Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) is subject to statutory guidance, which schools must have regard to when developing and delivering their curriculum. Governing bodies, academy trusts and school proprietors are responsible for ensuring that RSHE is taught in accordance with legal requirements and the statutory guidance, including consultation with parents. Ofsted inspects schools’ safeguarding arrangements and wider personal development, which includes evaluating whether pupils receive a comprehensive and age-appropriate RSHE curriculum.

All schools must have an up-to-date written policy for relationships education or, where they teach sex education, for relationships and sex education (RSE). Statutory RSHE guidance requires schools to consult parents on their RSHE policy and provide examples of the resources they plan to use. The department is clear that parents should be able to view curriculum materials on request, and schools should not enter into arrangements that prevent them from sharing RSHE resources with parents.

Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) is subject to statutory guidance, which schools must have regard to when developing and delivering their curriculum. Governing bodies, academy trusts and school proprietors are responsible for ensuring that RSHE is taught in accordance with legal requirements and the statutory guidance, including consultation with parents. Ofsted inspects schools’ safeguarding arrangements and wider personal development, which includes evaluating whether pupils receive a comprehensive and age-appropriate RSHE curriculum.

All schools must have an up-to-date written policy for relationships education or, where they teach sex education, for relationships and sex education (RSE). Statutory RSHE guidance requires schools to consult parents on their RSHE policy and provide examples of the resources they plan to use. The department is clear that parents should be able to view curriculum materials on request, and schools should not enter into arrangements that prevent them from sharing RSHE resources with parents.

The Government is committed to making air quality information accessible and actionable. The Environmental Improvement Plan sets out how we are working to improve public understanding of air pollution and how people can reduce their exposure.

In 2025, the Air Quality Information System steering group published their report on how to improve air quality communications. As part of this work, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs commissioned the study Ricardo report: Evaluation of the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI) to evaluate whether the DAQI services are achieving the intended objectives and to provide recommendations for improvements. The report is available at the following link:

https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat05/2503060821_3_Daily_Air_Quality_Index_Evaluation_FINAL_REPORT.pdf

The current DAQI is based on a consideration of the evidence of health effects following short-term exposure to elevated air pollution and is aligned with most air quality indexes used in other countries

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

We recognise the importance of tackling blood clots in pregnancy, also referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), as the leading cause of maternal death in England. The rate of maternal deaths from thrombosis and thromboembolism rose substantially between 2009 to 2011 and 2021 to 2023, from 1.26 to 2.13 per 100,000, in maternity, with rising rates of maternal obesity, advanced maternal age, and births by caesarean section likely contributing factors.

VTE is thought to occur in approximately one of 500 pregnancies, and the approach to minimising risk has therefore focused on universal risk assessment, targeted information, and preventative treatment for those considered to be at high risk. Last year, Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK identified the need for improved VTE risk assessment, better pathways for rapid access to thromboprophylaxis in early pregnancy, and more robust training for clinicians.

NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle in January 2026, with the aim to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce inequalities in these adverse outcomes. Element 1 requires the National Health Service to implement a new, simplified, national self-assessment questionnaire on VTE risk, for all women at their first NHS care contact with a positive pregnancy test, and ensure that those considered at highest risk have a discussion with a prescriber, and are offered low molecular weight heparin within 72 hours. Services have been asked through Element 1 of the Maternal Care Bundle to adopt Thrombosis UK’s early pregnancy blood clot risk questionnaire, which has information on the risk of VTE in pregnancy. All NHS trusts providing maternity services are responsible for fully implementing the Maternal Care Bundle by March 2027. This includes providing regular reports to the trust board on implementation.

All midwives are trained to discuss VTE symptoms with all women at the first contact in pregnancy and through to postnatal contacts, as part of the standard assessment process. Clinical guidance that directs their training includes the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s postnatal care guidance, reference code NG194, and Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, reference code NG89.

Baroness Amos’ final report of her independent National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England has recommended that the NHS commissions and delivers ‘antenatal education that reflects the realities of pregnancy and birth today’. The Government will work with the national Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on the response to this recommendation, including on information women require regarding the risk of VTE.

Locally, some individual trusts also produce additional information for women and their families about reducing the risk of blood clots and VTE in pregnancy.

Information on the impact of high salt intakes on health, and how people can lower their salt consumption, is communicated to consumers through the National Health Service website. Government dietary recommendations, including that adults should consume no more than 6 grams of salt per day, underpin the Eatwell Guide, which reflects the principles of a healthy balanced diet. These wider dietary principles are reflected through the GOV.UK website, NHS website, and the Department’s social marketing campaigns.

The food scanner app, delivered through the Department’s Better Families social marketing campaign, provides information on the salt content of commonly consumed foods by applying traffic light labelling criteria to scanned products. Those using the app can see how much salt is in their food or drink. It also suggests healthier alternatives, where these exist, with products that are lower in salt.

The Government recognises that Long Covid is a complex multi-system disease which can have a debilitating impact on people’s physical and mental health. We understand the scale of the issue at hand and the Government is committed to improving the lives of people living with the condition.

Information on Long Covid is widely available from the National Health Service and the Government in a variety of formats. Detailed information for all age groups on symptoms and the healthcare support that is available for long Covid remains available on NHS England’s website.

