Written questions by Thomas.

What steps he is taking to improve oral health for those without access to preventative dental care.

The Government is working to improve oral health and reduce inequalities for those without access to preventative dental care by addressing the main risk factors of dental disease. These include sugar reduction, restrictions on less healthy food and drink, and the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will also help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom alongside record funding for local stop smoking services.Since 2025, we have invested £21.5 million to deliver the national supervised toothbrushing programme for three to five year olds. We are expanding water fluoridation in the north east of England, so that it reaches 1.6 million more people, and are refurbishing older fluoridation schemes, benefitting a further six million people by 2030, to reduce the inequalities faced by vulnerable children and adults.We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist. The Government is committed to achieving fundamental contract reform by the end of this Parliament. Reforms introduced from April 2026 include changes to embed the provision of urgent care into the dental contract, supported by increased payments for dentists delivering this care, making it easier for patients to get rapid support through the National Health Service.

Who is responsible for providing preventative oral health advice to individuals unable to access an NHS dentist.

Promoting oral health advice and education is a fundamental pillar of contemporary health care and relevant to a wide range of professionals and commissioned services. For example, in England local authorities are responsible for assessing oral health needs, developing oral health strategies, and commissioning oral health improvement programmes for the local area. The evidence base on preventative advice is published and available for use by dental and other professionals at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention

What steps he is taking to help ensure early detection of dental issues for adults who cannot access NHS dental services.

The Government is acting to improve early detection of dental issues and care for adults. Over the past year, integrated care boards (ICBs) have been commissioning additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. Some patients may be particularly vulnerable to oral health problems, and ICBs are also responsible for commissioning specialised dental services to provide dental treatment in several settings, including care homes or community dental services for patients that may have difficulty accessing high street dental services due to social, medical, or dental needs. We are also committed to reforming the dental contract by the end of this Parliament, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention, and rewarding dentists fairly.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of stalking in the UK.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What steps her Department is taking to improve co-ordination between police forces in cases of stalking.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What steps his Department is taking to address oral health inequalities among adults who cannot access NHS dental care.

The Government is working to improve oral health and reduce inequalities for those without access to preventative dental care by addressing the main risk factors of dental disease. These include sugar reduction, restrictions on less healthy food and drink, and the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will also help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom alongside record funding for local stop smoking services.Since 2025, we have invested £21.5 million to deliver the national supervised toothbrushing programme for three to five year olds. We are expanding water fluoridation in the north east of England, so that it reaches 1.6 million more people, and are refurbishing older fluoridation schemes, benefitting a further six million people by 2030, to reduce the inequalities faced by vulnerable children and adults.We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist. The Government is committed to achieving fundamental contract reform by the end of this Parliament. Reforms introduced from April 2026 include changes to embed the provision of urgent care into the dental contract, supported by increased payments for dentists delivering this care, making it easier for patients to get rapid support through the National Health Service.

What steps he is taking to support British legacy industries.

The Industrial Strategy is backing eight growth-driving sectors, and the foundational industries that underpin them, to drive growth and create high quality jobs. This includes action to reduce electricity bills through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme that will benefit 10,000 manufacturing businesses.We are investing in skills including through a £182m engineering skills package, have recently launched the first Apprenticeship Units funded through the Growth and Skills Levy, and announced 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence, as well as digital and technologies. And we are taking action in our critical foundational industries: the government is providing up to £2.5 billion to the steel sector and the steel strategy aims to return domestic production to around 40-50% of domestic steel demand (up from 30% in 2024).

What steps she is taking to ensure access to musical instruments and instruction for children from vulnerable and marginalised children.

The government has committed £76 million per year for the Music Hubs programme, including the 2025/26 academic year. The 43 Music Hubs partnerships across England offer a range of services, including musical instrument tuition, instrument loaning, and whole-class ensemble teaching. To widen access to musical instruments, the government is invested £25 million in capital funding for musical instruments, equipment, and technology across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years. The grant can be used predominantly to purchase instruments and equipment, including where they have been adapted or developed to meet the needs of those with special educational needs or disabilities. In addition, all hubs are required to have a named inclusion lead and a published inclusion strategy. Most music hubs provide remissions or targeted provision aimed at supporting pupils who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. The independent interim evaluation report into Music Hubs, published in February 2026, reported that 77% of teachers expected increased access to instruments, and 68% an increase in disadvantaged pupil participation under the new model. The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/music-hubs-evaluation-interim-report.

