Written questions by Khan.

Whether her Department plans to extend the breakfast clubs initiative to state-funded early childhood education institutions.

The department is committed to delivering on our pledge to provide free breakfast clubs in every state-funded school with primary-aged children, starting with more than 750 early adopter schools from April 2025.The aim of the breakfast clubs policy includes ensuring children are settled and ready to learn at the start of the school day. This is why we are committed to rolling out breakfast clubs in all state-funded primary schools, helping to build strong foundations in the first years of school, impacting children’s behaviour, concentration, attendance and attainment, alongside supporting parents with costs of childcare.The department is working to test how this is best implemented and work is already underway with 750 early adopter schools. Early adopters are just the first step in delivering on our steadfast commitment to introducing breakfast clubs in every primary school. Early adopters will not only help us to test and learn how every primary school in the future can deliver these new breakfast clubs, they will also give us important insights into how schools with different age ranges, such as all through schools or those with onsite nurseries, implement the policy.

How many and what proportion staff in (a) prisons and (b) probation services have undertaken suicide prevention training.

I refer the honourable Member to the answer I gave on 10 April 2025 to Question 44186.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Syria on ensuring the people responsible for attacks on the Alawite community are properly investigated and held accountable.

We welcome the Syrian Government's reassurances to the Syrian population and international community that they will protect all civilians in Syria, and their establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate and prosecute individuals who committed crimes during the violence in early March. I discussed these points in my meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on 17 March. We will continue to monitor the treatment of all civilians in Syria, and this issue will continue to be an important aspect of our engagement with the Syrian Government and with regional and international partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Syria on the importance of protecting the Alawite community.

We welcome the Syrian Government's reassurances to the Syrian population and international community that they will protect all civilians in Syria, and their establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate and prosecute individuals who committed crimes during the violence in early March. I discussed these points in my meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on 17 March. We will continue to monitor the treatment of all civilians in Syria, and this issue will continue to be an important aspect of our engagement with the Syrian Government and with regional and international partners.

Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on supporting growth in the visitor economy of the West Midlands.

The West Midlands has been a key participant in the Destination Development Partnership (DDP) pilot, led by VisitEngland. The DDP pilot is testing a new model of collaborative working between national and local tourism bodies to strengthen destination management, improve the visitor offer, and drive sustainable growth in the sector. The West Midlands pilot has brought together local and regional partners to align strategies, build capacity, and promote the region more effectively to domestic and international visitors.DCMS continues to work closely with VisitEngland and local stakeholders to build on this progress and ensure the West Midlands visitor economy continues to thrive.

What representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on securing long-term funding for the development of smart energy systems within the West Midlands as part of the Spending Review.

The Government recognises the important role of local government, such as West Midlands Combined Authority, in driving net zero action. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues. Details of the spending review will be set out in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40292 on Demonstrations, whether the post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 will be carried out independently; and whether her Department plans to publish the outcomes of the review.

In line with standard practice, the memorandum the government will complete as part of the post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 will cover:A summary of the objectives of the actImplementationSecondary legislation etcLegal issuesOther reviewsPreliminary assessment of the actFurther details on post-legislative scrutiny can be found here: 2025 Guide to Making Legislation - master version - Google Docs

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on Israel's denying hon. Members entry into the West Bank.

As the Foreign Secretary has said, it is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities. On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary met with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar in London. The Foreign Secretary has made clear to his counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians.

What information her Department (a) collects and (b) holds on British citizens that have served in the Israel Defence Forces since 2023.

In relation to part (a) of your question, the Attorney General’s Office does not collect this information.In relation to part (b) of your question, the Law Officers’ Convention applies. The Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by, or requested of, the Law Officers. It can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

How many people (a) on probation and (b) engaging with probation services have died since 2010; and how many of these deaths cited suicide as the official cause of death.

