Mark Sewards MP: written questions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are available for members of the public to report concerns about (a) persistent aircraft trails, (b) air quality and (c) atmospheric pollution.

Answer: Members of the public can report air quality and pollution concerns to their local authority, which has statutory responsibility for reviewing and assessing local air quality and investigating complaints relating to smoke emissions and certain other sourc...

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of monitoring of emissions from aircraft operating in UK airspace.

Answer: The Government considers that existing arrangements provide a robust basis for monitoring aviation emissions. Aircraft operators are required to monitor and report verified CO2 emissions annually under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and, where appl...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that local planning authorities support the installation of low-carbon heating technologies in conservation areas.

Answer: No published answer in this record yet.

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planning restrictions in conservation areas on the installation of domestic heat pumps.

Answer: While responsibility for planning policy primarily sits with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) the two departments work closely on these issues and recognise the importance of ensuring that planning requirements do not cre...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of parents' access to remedies where new evidence emerges following the conclusion of Family Court proceedings.

Answer: A party may be able to appeal against a decision made in family proceedings, where there are grounds to do so. Such appeals have strict timescales in which to be undertaken. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeal-a-decision-i...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the accessibility of appeals processes in Family Court proceedings involving child protection cases.

Answer: A party may be able to appeal against a decision made in family proceedings, where there are grounds to do so. Such appeals have strict timescales in which to be undertaken. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeal-a-decision-i...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to enforce animal welfare regulations relating to the killing of piglets on commercial pig farms.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer, on 4 June 2026 to PQ UIN 3739.

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Ofsted’s early years inspection framework in distinguishing between isolated management failures and serious failings when determining inspection outcomes.

Answer: The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. It is committed to ensuring that all children receive high-quality early education in safe and nurturing settings. As an independent, non-min...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of mortgage lending practices for buy-to-let properties on housing affordability for owner-occupiers.

Answer: The Government is committed to making the aspiration of home ownership a reality for as many households as possible. To improve housing affordability and help people into homeownership, we continue to take steps to increase the supply of housing. In Decem...

Answered 4 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of borrowing costs on small businesses in the construction sector.

Answer: The Government recognises that borrowing costs can affect cash flow, investment decisions and growth prospects for small businesses, including those operating in the construction sector. We continue to monitor economic conditions and engage regularly with...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to improve access to affordable finance for established small businesses experiencing temporary financial pressures.

Answer: The government is committed to helping viable smaller businesses access the finance they need, including through the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS). GGS helps smaller businesses access finance where they may otherwise struggle to do so through the commerci...

Answered 3 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the wider use of standardised timber-frame housing designs on the delivery of new homes.

Answer: No published answer in this record yet.

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using pre-approved standard housing designs to accelerate the planning and delivery of new homes.

Answer: No published answer in this record yet.

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restrictions on employment for skilled workers who have submitted an application to remain in the UK on their application following the loss or

Answer: Those holding skilled worker visas who have had their leave cancelled following their sponsor’s licence revocation have 60 days to find an alternative means to remain in the UK. This can be within the Skilled Worker route or via another route for which th...

Answered 3 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include migraine and other headache conditions within the Pharmacy First initiative.

Answer: As part of Pharmacy First minor illness consultations, pharmacists can already provide advice and recommend over-the-counter treatments for headaches and migraines. Pharmacists can also supply emergency medicines to patients already prescribed regular mig...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department plans to reduce waiting times for neurology and headache clinic appointments.

Answer: There is no nationally published waiting-time data specifically for headache and migraine services. Patients referred for specialist migraine care are captured within broader neurology statistics. As of the end of May 2026, there are nearly 214,700 pathwa...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department plans to reduce waiting lists for patients with migraine.

Answer: There is no nationally published waiting-time data specifically for headache and migraine services. Patients referred for specialist migraine care are captured within broader neurology statistics. As of the end of May 2026, there are nearly 214,700 pathwa...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the waiting list for treatment for headache and migraine is across the NHS.

Answer: There is no nationally published waiting-time data specifically for headache and migraine services. Patients referred for specialist migraine care are captured within broader neurology statistics. As of the end of May 2026, there are nearly 214,700 pathwa...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the roll-out of services for chronic migraine in the community.

Answer: The Government is committed to shifting more care from hospitals into community settings, ensuring that patients with chronic conditions such as migraine can access care closer to home. We support integrated, multidisciplinary models of care that bring to...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to swimming and water safety education for primary school pupils.

Answer: Swimming and water safety are vital life skills, and every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and know how to keep themselves safe around water before they leave primary school.The PE national curriculum makes specific reference to swimmin...

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT from swimming lessons for children.

Answer: Swimming lessons and water safety are vital life skills and are part of the national curriculum. The Department for Education is working closely with third sector organisations, including Swim England, the Royal Life Saving Society UK, and National Water ...

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to protect workers from being filmed without consent while carrying out their duties and having that footage published on social media.

Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that people can carry out their work without fear of harassment and believes that workers should be able to undertake their duties without being filmed and having that footage published online without their consent....

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Officers have been recruited since the implementation of the death certification reforms in September 2024.

Answer: The workforce at medical examiner offices in 2025 is broadly in line with modelled expectations. In Wales, the medical examiner system workforce comprised of 12.8 whole time equivalent (WTE) medical examiners and 39.1 WTE medical examiner officers. In Eng...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding to Medical Examiner offices experiencing persistent backlogs.

Answer: Funding for the medical examiner system is provided by integrated care boards (ICBs) direct to medical examiner offices and data from the National Medical Examiner report for 2025 indicate that staffing levels are broadly in line with the figures set out ...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of staffing and resources available to Medical Examiner offices.

Answer: Funding for the medical examiner system is provided by integrated care boards (ICBs) direct to medical examiner offices and data from the National Medical Examiner report for 2025 indicate that staffing levels are broadly in line with the figures set out ...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the sharing of best practice between Medical Examiner offices.

Answer: The National Health Service ensures the sharing of best practice between medical examiner offices through a centralised, tiered governance structure overseen by the National Medical Examiner (NME), which includes regular NHS England and NME bulletins, sha...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether processes are in place to investigate Medical Examiner offices whose turnaround times consistently exceed the national average.

Answer: The National Medical Examiner (NME) Annual Report for 2025 has assessed the potential impact of medical examiner scrutiny on the completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs). The typical time to register deaths is seven to eight days, comp...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce delays in areas where Medical Examiner offices have reported the longest turnaround times for scrutiny of medical certificates of cause of death.

Answer: The National Medical Examiner (NME) Annual Report for 2025 has assessed the potential impact of medical examiner scrutiny on the completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs). The typical time to register deaths is seven to eight days, comp...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce national communication standards for Medical Examiner offices.

Answer: The Medical Examiners Regulations introduced in September 2024 set out the requirements for medical examiners’ terms and conditions. This includes the requirement for the bereaved to be an offered an opportunity to discuss the death and to raise any conce...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays in the medical examiner process on bereaved families and funeral arrangements.

Answer: The National Medical Examiner (NME) Annual Report for 2025 has assessed the potential impact of medical examiner scrutiny on the completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs). The typical time to register deaths is seven to eight days, comp...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Medical Examiner scrutiny on the timeliness of the completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death; and what assessment he has made of tr

Answer: The National Medical Examiner (NME) Annual Report for 2025 has assessed the potential impact of medical examiner scrutiny on the completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs). The typical time to register deaths is seven to eight days, comp...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to conduct a review of the Medical Examiner system introduced in September 2024.

Answer: The National Medical Examiner (NME) is responsible for oversight of the medical examiner system and provides guidance and professional leadership to medical examiners in England and Wales.The NME publishes an annual report which provides a review of how m...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that information on Pension Credit claims, mandatory reconsiderations and backdated payments is accessible to people who are classed as being digitally excl

Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that Pension Credit services remain accessible to people who are digitally excluded. Pension Credit claims can be made online, by freephone telephone, or by completing a paper application form. For customers who are...

Answered 6 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with Ofqual on ensuring that grade boundaries fairly reflect variations in the difficulty of A Level examination papers.

Answer: Each year, exam boards review a range of evidence when setting ground boundaries, including how students performed and the level of difficulty of the paper. If a paper is found to be more difficult than in previous years, grade boundaries will be set to r...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to establish a centralised system for publishing farmed animal welfare indicators, including mortality data.

Answer: The Government is not establishing a centralised system and already publishes indicators relevant to farmed animal welfare, for example, the percentage of eggs coming from different laying hen production systems. The Food Standards Agency separately publi...

Answered 1 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to require the routine publication of farmed animal welfare inspection reports across all farmed species.

Answer: The Government recognises the importance of transparency where it relates to the welfare of farmed animals. The Government publishes the Multi Annual National Control Plan (MANCP) Annual Reports which includes national data on inspections.

Answered 1 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of decision making in family court proceedings relating to child arrangements.

Answer: Judicial decisions in family court proceedings relating to child arrangements are a matter for the independent judiciary.The Government is, however, committed to ensuring that outcomes in the family justice system prioritise the welfare of children. That ...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the accessibility of legal redress for small businesses in disputes relating to commercial property holding deposits.

Answer: The Ministry of Justice has not conducted a specific assessment of this individual issue.We are aware that holding deposits are a common practice in negotiations for commercial premises. These are a private matter between landlords and businesses. However...

Answered 1 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government on protections for small businesses entering into commercial lease negotiations.

Answer: This policy is owned by MHCLG and in the Government’s Plan for Small Businesses, published in July 2025, we committed to supporting the Law Commission in reviewing the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, part II, to ensure it is fit for today’s market.Landlords...