What steps she is taking to support access to education for children from vulnerable and marginalised families.

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that all children can achieve and thrive.The ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper sets out steps to improve school readiness through family support, strengthen teacher recruitment and retention, and broaden curriculum and enrichment opportunities, ensuring funding is targeted where it’s needed most.The guidance ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ recognises that vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs or mental health challenges, may face greater barriers. The guidance is clear that schools should take a support-first approach. Wider attendance barriers are also being addressed through breakfast clubs, improved mental health support, and strengthened guidance on identifying and supporting Children Missing Education.The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will also support access to education by improving the identification of children not in school and introducing new duties on local authorities to support home education, including providing information on access to GCSE examinations when requested by families.

What steps he is taking to support British legacy industries through trade deals.

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are an important component of DBT’s approach to supporting businesses across the UK to grow and export, benefits include tariff reductions, simplification of customs procedures, and enhanced protections for investment. DBT’s support for business on FTAs is integrated into the existing export support offer accessed via business.gov.uk. This includes practical guides on the provisions of FTAs and a range of engagement. For example, recent events to promote the upcoming UK-India FTA focusing on sectors such as textiles and manufacturing. DBT also engages directly with businesses to gather feedback on how FTAs are working in practice.

What steps he is taking to support the pottery sector.

The Government is aware of the pressures facing the ceramics industry. Department for Business and Trade (DBT) officials regularly engage with ceramics businesses and the sector’s main trade association, Ceramics UK, to explore how the sector can be supported. DBT remains aware of issues, including pressure from foreign imports, and has worked with the sector and the Trade Remedies Authority to help address this issue. The Government encourages Ceramics UK and ceramics businesses to continue engaging with government to ensure that DBT officials have a clear understanding of the challenges facing ceramics businesses, and the pottery sector specifically.

What steps she is taking to ensure SEN children have access to suitable educational provision.

We are investing £4 billion in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform programmes over the next three years to strengthen inclusive provision. This includes £1.6 billion to help expand readily available support in schools, early years settings, and colleges so that needs are met earlier and more effectively. This is in addition to £1.8 billion to increase access to specialist expertise, and over £200 million to train the education workforce. We will develop National Inclusion Standards that set out evidence-informed tools, strategies and approaches for educators to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs.We are also investing at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital between 2025/26 and 2029/30 to support local authorities to provide suitable places for children and young people with SEND, or those requiring alternative provision. Gloucestershire County Council was allocated just under £6.9 million and just over £9.4 million in 2025/26 and 2026/27, respectively. This funding can be used to improve SEND provision across the county, including in Tewkesbury, by expanding inclusion bases, improving accessibility in mainstream settings, or creating additional special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

What steps she is taking to streamline the process of safeguarding referrals from schools to local authorities.

Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are strengthening the role of education and childcare in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements to better protect children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.All schools must also have regard to the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ statutory guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Part one of this guidance sets out what all staff need to know and do if they have any concerns about a child, including the process for making referrals to local authority children’s social care and for statutory assessments.

What steps he is taking to ensure those receiving adult social care are given adequate, detailed notice of the potential cost to the individual beforehand.

Under the Care Act 2014, charging is based on a number of principles, including that people should not be charged more than it is reasonably practicable for them to pay and that charging approaches should be clear, transparent, and comprehensive so people know what they will be charged.Where local authorities decide to charge for the provision of care and support, they must follow the Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, and they must act under the Care and Support Statutory guidance.When assessing what an individual can afford to contribute to their care costs, local authorities will conduct a financial assessment, and they can take any income and/or assets into account, unless they are required to be disregarded under the regulations.

Whether she plans to provide additional support to schools to help students with their mental health.

