Written questions by Naish.

What assessment her department has made of the potential impact of expanding Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges on pupil attendance and behaviour outcomes.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of increased private car use by rural families resulting from school transport regulatory requirements.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) improve the process of reporting anti-social behaviour and (b) make that process more accessible.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of small, consistent maternity care teams in improving maternal outcomes such as in the Netherlands, Sweden and New Zealand; and whether he has considered the potential merits of adopting elements of maternity care models used in said countries where continuity of care is prioritised.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of targeted business rate relief for storage and logistics-based businesses.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to support storage and logistics-based businesses.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department are taking to protect the Alawite minority in Syria.

Further to the answer given on 18 September 2025 to question 74583, I raised this issue with the Syrian Foreign Minister during his visit to London in November 2025, and the situation of minority rights in Syria was also raised during President Al Sharaa's visit to London in March. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

With reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 121065 on Academies: Electric Vehicles, when the review on new electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes for academy trusts will be completed; and whether the scheme will be restarted.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending free school milk to all children until the end of reception rather than until the age of five.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken in relation to Baha'i persecution in Iran.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 May to question 611.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the integration of maternity, mental health and wider medical services for women identified as high-risk during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a named clinical lead for every woman accessing NHS maternity services to improve continuity of care and accountability for patient outcomes.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to encourage local authorities to take action against engine idling, particularly outside of schools.

All Local Authorities already have powers available to them to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to drivers who are idling unnecessarily. Local Authorities are best placed to determine where to carry out enforcement against idling. Guidance on enforcement issued by the Department for Transport encourages Local Authorities to consider enforcement at sensitive sites, which could include outside schools, hospitals or other sites where unnecessary idling is a persistent issue.

Pursuant to the response to UIN 121786 on 23 March 2026, when the National Screening Committee will open the public consultation on screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death.

The Government recognises the devastating impact of sudden cardiac death on young people, families, and communities.In considering whether any screening programme should be introduced, the Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. Where the committee is confident that offering screening provides more good than harm, they recommend a screening programme.Work is ongoing to complete and analyse the latest review of the evidence commissioned by the UK NSC looking at screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death in young people. It is anticipated that the public consultation will open later this spring, and we would encourage those with an interest to contribute.

What steps his Department is taking to increase information and awareness for members of the public on the accessibility of public spaces.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of permeable surfaces on new housing estates and in the public realm by developers.

Building Regulations apply when new building work is being undertaken. The options for dealing with rainwater are set out at Schedule 1 Part H of the Building Regulations 2010 which state that paved areas around a building shall be adequately drained and rainwater discharged, according to priority, by either soakaway or other adequate infiltration system. The regulations can be found on gov.uk here. It is the responsibility of the developer to design a rainwater system in a manner appropriate to the site. In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that applications which could affect drainage should incorporate sustainable drainage systems to control flow rates and reduce volumes of run off. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change, which encourages the use of comprehensive sustainable drainage approaches to help alleviate flood risk and manage the impacts where flooding does occur, including by maximising opportunities for infiltration of surface water through replacement of impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces, and maximising opportunities for planting and vegetated areas in preference to engineered surfaces. National PPG on design highlights that design codes can specify how sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces can be incorporated into public space. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to flood risk and sustainable drainage. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in wider adoption of accessibility rating systems.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support properties being retrofitted with permeable surfaces to reduce flooding risks.

Building Regulations apply when new building work is being undertaken. The options for dealing with rainwater are set out at Schedule 1 Part H of the Building Regulations 2010 which state that paved areas around a building shall be adequately drained and rainwater discharged, according to priority, by either soakaway or other adequate infiltration system. The regulations can be found on gov.uk here. It is the responsibility of the developer to design a rainwater system in a manner appropriate to the site. In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that applications which could affect drainage should incorporate sustainable drainage systems to control flow rates and reduce volumes of run off. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change, which encourages the use of comprehensive sustainable drainage approaches to help alleviate flood risk and manage the impacts where flooding does occur, including by maximising opportunities for infiltration of surface water through replacement of impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces, and maximising opportunities for planting and vegetated areas in preference to engineered surfaces. National PPG on design highlights that design codes can specify how sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces can be incorporated into public space. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to flood risk and sustainable drainage. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a nationally recognised accessibility rating system for public venues and community spaces.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

What steps her Department is taking to ensure the early years funding system supports a) providers operating on a year-round basis and b) parents who require year-round provision.

This government continues to prioritise and protect investment in the early years, which is why we are investing over £1 billion more in the early years entitlements this year compared to 2025/26 to deliver a full year of the expanded entitlements, and an above inflation increase to entitlements funding rates. The most recent Coram–PACEY Childcare Survey 2026, finds that the expansion of 30 hours of funded childcare has significantly reduced out of pocket costs for eligible working parents in England, in some cases making part time childcare effectively free during term time.By allowing funded hours to be stretched across the year, deducting closures from calculations, and enabling mixed‑provider models, the system is designed to work alongside all‑year childcare businesses, managing funding and fees transparently and within national limits, broadening parental choice.The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access the quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.