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of protections for small businesses that pay holding deposits during negotiations for commercial premises.

Answer: We know that holding deposits are common practice in negotiations for commercial premises. These are a private matter between landlords and businesses. However, we would always advise that parties seek independent advice before making any deposit. The Gov...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on consumer protection measures for the funeral sector.

Answer: The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with the Department of Health and Social Care to consider consumer protection issues in the funeral sector, including in relation to the Fuller Inquiry’s recommendations. The Government will publish its re...

Answered 1 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of potential funding models for any future regulation of the funeral sector.

Answer: Raising standards in the care and treatment of the deceased is a sensitive and complex issue, spanning a number of sectors. The Department is leading cross-Government work to consider the full range of options across all relevant settings, including the f...

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing minimum standards for the funeral sector.

Answer: Raising standards in the care and treatment of the deceased is a sensitive and complex issue, spanning a number of sectors. The Department is leading cross-Government work to consider the full range of options across all relevant settings, including the f...

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will create a statutory regulator to oversee the funeral sector.

Answer: Raising standards in the care and treatment of the deceased is a sensitive and complex issue, spanning a number of sectors. The Department is leading cross-Government work to consider the full range of options across all relevant settings, including the f...

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people receiving Carer’s Allowance are aware that taxable benefits in kind, including employer contributions to private health schemes, may be treated

Answer: Information on the treatment of earnings in Carer’s Allowance is available on GOV.UK and is also provided in the letter sent when entitlement is awarded, as well as in annual uprating letters. Where unpaid carers have further questions, they can contact t...

Answered 25 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on early intervention for neurodivergent children with emerging mental health needs.

Answer: The department regularly engages with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to ensure children and young people, including those who are neurodivergent, can access the support they need.We are working with the NHS to expand access to specialist ...

Answered 28 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to age-appropriate inpatient mental health care for children and young people.

Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that inpatient mental health care for children and young people is safe, high‑quality, recovery‑focused, and delivered in the least restrictive, age‑appropriate settings, supported by reforms to improve standards an...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to urgent psychiatric assessment for under-18s experiencing severe mental health distress.

Answer: In 2025, NHS England published Urgent and emergency mental health care for children and young people: national implementation guidance to support ongoing local implementation of crisis services with the intention of improving experience and outcomes of ch...

Answered 25 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on police involvement in responding to mental health crises involving children and young people.

Answer: As part of our work on policing and mental health the Home Office and its Ministers regularly engage with colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care on a wide range of issues including mental health crisis including where these involve childr...

Answered 17 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of crisis mental health provision for children and young people.

Answer: In 2025, NHS England published Urgent and emergency mental health care for children and young people: national implementation guidance to support ongoing local implementation of crisis services with the intention of improving experience and outcomes of ch...

Answered 25 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Answer: We know that children and young people are waiting too long to access mental health services within the National Health Service.In the 12 months since the General Election in July 2024, almost 40,000 more children and young people received support compare...

Answered 25 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what processes his Department has in place to ensure that Army reservists are issued with the equipment required for training without personal expense.

Answer: Army Reservists are issued the necessary clothing and equipment in line with authorised scales set out in Army Dress Regulations. These items are provided through the Defence supply system, which is responsible for issuing and tracking all required equipm...

Answered 17 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Army Reserve recruitment process.

Answer: The Army Reserve is implementing new initiatives to increase its strength and return to full liability at which point the Army Reserve will grow by a further 20%. The Department keeps the effectiveness of Army Reserve recruiting under continuous review. T...

Answered 17 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered introducing additional public transport support for reservists to reduce the cost of attending training and other mandatory commitments.

Answer: The commitments shown by our reservists are greatly valued and routinely Reservists make a vital contribution to Defence, and this Government is committed to ensuring they are appropriately supported in meeting the demands of their service, including the ...

Answered 17 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of legal protections for reservists seeking leave from civilian employment to attend mandatory training commitments.

Answer: Reservists play a vital role in Defence, and this Government recognises the importance of ensuring that they are able to balance their military commitments with their civilian employment. We keep the legislative and policy framework under review to ensure...

Answered 16 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what processes her Department has put in place to monitor the use of funding intended to improve SEND inclusion in mainstream school settings.

Answer: In February, we announced the £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund which will provide mainstream education settings over £500 million funding per year over the next three years to support them to become inclusive by design.We will place conditions on th...

Answered 16 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to provide local authorities with funding for the training and capacity required by SEND Information, Advice and Support Service.

Answer: Under the Children and Families Act 2014, all local authorities are legally required to provide a special educational needs and disabilities information, advice and support service (SENDIASS). SENDIASS services provide impartial, confidential, and legally...

Answered 16 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has plans to review the operation and effectiveness of the Legal Ombudsman, including the timeliness within which complaints are handled.

Answer: The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), which administers the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) scheme, is undertaking a review and transformation programme to ensure the scheme can respond effectively to increasing demand for its services. This programme builds on it...

