Written answers

Tuesday, 26 May 2026

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Small Businesses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to encourage the growth of small and medium sized enterprises.

    • Insolvency Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Insolvency Service in tackling fraudulent business practices.

      Exports: Government Assistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support is available to small exporters seeking to access new markets overseas.

      New Businesses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of regional disparities in business start-up rates across the UK.

      Small Businesses: Digital Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support small businesses adopting digital technologies.

      Corporate Governance: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help improve corporate governance standards among large UK companies.

      Companies: Meetings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that the modernisation of Annual General Meeting formats preserves the option for physical attendance.

      Iron and Steel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the metal packaging industry on the UK Steel Strategy; and when those discussions took place.

      UK Trade with EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with business representatives on export opportunities following the UK's departure from the EU.

      Manufactured Goods: Exports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of new trade agreements on manufacturing exports.

      Public Houses: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his department has taken to support the long term resilience of pubs in Lincolnshire.

      Furniture: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the potential health risks of chemical flame retardants in upholstered furniture; and what plans the...

      Industry: North of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the he is taking to ensure the government's industrial strategy supports towns in the North of England.

      Small Businesses: Accountancy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost to businesses of transitioning from small to medium-sized company status due to...

  • Department for Education

    • Katharine Birbalsingh

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39574 on Katharine Birbalsingh, when the final note was shared.

    • Special Educational Needs: Visual Impairment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of regional disparities in access to Qualified Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision...

      Disabled Students' Allowances: Assistive Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what she is taking to ensure that her Department’s consultation on funding for assistive software through Disabled Students’ Allowance is...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Nuclear Weapons: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his position is on the (a) procurement by the UK Government and (b) development by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, of non-ballistic, tactical...

    • Veterans: Radiation Exposure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a compensation scheme for a) veterans and b) their descendants who may have been...

      Space Technology: International Cooperation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the UK contribution to the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative.

      War Pensions: Applications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) average and (b) median processing times were for (i) initial claims and (ii) deterioration claims under the War Pension Scheme in each of...

      Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of procuring the Anduril Bolt M Autonomous Air Vehicle.

      Armed Forces: Offences against Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2026 to question 126811 on Armed Forces: Offences against Children, under what circumstances is service detention used.

      Type 26 Frigates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the interoperability of the Type 26 with other ships in the Global Combat Ship Programme.

      Poland: Military Alliances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, how the new UK...

      Germany: Military Alliances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress has he...

      Navy: Military Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter from the MOD Permanent Secretary to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee on 30 April 2026, for what reason was the...

      Ministry of Defence: Childcare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion was the change in average fees for his Department's sites offering childcare compared to 2024-25.

      Ministers: Aviation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44594, on Ministers: Aviation, which Ministers took the flights.

      Wrecks: Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered using the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to clarify the legal status of maritime wrecks connected to the United Kingdom’s war...

      Veterans: Edinburgh Castle

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold discussions with Historic Environment Scotland on access to Edinburgh Castle for Royal Regiment of Scotland veterans.

      Armed Forces Commissioner: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff will be working to the Armed Forces Commissioner.

      AUKUS: Guided Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on developing the hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities stream of AUKUS Pillar 2.

      Regeneration: Barrow in Furness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the Barrow Transformation Fund will be provided by his Department.

      Guided Weapons: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date the interim stand-off capability will be available via the procurement of the Small Diameter Bomb II.

      F-35 Aircraft: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 126806 on F-35 Aircraft: Cruise Missiles, what assessment he has made of the extent of...

      Challenger Tanks: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the latest estimated IOC date for the Challenger 3.

      HMS Achilles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current estimated IOC for HMS Achilles.

      HMS Iron Duke

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the cost of the latest refit of HMS Iron Duke.

      F-35 Aircraft: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current status of the proposed buy of additional F-35B aircraft, beyond the 48 originally ordered.