The Government's current approach to promoting sunscreen use is part of the sun protection measures recommended to reduce exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This aligns with the World Health Organization’s guidance, which is available at the following link:

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-protecting-against-skin-cancer

The public health guidance is primarily through the National Health Service, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Met Office rather than through dedicated national sunscreen-awareness campaigns.

NHS England and other NHS organisations regularly share social media messages during periods of sunny weather to remind the public about the importance of sun safety and using sunscreen to protect against harmful UV exposure.

The Government recognises the mental and physical health risks of people taking physique-enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids. The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and to exploring options, through the cross-Government National Youth Strategy, to improve young people’s access to accurate health information, both online and offline. We are also taking action through the men’s health strategy to improve health literacy.

The Government hosts Talk to FRANK, a drug and alcohol information and advice service for young people, parents, and others concerned about drug use. The website includes information on the mental and physical health risks of steroid use and is updated regularly. Treatment for image and performance enhancing drug use within drug and alcohol treatment services is available, depending on local commissioning arrangements. Drug and alcohol treatment services and local authority public health teams raise awareness of the risk of drug use, including physique-enhancing drugs, through targeted campaigns with their local populations according to local need, and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities supports them in this.

The Department of Health and Social Care has worked closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on its consultation, Growing up in the online world, whose outcomes were published in June 2026. This consultation will help inform future policy to better protect children’s health and wellbeing and ensure that digital platforms play their part in promoting safe and healthy online experiences.

We are also taking a range of actions to improve men’s health literacy, as set out in the Men’s Health Strategy. These include:

• ensuring health literacy improvements are embedded at community level;

• building the evidence base on health literacy in men;

• working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and

• identifying ways to build media literacy skills in men to help them critically assess health information and protect against misinformation that harms to health.

Lived experience had an integral role during the development of the final myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) delivery plan. The awareness plan will also require continued support from people with lived experience, and the ME/CFS community, for the distribution and promotion of any materials produced. The campaign will aim to focus on capturing attention and delivering key messages, which will then serve as a gateway to finding more information.

Departmental officials are currently considering how to involve people with lived experience of ME/CFS in the design and delivery of the ME/CFS awareness campaign, in addition to also exploring options for the format of the awareness campaign.

There are currently no plans to replace the term ‘hysterectomy’ with ‘uterectomy’ in National Health Service patient materials.

International bodies maintain the formal terminology, classification, and coding systems used in clinical records, including the Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms and the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases.

At a national level, NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the royal colleges, coding bodies, and professional societies set the terms used in guidance, patient information, pathways, and records. NHS England is not able to rename the procedure across consent forms, clinical guidelines, records, and coding as a change to an established clinical term of this kind would require agreement across the national and international professional and classification bodies.

I apologise unreservedly and express my sincere sympathy to all those affected by exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), including those exposed in utero and their families. National Health Service records are held by individual NHS organisations and general practices, and clinicians can record clinically relevant information, including known exposure to DES, in a patient’s own medical record where this is brought to their attention and is relevant to their care.

Women who believe or know that they were exposed to DES in utero may need regular colposcopy, which falls outside the routine screening programme. They should speak to their general practitioner about this, as local arrangements should be made for the follow up of women who have been exposed to DES where clinically indicated.

NHS England has asked Cancer Alliances to cascade existing guidance to clinical networks, including general practitioners and other health professionals who may come into contact with DES-exposed patients, so that appropriate follow-up can be arranged locally where needed.

The Department has commissioned the University of Exeter, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to review the latest evidence on the impacts of DES, including its long-term, intergenerational, and psychosocial effects. That work will help inform future decisions on clinical guidance, treatment pathways, and any screening arrangements for people affected by DES.

The Department will continue to work with NHS England and relevant partners to support awareness of the existing guidance for clinicians and patients affected by DES exposure.

Defra welcomes the Broken Plate report. It highlights many of the challenges facing our food system, especially around access and affordability of healthy food.

The Good Food Cycle sets out the government's vision for the food system. It identifies priority outcomes for healthier and more affordable and accessible food, alongside sustainability, food security, and good growth outcomes.

Defra will continue to support work across government, and with stakeholders across the food system, to deliver the priority outcomes in the Good Food Cycle, including via Defra policies such as the Farming Roadmap, Land Use Framework and Environmental Improvement Plan.

My Lords, we continue to promote the advice of the Chief Medical Officers in the UK that pregnant women or those planning a pregnancy should avoid alcohol, alongside promoting the NICE quality standards on FASD. We are committed to ensuring that all pregnant women with alcohol problems are supported to reduce the risk of harm to them and the foetus. This includes providing local authorities, through the public health grant, with £3.4 billion of funding for alcohol and drug treatment and recovery over the next three years.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve awareness and reduce the prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

My noble friend is quite right. There are tremendous opportunities to link up work on tackling foetal alcohol spectrum disorder with other parts of our work, not least the major principle of moving from treatment of sickness to prevention. I assure my noble friend that we are working across government. We will also continue to work with all local areas so that we can address unmet need, prioritise prevention and make sure that we have improvements to alcohol treatment services. All of these will make a difference.