Answered 16 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of taxable benefits in kind appearing in payroll data on Carer’s Allowance earnings limit.

Answer: A payment in kind is a payment made by something other than money, such as goods, vouchers or free accommodation. An employer may also pay contributions to a private health scheme on behalf of its employees. For Carer’s Allowance purposes, such payments a...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department provides on whether a payroll benefit in kind, including employer-provided private medical insurance, is treated as earnings for the purposes of Carer’s Allowance.

Answer: A payment in kind is a payment made by something other than money, such as goods, vouchers or free accommodation. An employer may also pay contributions to a private health scheme on behalf of its employees. For Carer’s Allowance purposes, such payments a...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Financial Conduct Authority is taking to address the risk of mass incorporation of shell companies linked to money laundering by Chinese organised crime networks ahead of assuming consolidated Anti Mo

Answer: The Government takes the abuse of UK corporate structures by criminal networks extremely seriously. We are strengthening supervision of Trust and Company Service Providers by transferring responsibility to the FCA, alongside Companies House reforms to imp...

Answered 11 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Financial Conduct Authority has made of the adequacy of its current supervisory framework for identifying Trust and Corporate Service Providers that facilitate the mass incorporation of shell com

Answer: The Government takes the abuse of UK corporate structures by criminal networks extremely seriously. We are strengthening supervision of Trust and Company Service Providers by transferring responsibility to the FCA, alongside Companies House reforms to imp...

Answered 11 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of regional variation in access to migraine diagnosis and treatment in England; and what steps he is taking to reduce inequalities in access to mi

Answer: The Government recognises the significant impact that migraine can have on individuals’ quality of life and is committed to improving care and outcomes for people living with this condition.Responsibility for the planning and commissioning of headache and...

Answered 5 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support engagement with people who are less likely to engage with health services directly, including groups experiencing health inequalities, under the propo

Answer: The Patient Experience Directorate in the Department of Health and Social Care will focus on groups less likely to engage with health and care services. Statutory guidance published by the Department will make it clear that integrated care boards and loca...

Answered 8 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance will be issued to Integrated Care Boards and local authorities on how to deliver independent and inclusive engagement with local communities.

Answer: On behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Department will set the direction, issuing clear guidance to integrated care boards and local authorities on obtaining and actioning the views of local people on health...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people feel safe providing feedback where that feedback is critical of NHS or local authority services under the proposed arrangements.

Answer: Integrated care boards will have a statutory obligation to obtain the views of people who use health services, those who may use health services, and their carers and representatives. Local authorities will have the same responsibility in respect of care ...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of abolishing local Healthwatch on public trust in providing feedback on health and care services.

Answer: An impact assessment has been undertaken and published alongside the introduction of the Health Bill 2026. It outlines the non-monetised benefits, including the streamlining of the landscape and legislation, avoiding duplication of activity, and increased...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve customer service standards for claimants who contact Jobcentre Plus and DWP about Jobseeker’s Allowance payments, including call handling and access to wri

Answer: The Department is committed to providing a high standard of customer service for claimants contacting Jobcentre Plus and DWP about all of its services, including Jobseeker’s Allowance. We have recently relaunched our ‘Customer Support Standards’, which se...

Answered 11 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants receive (a) clear and (b) timely information on how earnings from (i) casual, (ii) agency and (iii) zero-hours work affect w

Answer: Claimants are informed at the outset of their claim, including through the Claimant Commitment, about their responsibility to report earnings and how these are taken into account. Guidance explains that where earnings exceed the applicable weekly amount (...

Answered 10 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a standardised Parkinson’s Passport to support people with Parkinson’s in (a) NHS hospital settings and (b) workplace settings.

Answer: The Government is committed to improving health outcomes for people with neurological conditions, including Parkinsons disease. The Parky Charter, supported by the three big Parkinson’s charities, includes a call for Parkinson’s passports. These passports...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any formal investigation has been commissioned into reports of NHS staff being threatened in connection with the Federated Data Platform.

Answer: The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care to improve outcomes for patients. The NHS FDP is deli...

Answered 4 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish (a) criteria and (b) performance metrics that will inform a decision on exercising the break clause in the Federated Data Platform contract before that decision is taken

Answer: The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care to improve outcomes for patients. The NHS FDP is del...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) contractual and (b) regulatory safeguards apply to IQVIA’s role in providing de-identification services for NHS patient data within the Federated Data Platform.

Answer: The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care to improve outcomes for patients. The NHS FDP is del...

Answered 5 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who will own the intellectual property in products developed using the Federated Data Platform.

Answer: The NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) safely connects information from different systems across the National Health Service into a single, secure environment. This allows staff to co-ordinate care to improve outcomes for patients. The NHS FDP is del...

Answered 5 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) is available as part of the continuation of SEND support where a child cannot be educated in school.