The number of people who died while under probation supervision in the community is published annually in Table 1 of the ‘Deaths of offenders in the community’ statistical bulletin. The latest release, which includes data from April 2010 up to March 2024, is available at the following link: Deaths of offenders in the community, annual update to March 2024 - GOV.UK.Each death is categorised based on its apparent cause, as reported by the probation provider to HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). It is important to note that this classification system provides a provisional categorisation for administrative and statistical purposes and has not been independently verified. The official cause of death is determined by the coroner. Consequently, while the apparent cause of death in this bulletin reflects the classification made at the time of reporting, it may not reflect the official cause of death as determined by the coroner.The category of ‘suicide’ is not used in the published statistics because it is not always clear whether a self-inflicted death is intentional or not. Instead, the broader category of ‘self-inflicted’ deaths is used. In years prior to April 2022, this category includes all self-inflicted deaths, irrespective of intent (intentional, unintentional, and undetermined intent). From April 2022, it includes only intentional self-inflicted deaths and deaths where intent is undetermined.The number of people engaging with probation services that have died since 2010 could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

Whether she has provided legal advice on British nationals serving in the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza since October 2023.

The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by, or requested of, the Law Officers. The Convention applies to your question.It can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May: “By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

Whether her Department has (a) received and (b) approved requests from relevant authorities for consent to launch criminal investigations into alleged war crimes committed by British citizens who have served in the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza since 2023.

The Attorney General and I are not responsible for providing consent to launch criminal investigations into suspected war crimes offences in England and Wales.

What plans she has for Family Hubs after the 2025-26 financial year; and whether her Department plans to provide a multi-year pledge to fund the Family Hubs and Start for Life program beyond this period.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give every child the best start in life. Progress on this commitment will be measured by assessing whether 75% of five-year-olds are reaching a good level of development in the Early Years Foundation Stage assessment, which looks at children’s development across areas such as language, personal, social and emotional development, and mathematics and literacy, by 2028.Delivering this will require strengthening and co-ordinating family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood. This includes continuing to invest in and build up Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes.75 local authorities with some of the highest levels of deprivation have received funding and there are now more than 400 Family Hubs open across those local authorities. The department is investing a further £126 million in the 2025/26 financial year to give every child the best start in life and deliver on the Plan for Change. Future funding decisions are subject to the multi-year spending review.

Whether his Department is providing suicide prevention training to (a) all and (b) newly recruited (i) prison and (ii) probation staff.

All new members of prison staff with prisoner contact receive training on suicide and self-harm prevention, and all staff who undertake key roles relating to risk assessment and case management also receive specific training relating to those roles.  An e-learning module has recently been made available for all staff to access on postvention support following a self-inflicted death in custody.There are two suicide prevention learning packages for probation staff: a Zero Suicide Alliance package for all staff, and a package aimed at new entrant Professional Qualification in Probation and Probation Service Officers which was developed internally as part of a broader introduction to mental health.

How many and what proportion of (a) prison and (b) probation staff have undertaken suicide prevention training.

All new prison officers receive training in suicide and self-harm prevention as part of their seven-week Foundation training course.For existing prison staff, there is a dedicated training module on suicide and self-harm. The training provides an understanding as to the context of self-harm and suicide within prisons, as well as the purpose and implementation of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process which is used to support prisoners identified as being at risk of suicide or self-harm.Responsibility for delivering this training sits locally with prisons, therefore it is not possible to accurately assess the overall numbers who have received this training, due to local variations in how training is recorded.There are two suicide prevention learning packages for Probation Staff as part of the current core national offer. One is a Zero Suicide Alliance package for all staff. The other is a package aimed at new entrant learners undertaking Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) and new Probation Service Officers which was developed internally as part of a broader Introduction to Mental Health.The Introduction to Mental Health learning is designated as required for those undertaking the Professional Qualification in Probation (PQiP) and new Probation Service Officers (PSOs) in sentence management, both in custody and the community and is also accessed by established staff. The product contains knowledge modules around suicide and self-harm awareness.The core national offer referenced is a comprehensive learning package which was recently introduced. Staff who were in post prior to this would have completed other core learning programmes.It is important to note that whilst we collate completion figures for the current core learning, this does not represent the totality of suicide and self-harm prevention learning received by staff.This is due to regionally organised activities and previous learning opportunities where data is not nationally held.

What steps his Department is taking to expand access to (a) neonatal outreach services and (b) specialist perinatal mental health support for families of preterm babies following hospital discharge.