      Artillery: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the first of the recently ordered 72 RCH 155mm artillery systems is due to achieve initial operational capability.

      Military Aircraft: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the policy of the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regarding the risk of potential leaks of engine oil or lubricants into the cockpit...

      Veterans: Government Assistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support given to veterans in Lincolnshire.

      Defence: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2026, to question 124247 on Defence: Expenditure, what discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on the date for...

      Boeing P-8: Torpedoes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date does he plan to direct award the contract for the integration of the Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo onto the RAF’s fleet of P-8 Poseidon...

      Trident Submarines: Shipbuilding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his foreword in his Department's publication entitled The Strategic Defence Review 2025: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Stockholm 3 (S3) diagnostic test for prostate cancer; and whether he will...

    • Healthy Start Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the NHS Business Services Authority is taking to ensure independent shopkeepers and convenience store staff (a) are aware of...

      Quetiapine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase domestic production of quetiapine.

      Ovarian Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recent update to NICE guideline on ovarian cancer, what consideration he has given to implementing dual testing...

      Independent Commission into Adult Social Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on the Casey Review of Social Care, and when does he expect the publication of the stage 1 report on this.

      General Practitioners: Medical Records

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are plans to allow the electronic transfer of GP records when people move from Wales to England.

      Prescriptions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the operational impacts and additional costs caused by the current process of monthly...

      Prescriptions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available for people who are struggle to manage monthly in-person appointments to obtain repeat prescriptions of...

      Prescriptions: ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department held discussions with stakeholders prior to NHS England's decision to cease central funding for the EMIS Web...

      Dental Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds data on the number of NHS dental appointments cancelled as a result of practices converting to private provision.

      Dental Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of NHS dental appointments that have been cancelled following their practice's...

      Glioblastoma: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment have they made of the proportion of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients who receive the full standard of care on the NHS.

      Long Covid: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of NHS pathways for patients with Long Covid, in particular the extent to which...

      Physiotherapy: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the contribution of physiotherapy services to supporting people to (a) remain in or (b) return to work.

      Migraines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the (a) diagnosis rate and (b) treatment of migraines.

      Bowel Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to use screening programmes to share information and boost prevention awareness of Bowel Cancer.

      School Milk

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on reception year pupils of the age based eligibility threshold for the Nursery...

      Leukaemia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people diagnosed with leukaemia have adequate access to haematology specialists.

      Epidermolysis Bullosa: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the financial and logistical burdens on families of children with severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa...

      Health Services: Care Leavers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure accurate recording of care experienced patients.

      Life Expectancy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for public health policy of the Health Foundation’s findings on the...

      Diabetes: Babies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve diagnosis rates for infants and new-borns of type 1 diabetes.

      Cancer: West Midlands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve access to freezing and storage capacity for tumour tissues for oncology services in...

      Yoghurt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, that based on the latest consultation from the DHSC on the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), and given that most fruit yogurts are low in fat...

      Health Services: Pupils

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the NHS takes to provide healthcare to pupils with medical conditions in schools.

      Infectious Diseases: Disease Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the UK Health Security Agency and (b) devolved governments on preparedness for...

      Alcoholism: Newton Abbot

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to support residents who are suffering from alcoholic addiction in Newton Abbot.

      Parkinson's Disease: Speech and Language Therapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure Parkinson's patients are supported with speech and language therapy.

      Food: Labelling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) new product labelling standards, including the proportion by weight of...

      Craniocervical Instability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients with suspected craniocervical instability in the context of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos...

      Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the transformation of liver services programme led by the NHS England Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Clinical Reference Group will...

      Neurofibromatosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a) what steps are being taken to inform those living with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) that they are entitled to earlier screening for...

      Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS care pathways for patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and...

      Dementia: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local NHS bodies on improving dementia care pathways in Essex.

      Dementia: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for a dementia assessment in Essex.

      Dementia: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent funding his Department has allocated to improve dementia diagnosis and care services in Essex.