The government will provide access to NHS-funded mental health support teams (MHSTs) in every school by 2029, with around six in ten pupils expected to have access by April 2026. Data for 2024/25 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-provision.MHSTs supplement existing pastoral provision, and schools retain the freedom to determine support based on pupil need, making best use of their funding.Alongside providing direct support to pupils, MHSTs can also work with the mental health lead in each school to introduce or develop a whole-school approach to mental health.The department also encourages whole-school approaches to promoting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, which includes schools equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond appropriately to pupil’s mental health needs. The department’s guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-children-and-young-peoples-emotional-health-and-wellbeing.To support education staff, the department provides a resource hub for mental health leads, and a targeted support guide and hub to help choose evidence-based targeted support for pupils.

What steps he is taking to ensure the current level of the Minimum Income Guarantee is fair for those receiving pensions.

The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) is reviewed annually and published in the Local Authority Circular, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-care-charging-for-local-authorities-2026-to-2027/social-care-charging-for-care-and-support-2026-to-2027-local-authority-circularFor 2026/27, the MIG for working‑age disabled adults was increased by 7% to directly address cost of living challenges faced by this cohort and to recognise that working-age disabled adults start from a lower MIG than adults over Pension Credit age.For those over Pension Credit age, it was increased in line with consumer price index inflation at 3.8%, as well as in line with benefits increases. Local authorities have the ability to set higher rates for the MIG if they wish, as the regulations simply set the statutory minimum.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of the Minimum Income Guarantee for those receiving local authority-arranged care and support.

The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) is reviewed annually and published in the Local Authority Circular, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-care-charging-for-local-authorities-2026-to-2027/social-care-charging-for-care-and-support-2026-to-2027-local-authority-circularFor 2026/27, the MIG for working‑age disabled adults was increased by 7% to directly address cost of living challenges faced by this cohort and to recognise that working-age disabled adults start from a lower MIG than adults over Pension Credit age.For those over Pension Credit age, it was increased in line with consumer price index inflation at 3.8%, as well as in line with benefits increases. Local authorities have the ability to set higher rates for the MIG if they wish, as the regulations simply set the statutory minimum.

What steps she is taking to ensure teachers are equipped to deal with student mental health challenges.

The government will provide access to NHS-funded mental health support teams (MHSTs) in every school by 2029, with around six in ten pupils expected to have access by April 2026. Data for 2024/25 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-provision.MHSTs supplement existing pastoral provision, and schools retain the freedom to determine support based on pupil need, making best use of their funding.Alongside providing direct support to pupils, MHSTs can also work with the mental health lead in each school to introduce or develop a whole-school approach to mental health.The department also encourages whole-school approaches to promoting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, which includes schools equipping teachers with the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond appropriately to pupil’s mental health needs. The department’s guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-children-and-young-peoples-emotional-health-and-wellbeing.To support education staff, the department provides a resource hub for mental health leads, and a targeted support guide and hub to help choose evidence-based targeted support for pupils.

What recent assessment he made of the rate of turnover for mental health support workers in CAMHS.

NHS England commissions an annual census of the children and young people’s mental health workforce in England which receives data from National Health Service trusts as well as local authorities, voluntary sector organisations, independent providers, and the youth justice system. The latest report found that staff retention in Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services of NHS providers, staff in post on 1 April 2023 and still in post on 31 March 2024, averaged 75% in the community setting, and 69% in the inpatient setting.This was calculated using submissions that had provided both a numerator, based on whole time equivalent (WTE) staff in post on 1 April 2023 and still in post on 31 March 2024 by team type, and a denominator, based on WTE staff in post as of 1 April 2023 and by team type, which was a maximum of 82% of NHS trusts. Further information can be found in the latest annual census at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/mental-health-national-workforce-census/

What consideration he has given to introducing loyalty incentives for mental health support workers in CAMHS.

There are no plans to introduce loyalty incentives for mental health support workers in Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services.As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals.To support this ambition, we plan to introduce a new set of standards for modern employment in April 2026. The new standards will reaffirm our commitment to improving retention by tackling the issues that matter to staff including promoting flexible working, improving staff health and wellbeing and dealing with violence, racism and sexual harassment in the NHS workplace. They will provide a framework for leaders across the NHS to build a supportive culture that embeds retention.