Answer: The department’s consultation, “SEND reform: putting children and young people first”, proposes the introduction of Specialist Provision Packages for all children and young people with complex needs, including those children and young people whose needs a...

Answered 12 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans for decisions on Individual Support Plans to be within the scope of (a) the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) or (b) another independent adjudication route.

Answer: Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will provide a record of need and provision for all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They will allow settings to work alongside parents, providing a single, consistent record...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what arrangements will be in place to provide expert advice on children’s mental health alongside Experts at Hand for SEND.

Answer: The department is investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and Integrated Care Boards, to develop a new Experts at Hand offer. This offer is designed to strengthen the capability of m...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what processes her Department will put in place to ensure children, young people and families remain involved in SEND decision-making where responsibility is assumed by the Department from a local authority.

Answer: Under the Children and Families Act 2014, local authorities are statutorily responsible for decisions relating to special educational needs (SEN), both in managing the ‘Local Offer; of services and provision for SEN and in decisions relating to individual...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Specialist Provision Packages are co-produced with (a) children and young people and (b) families.

Answer: Specialist Provision Packages will be nationally defined, evidence-based packages of support for children and young people whose requirements cannot be met in mainstream settings, even with enhanced special educational needs (SEN) support. Packages will s...

Answered 15 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has carried out an assessment of the potential impact of rules preventing Universal Credit claimants from receiving the (a) Carer and (b) Limited Capability for Work and Work-Rela

Answer: The Universal Credit impact assessment published in December 2012 assessed the impacts of introducing Universal Credit. It did not specifically reference carers, but it set out how households’ awards would be affected by the overall combination of changes...

Answered 17 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is issued on (a) moving cases between Crown Court centres and (b) prioritising cases involving vulnerable complainants or safeguarding risks.

Answer: The listing of cases, including decisions as to the court centre at which a case is heard, is a judicial responsibility and function. As things currently stand, the Criminal Practice Directions 2023, made by and under the authority of the Lady Chief Justi...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Department is taking to reduce delays for court cases involving child or vulnerable witnesses.

Answer: The Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a record and rising caseload. We know that some victims are waiting years for justice – justice delayed is justice denied. This is why the Government asked Sir Brian Leveson to make recommendations...

Answered 2 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) average and (b) maximum time was between the completion of Section 28 pre-recorded cross-examination and the start of trial in Crown Court cases in each of the last five years.

Answer: The Ministry of Justice does not routinely collect the information requested. However, an impact evaluation of section 28, published by the Department in March 2025, provides relevant data for the period January 2019 to September 2022. This evaluation fou...

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of an April 2026 US State Department report indicating the Palestinian Authority contin

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 9 March in response to Question 115697.

Answered 26 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of recognising advanced mathematics in UKRI's revised approach to funding.

Answer: I am very proud that this Government has committed the largest investment into R&D on record, with £38 billion allocated to UKRI. There is no route to future growth in this country without science and technology, and mathematical sciences is foundatio...

Answered 20 May 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will conduct a review of the level of in-person banking provision.

Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that people can continue to access in-person banking services. That is why, on 14 May, the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, chaired by Richard Lloyd OBE. The Review will...

Answered 21 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any UK Home Office or National Crime Agency staff members are currently seconded to the Notices & Diffusions Task Force of the Interpol General Secretariat.

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2026 to Question UIN 109867, whether it has had communications of any nature with the Interpol General Secretariat or Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's File

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2026 to Question UIN 109867, whether her department has made any assessment of the need to raise recommendations with Interpol on its obligations under Article 2 o

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to confirm whether the Home Office has engaged in communications with Interpol’s Notices and Diffusions Task Force (NDTF), regarding new or emerging information on specific Wanted Persons Diffusions o

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the National Crime Agency has internal processes in place for determining whether an Interpol Wanted Persons Diffusion or Red Notice request is in conformity with the Interpol charter, particularly

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is current policy for the National Crime Agency to conduct internal checks on Interpol Wanted Persons Diffusions or Red Notice requests before making them available to UK police forces.

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is current policy to conduct internal checks on INTERPOL Wanted Persons Diffusions or Red Notice requests further to those conducted by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files (C

Answer: Any misuse of INTERPOL tools, including Red Notices, is taken very seriously by this Government.The UK continues to support INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights and uphold Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution, w...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of accessibility to NHS mental health services for residents in Leeds South West and Morley, including average waiting times for assessment and treatment.

Answer: NHS North East and Yorkshire have stated that for NHS Talking Therapies services, the current waiting time from referral to assessment is approximately six weeks, with faster access available where clinically necessary. For children and young people’s men...

Answered 10 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays between qualification, professional registration, and commencing employment for newly qualified nurses and midwives.

Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working with higher education institutions (HEIs) to set a standard for the confirmation of course completion, so that newly qualified nurses can begin work as soon as they are able. This work is due for compl...

Answered 20 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to implement the Graduate Guarantee for newly qualified nurses and midwives; and what metrics will be used to measure its impact.

