MPs pressed Bridget Phillipson on Labour’s promise to recruit 6,500 more teachers, arguing that overall numbers have fallen and workload is driving staff out; she said the Government is targeting secondary, special school and college shortages, improving pay and workload, and accounting for falling primary pupil numbers.

MPs from across parties said victims and bereaved families still face slow payments, difficult evidence demands and unfair treatment of some claims; the Minister said more than £2.1bn has been paid and set backstops for most infected people to be paid by the end of 2027 and most affected people by the end of 2029.