Every parliamentary written question tabled by Joshua Reynolds this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 410 · this parliament
How many speech and language therapists and educational psychologists will be required to deliver the Experts at Hand service set out in the SEND White Paper.
I refer the hon. Member for Maidenhead to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121419.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to SEND tribunal powers on the ability of parents and carers to secure named school placements for children with education, health and care plans.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator's existing confidentiality protections in encouraging smaller and harder-to-reach suppliers to report concerns about potential code breaches.
The Government's Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) 2022-2025 published on 14 April 2026. The Statutory Review invites the operationally independent GCA to consider recommendations about its existing confidentiality protections, transparency of enforcement activity and the potential publication of practical Code examples.On 7 April 2026 the Government announced that responsibility for the GCA would move from the Department for Business and Trade to Defra to strengthen fairness across the UK's grocery supply chain, streamline oversight of the supply chain and to strengthen links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
Whether he has had discussions with the Groceries Code Adjudicator on (a) improving the transparency of its enforcement activity and (b) the potential merits of publishing practical examples of how the Code is applied.
The Government's Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) 2022-2025 published on 14 April 2026. The Statutory Review invites the operationally independent GCA to consider recommendations about its existing confidentiality protections, transparency of enforcement activity and the potential publication of practical Code examples.On 7 April 2026 the Government announced that responsibility for the GCA would move from the Department for Business and Trade to Defra to strengthen fairness across the UK's grocery supply chain, streamline oversight of the supply chain and to strengthen links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
What steps she is taking to hold local authorities accountable for meeting the statutory 20-week timeframe for issuing education, health and care plans.
The Schools White Paper sets clear expectations for the quality and timeliness of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision delivered by local authorities, supported by significant investment to drive system transformation.In March 2026, the department commissioned local authorities, working with Integrated Care Boards, to develop SEND reform plans and will hold them to account for delivering strong outcomes for children and young people with SEND, intervening decisively where progress stalls and using our full intervention powers where failure persists.The department publishes annual SEN2 data on education, health and care (EHC) plans and assessments, including timeliness, which informs performance monitoring. Where this highlights a concern around local authority failure to meet statutory duties on EHC plan timeliness, we take action that prioritises children’s needs. Support and challenge is delivered through expert improvement advisers, commissioners and managed support programmes to drive sustained improvement.Where a council does not meet its duties, the department can take action that supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement, including the issuing of Improvement Notices or Statutory Directions to drive urgent improvements.
What steps the Government is taking to ensure coordination between the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator to provide a coherent regulatory framework for the food supply chain.
The Government's Statutory Review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) 2022-2025 published on 14 April 2026. The Statutory Review invites the operationally independent GCA to consider recommendations about its existing confidentiality protections, transparency of enforcement activity and the potential publication of practical Code examples.On 7 April 2026 the Government announced that responsibility for the GCA would move from the Department for Business and Trade to Defra to strengthen fairness across the UK's grocery supply chain, streamline oversight of the supply chain and to strengthen links to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).
Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library of the House a breakdown of leasehold properties in England and Wales by remaining lease term, using data held by HM Land Registry; and whether that data can be disaggregated to constituency level.
HM Land Registry publishes a Registered Leases dataset which is updated monthly. It can be found on gov.uk here. The dataset provides information on land and property in England and Wales with registered leases, including lease start dates and durations.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact on Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts when local authorities are unable to process land charges searches due to IT system failures.
The government does not hold this data. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and HM Land Registry (HMLR) are actively transforming the way Local Land charge data is held and searched through HMLR’s Local Land Charges Programme.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that Personal, Social, Health and Economic education in schools includes specific teaching on racism, sexism and gender equality across all state schools.
We are making sure that all children in England learn about respectful relationships, in person and online, as part of mandatory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). The curriculum has a strong focus on equality, respect, the harmful impact of stereotyping, as well as the importance of valuing difference. Further guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.Pupils should learn about the law relating to the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and sex by the end of their secondary education.Relationships education should ensure that pupils understand the importance of treating others with respect, including those who differ in their choices, preferences or beliefs. Pupils should be taught to recognise and understand bullying, including the use of derogatory language and how stereotypes and prejudiced attitudes, including misogyny, can cause harm, and equip them to recognise and challenge such behaviours.
What consideration he has made of the potential merits of the UK participating in the European Commission's proposed Skills Portability Initiative.
The Skills Portability Initiative is an EU proposal which aims to improve worker mobility, both skilled and unskilled, within the single market. It includes a possible legislative proposal that could encourage simplified procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ) across Member States for non-EU nationals.In line with our manifesto, the Government is committed to improving routes for UK professionals to practise and provide services in the EU. The Government has communicated support to the European Commission for modernised and transparent recognition processes through this initiative, which could benefit UK businesses, professionals and boost economic growth.
What assessment the UK Health Security Agency has made of the public health risk associated with poliovirus detections in wastewater surveillance systems in the last 12 months.
The UK Health Security Agency, working with the World Health Organization Polio Global Specialised Laboratory and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, conducts routine environmental surveillance for polio in England as part of our commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The purpose of the sewage surveillance is to provide an early warning system of poliovirus importations which may then lead to community transmission. More information on this surveillance system and reports of detections of note can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/polio-global-eradication-nac-and-environmental-surveillance/environmental-surveillance-for-polioIn 2025 there were three detections of Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 (VDPV2), one in the Shoreham Sewage Treatment Works (STW) and two from the Sheffield Blackburn Meadows STW. In 2026, up to 26 March 2026, there have been two unrelated VDPV2 detections from the London Beckton STW. Evidence strongly suggest that all these detections are due to multiple independent importation events from unidentified sources and there is no evidence of local transmission. Accordingly, the overall risk to the public remains low.