Answer: NHS England is actively monitoring future nursing and midwifery student numbers and will continue to assess the efficacy of the 2025/26 Graduate Guarantee as a mechanism. There are a range of measures to support students, universities, and clinical educat...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many newly qualified nurses and midwives are expected to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27; and how many Band 5 nursing and midwifery vacancies were

Answer: The Nursing and Midwifery Council publishes data twice a year on the makeup of its professional register, and this includes information on the number of people trained in the United Kingdom who have joined the register for the first time, which will be a ...

Answered 21 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to repeal the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.

Answer: This Government is taking a consistent, long term, and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK interests. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 exists to promote trade with the Hong Kong Special Administrative...

Answered 21 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to (a) review and (b) revoke the privileges and immunities currently afforded to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London under the Hong Kong Econ

Answer: This Government is taking a consistent, long term, and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK interests. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 exists to promote trade with the Hong Kong Special Administrative...

Answered 21 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) data protection and (b) privacy safeguards are in place to ensure the security of (i) home addresses and (ii) other personal information belonging to people considered vulnerable to targeting

Answer: It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters. However, we continually assess potential threats to individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK and are front foote...

Answered 18 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources have been allocated to (a) Cantonese and (b) Mandarin translation and linguistic capabilities for investigations conducted under the National Security Act 2023.

Answer: Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools and translation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidential requirements.CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development and deployment of enhanc...

Answered 19 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations are currently underway into potential foreign interference activities linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.

Answer: It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters.The verdicts in the recent trial represent the first convictions under the National Security Act related to China and send a...

Answered 18 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to maximise the portability of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision for children of Armed Forces families when they move between (a) local authority areas wit

Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to NHS employers on the relationship between partial retirement and entitlement to contractual redundancy payments.

Answer: Contractual redundancy terms are set out in the Agenda for Change NHS terms and conditions of service handbook under section 16, more specifically paragraph 16.6, for National Health Service staff who are on Agenda for Change contracts in England or those...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that NHS staff who took partial retirement and subsequently apply for Voluntary Redundancy are not disadvantaged in their entitlement to contractual redundanc

Answer: Entitlement to contractual redundancy payments is set out in the Agenda for Change NHS terms and conditions of service handbook, under section 16, for National Health Service staff that are on Agenda for Change contracts in England, or those whose terms r...

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of potential impacts of activities of Iranian state-affiliated media organisations, including Press TV, operating in the United Kingdom on the public; and whether she has

Answer: We work closely with a range of partners to tackle malign state-backed influence and interference in our society. Where there is clear evidence that Iranian-linked or aligned organisations are undertaking unacceptable activity, the Government will respond...

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK financial regulations in preventing hostile states, including Iran, from exploiting cryptocurrency platforms accessible in the United Kingdom to raise funds.

Answer: The UK has a robust anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and sanctions regime to counter hostile state activity.Cryptoassets are in scope of the UK’s Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations, which require regulated firms to appl...

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports that Press TV is being used to identify and assess individuals in the United Kingdom for potential recruitment by

Answer: The Government's first priority is our national security, and we will use all the tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from state threats. Where there is clear evidence that Iranian-linked or aligned organisations are undertaking unacc...

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports that Iranian regime-linked actors are soliciting cryptocurrency donations from individu

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 5 February in response to Question 109571.

Answered 29 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Lord Walney’s March 2026 report entitled Undue Influence: The Iranian Regime’s Abuse of the UK Charity System, if she will ensure that charities subject to live Charity Commissi

Answer: The Charity Commission is alive to the threat of hostile foreign state influence in charities and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited. Any allegation or evidence of criminal offences, including terrorism, is r...

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Lord Walney’s March 2026 report entitled Undue Influence: The Iranian Regime’s Abuse of the UK Charity System, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Charity Commis

Answer: The Charity Commission is alive to the threat of hostile foreign state influence in charities and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited. Any allegation or evidence of criminal offences, including terrorism, is r...

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Government’s 2026 Fraud Strategy on levels of fraud facilitated through online platforms before the Online Safety Act duties

Answer: While the OSA continues to be implemented, fraud is a ‘priority offence’ under the Act, with platforms already required to mitigate against criminals using their services and to remove scam content if it appears. Ofcom has existing robust powers to act wh...

Answered 24 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is taking steps to hold online platforms accountable for fraudulent advertising on their services prior to the full implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

Answer: While the OSA continues to be implemented, fraud is a ‘priority offence’ under the Act, with platforms already required to mitigate against criminals using their services and to remove scam content if it appears. Ofcom has existing robust powers to act wh...

Answered 24 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of the health risks associated with inhaling nitrous oxide.

Answer: The Department has worked with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Association to develop lesson plans on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, which include specific references to the dangers of nitrous oxide. The lesson plans target primary and seco...

Answered 20 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) police forces in tackling the misuse of nitrous oxide in public places and the associated littering of discarded canisters.

