consult on any change to their admissions arrangements. Once set, anyone who believes a school's admission arrangements are unfair or unlawful can object to the independent schools adjudicator.

In its 2015/16 annual report, the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) noted an increasing trend for trusts to name all trust primaries as feeders for a secondary school, for reasons including promoting continuity and reflecting trust-wide links.

The report noted some objections to feeder school arrangements were upheld as unfair where distant feeders were prioritised over local children, resulting in longer journeys. However, where priority for distant feeders came after priority for local children, this was unlikely to be found unfair.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure teachers receive the necessary training to support pupils with ME/CFS. \p Georgia Gould: The department engages regularly with schools on a range of issues.

Schools should ensure they are aware of any pupils with medical conditions and have policies and processes in place to ensure these can be well managed. Governing bodies must ensure that the arrangements they put in place are sufficient to meet their statutory responsibilities and that policies, plans, procedures and systems are properly and effectively implemented. This includes the duty under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions and the duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Policies should set out how staff will be supported in carrying out their role to support pupils, including how training needs are assessed and how training is commissioned and provided. Any member of school staff providing support to a pupil with medical needs should have received suitable training.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all school children receive adequate first aid training. \p Georgia Gould: All state funded schools are required to teach first aid as part of the statutory health education set out in the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance. Independent schools are required to cover health education as part of their responsibility to provide personal, social, health and economic education.

The statutory RSHE guidance includes basic first aid for primary school children, for example dealing with common injuries, such as head injuries. Pupils in secondary schools are taught further first aid, for example how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the purpose of defibrillators and how to use them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_7

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has undertaken research on the main causal factors of trends in the number of young children presenting with special needs. \p Georgia Gould: International evidence indicates that the number of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is also increasing in comparable countries. Although definitions and systems vary considerably, the key drivers include improved understanding and diagnosis of need, as well as social and medical factors.

The department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings, for example through our recently published evidence reviews, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identifying-and-supporting-the-needs-of-children-with-send-in-mainstream-settings.

The department also funds a ‘What Works in SEND’ programme, which is delivered by the Research and Improvement for SEND Excellence Partnership. This programme produces research and local area case studies that harness best practice from practitioners and partner organisations on local area SEND service delivery.

The Schools White Paper, due to be published in the new year, will set out how the department plans to move forward with reforms to improve the SEND system in future years.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_8

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the performance of Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) advisors will be measured against specific metrics set by her department. \p Georgia Gould: The performance of regional improvement for standards and excellence advisers will be measured against agreed Programme-level Key Performance Indicators.
wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_9

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary schools in a) Norfolk and b) North West Norfolk constituency do not have a school library. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the hon. Member for North West Norfolk to the answer of 22 October 2025 to Question ​​81502​.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_10

Matt Bishop:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that schools and teachers are well supported to deliver effective media and digital literacy education in the new curriculum. \p Georgia Gould: Following the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report on 5 November, the department will update the national curriculum to prepare young people for life and work in a changing world, including media and digital literacy. Content will be shaped through expert engagement, with a public consultation on draft proposals next year.

To support schools and teachers, we will provide high quality, free digital resources through Oak National Academy (Oak) and curriculum support through our National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). Oak will help schools to understand and implement changes, reducing teacher workload.

Currently, media literacy is taught through citizenship, relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) and computing, whilst digital literacy is addressed in computing and RSHE. To support teachers now, Oak provides adaptable resources for computing and citizenship, the Educate Against Hate website offers media literacy materials to counter extremist narratives and the NCCE delivers free courses on digital literacy and artificial intelligence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_11

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data she holds on educational outcomes for children who miss substantial schooling due to cancer treatment. \p Georgia Gould: If a child is too unwell to attend school, local authorities have a duty under Section 19 of the Children's Act 1996 to provide suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education.

Where full-time education is not possible due to a child’s health needs, local authorities must arrange part-time education on whatever basis they consider to be in the child's best interests. Full and part-time education should still aim to be equivalent to the education the child would receive in their mainstream school. Any part-time education should be reviewed regularly, with the aim of eventually increasing the number of hours up to full-time as soon as the child’s health allows.

The department does not routinely collect or hold data on the outcomes of children who have missed periods of schooling due to ill health.

The department is strengthening the evidence base of what works to improve inclusive practice in mainstream settings, for example through our recently published evidence reviews on the best available evidence on the most effective tools, strategies and approaches for staff in mainstream settings to identify and support children and young people (0-25) with different types of needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_12

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders in the Hexham constituency regarding the potential merits of outdoor education for children. \p Georgia Gould: The department believes all children and young people should have access to a broad and balanced curriculum and a variety of enrichment opportunities at school.

The National Education Nature Park is a whole-school environmental education programme that encourages teachers to take students outside and use their grounds to learn in and about nature. OASES (Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists), based in County Durham, were involved in discussions around the development of this initiative.

The value of outdoor learning is also being recognised and promoted in the department’s upcoming Enrichment Framework, which will include 'Nature, outdoors and adventure' as one of five categories of enrichment. We are engaging with national organisations who support outdoor learning and are happy to hear from local and regional organisations with relevant expertise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_13

Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and combined Mayoral Authorities on taxes relating to the hospitality sector. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.

We have published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.

I am, of course, in regular communication with Ministers in other Departments on a range of issues, including options for deeper devolution.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_14

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce a tourism tax. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy.

We have published a consultation running until 18 February 2026, so that the public, businesses, and local government can shape the design of the power to introduce a levy that will be devolved to local leaders.

The precise design and scope of the power for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy is still under development and the Government welcomes engagement from the hospitality sector in developing this power through the consultation process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_15

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of (a) trends in the level of demand for and (b) the adequacy of older people’s housing, including sheltered housing and care homes, for older LGBTIQA+ people. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 74681 on 12 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_16

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make public toilet provision a statutory duty for local authorities. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Government does not propose to introduce a statutory duty at this time.

We recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_17

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many community assets were registered by local authorities for each year since 2015. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The assets of community scheme is administered by local authorities for their areas. Local authorities are responsible for maintaining and publishing their local list of assets of community value and the Government does not hold a central list of this information. You can find out information about your local scheme by contacting your local authority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_18

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning property management companies from charging disproportionate fees for homeowners to obtain documentation relating to the sale of their properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 62778 on 4 July 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-28 conversation_19

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making unique property reference numbers a requisite field in the private rented sector database. \p Matthew Pennycook: My government already intends to record unique property reference numbers on the Private Rented Sector Database in all instances where they are available.