What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the timeline for reviewing school food standards.
We are consulting on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school, including breakfasts and lunches, better reflect current nutritional guidance and support children’s health, wellbeing and learning. The consultation will run for 9 weeks, closing on 12 June 2026 and full details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-food-standards-updating-the-legislative-framework.We want to give schools and caterers time to plan for these changes. Following the consultation, we will announce the new School Food Standards in September this year, before they are enforced from September 2027.We propose that the new standards take full effect for primary schools from September 2027. Most changes for secondary schools will also begin in September 2027. However, there are some requirements that we propose to phase in for secondary schools, including adding pulses to menu options, limiting cheese-based main dishes, restricting sweetened baked products and desserts, and introducing the healthier drinks list. These would start from September 2028.
Whether she plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to (a) maintain funding for all 16 to 24 year olds enrolled in further education and training, (b) extend VAT reimbursement to further education colleges and (c) lift the cap on the Adult Skills Fund for 18 to 24 year old learners who are not in education, employment or training.
The department has made significant increases to the average funding per student since the 2024/25 academic year, an expected per student increase of 10.5%. We expect that the average per student funding in 2026/27 will stand at £6,874, compared to £6,219 in the 2024/25 academic year. We will continue to fund the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds, providing significant investment to ensure there are valuable and high-quality post-16 places for every student that wants one.My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister has committed to looking into VAT reimbursement to further education colleges. The Government does keep all taxes under review, and any changes would be announced at a fiscal event.We are committed to investing in education and skills training for adults and are investing over £1.4 billion in the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) this academic year. The ASF supports a range of learners, including young people who are unemployed.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to meet the UK's commitments under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, in the context of revisions to the Official Development Assistance funding allocated to that programme.
Global health remains one of the key priorities of our development work. The UK will continue supporting polio eradication through our flexible core funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). Our £248 million contribution will help sustain essential global health functions, including surveillance and outbreak response, which are vital in the fight against polio. We will also continue contributing to routine polio immunisation through our investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is Gavi's largest sovereign donor, supporting routine immunisation worldwide. We will invest £1.25 billion in Gavi between 2026 and 2030 to help immunise up to 500 million children, including against polio.
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential impact of local authority land charges register failures for residential property transactions on the Exchequer.
The government does not hold this data. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and HM Land Registry (HMLR) are actively transforming the way Local Land charge data is held and searched through HMLR’s Local Land Charges Programme.
What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of teaching on social media harms, including body image and algorithmic content, within PSHE curricula in secondary schools.
As part of statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), pupils are taught about online safety and harms, including the implications of sharing private or personal data online, and the risks associated with over-reliance on social media.The department updated its RSHE guidance in July 2025, including new content on artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and how social media can escalate conflicts. Pupils should be taught the similarities and differences between the online world and the physical world, including the impact of unhealthy or obsessive comparison with others online, including through setting unrealistic expectations for body image, as well as how information is targeted at them.Schools have flexibility to tailor their curriculum to local needs, drawing on high quality resources and evidence‑based materials.The government commissioned Oak National Academy to make lesson materials which reflect the new guidance freely available.The department’s guidance on teaching online safety covers how to teach about all aspects of internet safety.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to Official Development Assistance funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative on (a) progress towards global polio eradication and (b) international public health preparedness.
Global health remains one of the key priorities of our development work. The UK will continue supporting polio eradication through our flexible core funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). Our £248 million contribution will help sustain essential global health functions, including surveillance and outbreak response, which are vital in the fight against polio. We will also continue contributing to routine polio immunisation through our investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is Gavi's largest sovereign donor, supporting routine immunisation worldwide. We will invest £1.25 billion in Gavi between 2026 and 2030 to help immunise up to 500 million children, including against polio.
What assessment she has made of the adequacy of early years funding rates in helping to ensure the financial sustainability of pre-school and nursery settings.
The government expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements in 2026/27, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as a result of successfully rolling-out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.In 2026/27, we are delivering an above-inflation increase on 2025/26 entitlements funding rates. This increase allows the national average funding rate to continue reflecting forecast cost pressures on the early years sector, including the National Living Wage announced at Autumn Budget 2025, and goes further, taking into account the wider workforce pressures felt by the sector since April 2025.In December 2025, we announced above inflation national average increases of 4.95% to the 3 to 4-year-old hourly funding rate, a 4.36% increase to the 2-year-old hourly funding rate, and a 4.28% increase to the 9 month to 2-years-old hourly funding rate.
Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of land is managed for nature in England, and what steps the Government is taking to meet its commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.
The UK Government is committed to protecting 30% of land and sea in the UK by 2030 (30by30). Progressing this target on land in England means ensuring that our most important and wildlife-rich habitats are benefiting from effective, long-term conservation and management. In October 2024 we set out our vision for progressing 30by30 on land in England and the criteria for land and inland water areas which can count towards this target. Our internal analysis suggests that 32% of England meets, or has the potential to meet, the 30by30 criteria. We are developing a 30by30 Delivery Plan, which will set out how we will lead, support, and inspire action across England to deliver this vision. We will publish the 30by30 Delivery Plan later this year.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the consistency between the number of beagles licensed for use in scientific experiments approved by the Home Office between January and December 2025 and the Government's Replacing Animals in Science strategy published in November 2025.
No assessment has been made of the of the consistency between the number of beagles licensed for use in scientific experiments approved by the Home Office between January and December 2025 and the Government's Replacing Animals in Science strategy. The Labour Manifesto commits to partnering with scientists, industry and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing. It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements for their use. Any work to phase out animal testing must be science-led, in lock step with partners.