Answer: The Government is aware of concerns about nitrous oxide misuse in public places and littering of discarded canisters, which places a burden on communities and local authorities.Nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs ...

Answered 28 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve enforcement against (a) people and (b) businesses supplying nitrous oxide unlawfully.

Answer: Nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 since 2023. It is an offence to produce, supply, possess or import nitrous oxide, regardless of canister size, except for activities explicitly exempt under the 1971 Ac...

Answered 28 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the unlawful (a) sale and (b) supply of nitrous oxide.

Answer: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force on 8 November 2023, classifying nitrous oxide as a Class C drug. It is illegal to produce, supply, import or export nitrous oxide where a person knows, or is reckless as to whether, it wi...

Answered 20 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of establishing a compensation scheme for women who have experienced harm associated with pelvic mesh implants.

Answer: The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including options for financial compensation.The Government h...

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Legal Aid Agency in ensuring solicitors use qualified and security-vetted interpreters in legally-aided family proceedings.

Answer: Interpreters play a crucial role in family court proceedings, ensuring that individuals who do not speak English or have hearing impairments can fully participate and understand the legal process. For most family court proceedings, His Majesty’s Court and...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to address regulatory gaps where rooftop solar installation companies and asset owners (a) cease trading and (b) withdraw support.

Answer: We are overhauling the system of standards and protections for energy efficiency and solar and battery installations. Measures announced in the Warm Homes Plan will ensure that consumers can have confidence in measures they take to improve the energy effi...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance his Department has issued on (a) access and (b) ownership of (i) performance and (ii) operational data from rooftop solar systems.

Answer: No guidance has been issued, and we are not aware that any such data exists on a national scale. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme holds data on every MCS certified installation since 2010 in the MCS Installations Database. However, it does not inc...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support families who travel long distances for NHS-commissioned inpatient mental health care.

Answer: We recognise that being sent to a hospital far away from home, family, and support networks means a poorer experience of care for patients and increased safety risks, which is why we are working to end this practice. We have invested £75 million of capita...

Answered 19 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the support available to small businesses for unsolicited sales approaches from third-party intermediaries.

Answer: The government’s plan is to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, with a culture that supports entrepreneurship in every community and high street. There is a range of support offers available to businesses and entrepreneurs including t...

Answered 17 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the sale of (a) knives, (b) swords, and (c) battle axes on third-party online selling platforms.

Answer: The Government has been strengthening controls on the online sales of bladed articles, including knives, swords and axes. We commissioned Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, to conduct a review into the onl...

Answered 17 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4th March to Question 116233, if he will clarify (a) the timeline for introducing secondary legislation and (b) whether it will apply to all Common High Priority List items.

Answer: We expect to lay secondary legislation to deliver the sanctions end-use control this Spring, subject to the Parliamentary timetable.The sanctions end-use control is intended to apply to exports which are not already subject to strategic export controls, w...

Answered 13 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of (a) current funding models in the context of high mobility and separation on Service pupils and (b) targeted support for those with special and additional e

Answer: Over £26 million of targeted funding was allocated in 2025/26 to help schools in England support their Service pupils, through the Service Pupil Premium. The rate increased to £350 per eligible pupil in 2025, reflecting the department’s commitment to reco...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 29 August 2025 to Question 73095, whether her Department has complemented a New Burden Assessment regarding the potential financial impact of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty o

Answer: New burdens assessments are required when a department’s actions meet the government definition of a new burden, ensuring that the financial impact on local authorities is estimated for at least the first three years and fully funded by the relevant depar...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the portability of (a) special and (b) additional needs, and (c) disability provision for children in Armed Forces families.

Answer: As part of the consultation on the government’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, I recently attended a roundtable hosted by the Armed Forces Community All-Party Parliamentary Group. I met representatives from armed forces familie...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what additional resources his Department has allocated to domestic enforcement bodies to (a) investigate and (b) prosecute sanctions evasion involving dual-use technologies exported to Russia through H

Answer: The Government has invested in strengthening trade sanctions enforcement capacity. The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) was established in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in October 2024. Alongside specialist investigative capac...

Answered 6 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to enhance due diligence obligations on exporters of dual-use goods to help prevent diversion through Hong Kong.

Answer: The UK has introduced extensive trade sanctions to prevent Russia acquiring dual‑use items used in its military operations. Since March 2022, we have banned the export of all dual‑use goods and other high‑risk technologies, including products identified o...

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase rail carriage capacity in West Yorkshire.

Answer: The Department approved and funded the use of 12 additional trains (60 extra carriages) for the CrossCountry network. These additional trains were introduced in May 2025 and have increased the Inter-City train fleet substantially and enabled CrossCountry ...

Answered 3 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to help prevent anti-competitive practices in the live music and ticketing sectors.