From 1 April 2025, commissioning responsibilities for neonatal services in England have been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs). The neonatal service specification sets out the standards for neonatal provision. It states that a neonatal unit-based outreach service, or other designated neonatal unit staff, should coordinate pre-discharge planning for complex or long stay patients or patients with any safeguarding concerns. ICBs are encouraged to develop locally tailored plans to expand access to neonatal outreach and specialist mental health services. The neonatal specification also outlines that clinical psychologists have a role in providing specialist psychological assessments and interventions to support the mental health of babies and families.In addition to this, NHS England’s guidance sets out that all women who have given birth should be offered a postnatal check-up with their general practitioner (GP) after six to eight weeks. This check-up provides an important opportunity for women to be listened to by their GP in a discreet, supportive environment, and for women to be assessed and supported not just in their physical recovery post-birth, but also their mental health.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure NHS Trusts implement interventions set out in (a) the guidance entitled Saving Babies’ Lives Version Two: A care bundle for reducing perinatal mortality, published on 15 March 2019, and (b) other best practice guidance on preterm birth care.

All trusts are now implementing Version 3 of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, which was published in May 2023, and provides maternity units with detailed guidance to reduce stillbirths, neonatal brain injury, neonatal deaths, and preterm births.The National Health Service has taken action to reduce variation in maternal and neonatal care through the Maternity Incentive Scheme, and through implementation of the latest version of the bundle, which is one of the safety actions that trusts must comply with. As of April 2024, during the fifth year of the scheme, 104 out of 120, or 87% of, providers were considered to be on track to fully implement Version 3 of the bundle.  We are delivering other key initiatives to reduce preterm birth, such as:the 14 Maternal Medicine Networks across England, to ensure that women with high-risk medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, renal disease, and epilepsy, have access to a specialist physician with expertise in managing complex medical problems before, during, and after pregnancy;all local areas publishing Equity and Equality Action Plans, which set out tailored interventions to tackle inequalities for women and babies from ethnic minority backgrounds and those living in the most deprived areas; andthe first ever National Institute for Health and Care Research Challenge funding call being launched in March 2024, backed by £50 million, which tasks researchers and policymakers with finding new ways to tackle maternity disparities and poor pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) availability and (b) quality of overnight accommodation for parents in neonatal units.

We understand that not all neonatal estates allow parents to be fully involved in their babies' care, and the impact this has on providing the appropriate level of care to meet a baby's needs.NHS England has conducted a survey to understand compliance with current estates standards, which includes the requirements for neonatal parental accommodation. This information will inform future investment decisions regarding maternity and neonatal estates.

Whether he has made representations to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to encourage increased funding for research into preterm birth (a) prevention, b) treatment and (c) long-term outcomes.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and over the last five years, NIHR research programmes invested in 77 research awards focusing on preterm birth which, across their full duration, totalled £93 million of funding.In addition, in March 2024 the NIHR launched a £50 million research challenge with an explicit focus on maternity inequalities, including those observed in preterm birth rates. This initiative will increase the evidence base, to drive actions to reduce maternity inequalities and lead to better outcomes for women and their babies.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of maternal health, including research into the prevention, treatment, and longer-term outcomes of preterm birth.

What steps his Department is taking to improve training for (a) health visitors and (b) community healthcare professionals on the needs of (i) preterm babies and (ii) their families.

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. To achieve this, we must ensure families have the support they need to give their babies and children the best start and the building blocks for a healthy life. This will take time, but we are committed to building a health service fit for the future with the workforce it needs. The training provided to health visitors specifically, and community healthcare professionals more generally, is outlined below.To practice as a health visitor, a registered nurse must complete the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse qualification. Health visitor training includes a requirement for staff to be able to assess the impact of complexity and comorbidity and their impact on children and loved ones, which includes prematurity.The Government has laid out in the Plan for Change its commitment to strengthen health visiting services. A strengthened health visiting service will enable the needs of premature babies and their families to be better supported.NHS England has worked in partnership with key stakeholders, for instance the Tiny Lives Trust charity and clinical psychologists, to develop online learning specifically for community healthcare professionals, including health visitors. This training covers subject matters such as professionals’ work with families as they transition from neonatal units to home, as well as psychologically informed neonatal care.