Written questions by Khan.

What guidance his Department provides to employers on protecting workers from extreme heat.

Awaiting answer.

How many inspections the Health and Safety Executive has undertaken relating to excessive workplace temperatures in each of the last five years.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of extreme heat on outdoor workers.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the introduction of an industry-wide (a) accreditation and (b) kitemark scheme for the safe fabrication of engineered stone products.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supports the introduction of an industry-led quality standard by the Worktop Fabricators Federation in collaboration with the British Occupational Hygiene Society. Accredited fabricators must be independently audited ...

Whether he plans to make silicosis a reportable disease under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

On 7 April 2026, the Health and Safety Executive launched a consultation seeking views on expanding the requirements in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, including reintroducing reports of pneumoconiosis, whic...

What guidance is provided to staff handling Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit claims involving terminally ill claimants with occupational lung disease.

DWP staff handling Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit claims follow operational guidance designed to ensure that claims from people who are terminally ill are identified and processed as a priority. The guidance provides for such cases to be expedite...

Whether additional funding has been allocated to the Health and Safety Executive to support inspections and enforcement activity in engineered stone workshops and related workplaces.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) receives funding from the Department to support its role as workplace health and safety regulator. It is for HSE to prioritise how best to use that funding to support its core activities. HSE has identified resource f...

What steps the Government is taking to help ensure compliance with Health and Safety Executive guidance prohibiting dry cutting of engineered stone without water suppression controls.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a campaign to highlight clear expectations for what businesses must do in recently published guidance and on HSEs Workright website. HSE will be carrying out more than 1000 inspections to every site it ca...

Whether the Government plans to introduce a statutory prohibition on dry cutting of high-silica engineered stone without appropriate dust suppression measures.

Workers can be protected if the right control measures are in place to prevent exposure to harmful dust. The Health and Safety Executive will be carrying out more than 1000 inspections and where standards are not met, enforcement action is being taken to ...

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Health and Safety Executive’s enforcement powers in relation to employers exposing workers to respirable crystalline silica dust during the cutting of

Great Britain has a robust and well-established regulatory framework to protect workers from health risks arising from exposure to hazardous substances, including respirable crystalline silica under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation...

What recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on improving health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has strengthened its guidance on health surveillance to make clear that employers must ensure that the health of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica is regularly monitored. HSE is serving improvement no...

Whether his Department is considering the introduction of a national screening programme for workers exposed to silica dust in the engineered stone industry.

Active health surveillance is a mandatory duty placed upon relevant duty holders under health and safety law, which will detect and tackle ill health amongst workers who may be exposed. Employers are required to act on the results they receive and workers...

What discussions his Department has had with industry representatives on improving consumer awareness of workplace safety standards in the manufacture of quartz and engineered stone kitchen surfaces.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working closely with the Worktop Fabricators Federation and British Occupational Hygiene Society to support introduction of an industry-led quality standard. To display the quality mark, a kitchen surface fabricato...

What estimate he has made of the number of workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust in the engineered stone sector.

Great Britain has a robust and well-established regulatory framework to protect workers from health risks arising from exposure to hazardous substances, including respirable crystalline silica under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation...

What assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of silicosis among workers employed in the engineered stone and kitchen fabrication sector.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) monitors silicosis using multiple data sources, including voluntary reporting by chest physicians participating in the Surveillance of Work-related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) scheme and cases assesse...

Whether he plans to fast-track Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit claims for workers diagnosed with advanced silicosis in line with arrangements for mesothelioma sufferers.

The Department recognises the serious impact that silicosis can have on those affected and their families. We are carefully considering the recommendations from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on silicosis, including how best to identify and prio...

What recent consideration his Department has given to recommendations from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on improving access to compensation and benefits for workers with silicosis.

The Department recognises the serious impact that silicosis can have on those affected and their families. We are carefully considering the recommendations from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on silicosis, including how best to identify and prio...

What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of silicosis among workers employed in the engineered stone and kitchen fabrication sector.

I refer the Hon. Member to answer I gave on 23 June 2026 to Question UIN 5634.

What steps he is taking to help remove barriers to work faced by young disabled people with complex needs in Birmingham Perry Barr constituency.

Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group. Access to the right support, in the right place, at the right time, is crucial.Jobcentre Plus provides tailored, person-centred support to young disabled people, focusing on their individual needs. Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) provide personalise support for people with health conditions and disabilities to enable them to achieve appropriate and sustainable employment. DEAs work closely with Youth Employability Coaches (YECs), who deliver longer-term support, specifically for young people facing with complex to work. Both DEAs and YECs work with partner organisations to ensure access to expert advice.The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education continue to work closely with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) on the design and delivery of their Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. WMCA has actively engaged its seven Local Authorities, which includes Birmingham, to co-develop and test place-based solutions aimed at tackling high youth unemployment, economic inactivity, and declining apprenticeship opportunities. Examples of programmes being delivered through the Trailblazer include work experience placements, pre-apprenticeship training, and NEET prevention. This locally tailored support is also accessible to young people with health conditions and disabilities. Insights from the Trailblazer will inform future national policy and delivery.In addition, young people with health conditions and disabilities can benefit from other locally delivered programmes such as Connect to Work and Workwell. Connect to Work, is a voluntary, high-fidelity programme, connecting work, health and skills support for people with challenges to employment, including health and disability. Workwell, provides a light touch intervention which focuses on prevention and support for people in work to sustain employment. It also supports people who have fallen out of work due to health and disability to return to the workplace.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Funeral Expenses Payment's eligibility criteria on the finances of local authorities.

The long standing state position is that individuals should look to make financial provision for their own funeral, and that where this has not happened family or friends who can take part or all of the responsibility for the cost of funeral arrangements should do so. Where responsibility for organising a funeral falls to those on qualifying benefits a Funeral Expenses Payment may be available, but eligibility criteria are designed to ensure the scheme is fair for taxpayers while supporting the most vulnerable with these costs. We continue to keep the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme under review to ensure it remains effective and sustainable within current budgetary constraints. This includes the eligibility criteria, application process, customer experience and administrative costs. We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility criteria on the finances of local authorities.