Answer: Last year the government announced new consumer protection measures in the ticketing market. A strong consumer protection regime is essential for protecting consumers from harmful practices and stimulating competition to drive down prices. It is also good...

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has formalised conditions aimed at encouraging reform as part of the UK's memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 13 November 2025 in response to Question HL11575, which for ease is reproduced below:In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to ...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Palestinian Authority on payments to convicted terrorists.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 13 November 2025 in response to Question HL11575, which for ease is reproduced below:In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to ...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to introduce a new mechanism to restrict the activities of extreme criminal protest groups.

Answer: This government is committed to ensuring the police have the powers they need to proportionately manage extreme criminal protests while safeguarding the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.An independent review of public order and hate crime legi...

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her policies of Australia's Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.

Answer: Tackling all forms of hatred is an issue of global significance. This government is committed to eradicating hated from our society, working to ensure that no individual should ever experience hatred or live in fear due to their race, religion, beliefs or...

Answered 3 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98630, if she will recognise mathematical sciences as a strategically important high-cost subject as part of the Strategic Priorities Grant funding for 202

Answer: The government recognises mathematical sciences as a valuable subject in higher education.As outlined by my hon. Friend, the Member for Vale of Glamorgan, the 25/26 Guidance Letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, to the Of...

Answered 23 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2025 to Question 98631, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the mathematical sciences on delivering the Industrial Strategy and the Growth Mission; and

Answer: The government recognises mathematical sciences as a valuable subject in higher education.As outlined by my hon. Friend, the Member for Vale of Glamorgan, the 25/26 Guidance Letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, to the Of...

Answered 23 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Falkland Islands on the potential impact of trade tariffs on its economy.

Answer: We are proud of the bond that the United Kingdom shares with the Falkland Islands as part of one Great British family, and we deeply value the relationship between our governments.I was pleased to speak with the new Assembly within a week of their electio...

Answered 20 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what internal discussions her Department has had on the allocation of funding for the mathematical sciences within the 2026-27 Strategic Priorities Grant.

Answer: The allocation of funding for mathematical sciences within the 2026-27 Strategic Priorities Grant is the responsibility of the Department for Education (DfE). As such, there has been no specific internal discussion within the Department for Science, Innov...

Answered 23 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the role of the mathematical sciences within future Strategic Priorities Grant funding.

Answer: The mathematical sciences sector is key to delivering the Government’s missions and plays an important role from advising government and business, to sharing expertise that underpins the innovation and scientific discovery that helps our country and econo...

Answered 18 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has raised the detention of Bita Shafiei on 13 November 2025 with her Iranian counterparts.

Answer: We are aware of Bita Shafiei's case and continue to raise the rights of women and girls and human rights defenders with the Iranian Government in multilateral fora. The UK co-sponsored an Iran Human Rights Resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee on ...

Answered 11 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of moving disabled military veterans from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit on their eligibility for loca

Answer: Support for working age households, including the treatment of benefits, is designed by councils in consultation with their residents, taking into account the needs and circumstances of their local communities. Each year, councils must consider whether to...

Answered 10 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to improve (i) support, and (ii) access to treatments, for people with (a) Multiple System Atrophy, and (b) Parkinson’s.

Answer: At the national level, there are several initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with Parkinson’s and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), including the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Rig...

Answered 4 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department have made on the impact of participation in (a) gyms, (b) swimming pools, and (c) leisure centres on men’s (i) mental and (ii) physical health.

Answer: The Government knows that addressing physical inactivity and getting people moving more is important for improving health outcomes, well-being, reducing demand on the National Health Service, and supporting economic growth.Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out...

Answered 27 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure early intervention for pupils with special educational needs.

Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Leeds South West and Morley, to the answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 86204.

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of waiting times for children and young people accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Answer: We know too many children and young people are waiting too long for mental health support, and through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children and young people the best start in life. The Government is expanding access to mental health supp...

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of powers available to local authorities to (a) maintain and (b) intervene on land where ownership is (i) unknown and (ii)

Answer: HM Land Registry (HMLR) are responsible for registering the ownership of land. Approximately 11% of land in England and Wales remains unregistered. My Department is working with HMLR to widen and deepen transparency of land ownership and control.

Answered 21 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in identifying ownership of land that has remained unregistered since 1974.

Answer: HM Land Registry (HMLR) are responsible for registering the ownership of land. Approximately 11% of land in England and Wales remains unregistered. My Department is working with HMLR to widen and deepen transparency of land ownership and control.

Answered 21 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS dental services for (a) carers and (b) frontline care workers.

Answer: We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a National Health Service dentist including for carers and front-line workers. We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments from 1 April 2025.ICBs are also rec...

Answered 6 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people in full-time employment who have caring responsibilities can access GP appointments.

Answer: The Department is expanding capacity in general practice which will help deliver more appointments to patients, ensuring everyone, including those in full-time employment and with caring responsibilities, can access care.General practitioner (GP) core hou...

Answered 6 Nov 2025