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Social Media: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with social media platforms, such as TikTok, on compliance with UK GDPR regarding the use of...

    • Voice over Internet Protocol: Care Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact on residents of privately-managed leasehold...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to respond to the correspondence in relation to Digital ID of 6 February, 12 March and 13 April with reference...

      Retail Trade: Counterfeit Manufacturing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with (a) local police forces and (b) Trading Standards authorities on enforcement action...

      Advanced Research and Invention Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which projects are being delivered by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

      Broadband: Flats

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of whether those living in in leasehold flats and apartments in Scotland will be able to benefit...

      Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how her Department plans to track progress on phasing out animal testing through the Replacing Animals in Science strategy.

      Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to introduce a dedicated funding stream for the development, validation and uptake of non-animal...

      Animal Experiments: Life Sciences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of accelerating the validation and uptake of non-animal New...

      MBR Acres: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what is the extent of government financial support for the MBR Acres facility.

      Broadband: Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on whether the R100 programme is on track; and when full...

      Science and Technology Facilities Council: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Department has conducted an impact assessment on changes in the level of funding by the Science and Technology...

      Public Sector: Information Sharing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when her Department intends to publish its response to the consultation entitled Information sharing for public service...

      Telecommunications: Competition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of increased competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure on (a)...

      Regulatory Innovation Office

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Regulatory Innovation Office in reducing regulatory approval times...

      Sexual Offences: Victims

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to strengthen protections for victims of sexual abuse from (a) harassment and (b) threatening or...

      Social Media: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which social media platforms’ moderation standards reflect UK...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Financial Services: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Civil Justice Council’s review of litigation funding to strengthen protections for consumers, whether she plans to extend...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • National Security

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, CP1338, published on...

    • Russia: Shipping

      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 the use of a Russian shadow fleet...

      Russia: Sanctions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen sanctions enforcement against vessels, operators, insurers and...

      Israel: Gender Based Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer to Question UIN 87730 of 11 November 2025, if her Department will publish a formal...

      Palestinian Authority

      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...

      Afghanistan: Humanitarian Situation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in a) India and b) Pakistan about the humanitarian situation in...

      Sri Lanka: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her counterpart in Sri Lanka regarding water pollution in Chunnakam;...

      Chagos Islands: Military Bases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 108749, on Government Actuary’s Department, if...

      China: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress...

      India: Sikhs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations with her Indian counterpart on reports of extrajudicial killings of Sikhs and...

      Tamils: Oppression

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations against Tamils...

      Commonwealth Secretariat: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the British financial contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

      Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the (a) Southern African Development Community and (b) African Union on...

      Pakistan: Trials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations her Department has made to the Government of Pakistan regarding the trial of civilians in...

      United Arab Emirates: Energy Supply

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to expand cooperation on delivering global energy security with the United Arab Emirates.

      Ukraine: Prisoners of War

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has considered imposing targeted sanctions on Russian judges, prosecutors and other...

      Israeli Settlements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of the E1 settlement project on Palestinian territorial...

      Russia: Ukraine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to help ensure Russia is held accountable for breaches of international law.

      South Africa: Development Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123722, what meetings with a) officials and b) ministers...

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Electricity: Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of rebalancing policy costs currently levied on electricity bills...

    • Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people in South Shropshire constituency use Radio Teleswitch Service meters.

      Heating Oil: Price Caps

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of introducing a price cap on domestic heating oil for households...

      Solar Power and Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Answer of 24th April 2026 to Question 127931, what measures the National Energy System Operator uses...

      Electricity: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the case for extending the Common Tariff Obligation to apply across the whole of the...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Motability: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of Mobility Scheme users who exceeded 10,000 miles per year live in rural areas.

    • Universal Credit: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of claimants who have migrated from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit under...

      Disability Living Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) complexity and (b) length of the Disability Living Allowance claim form on...

      Employment: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce regional disparities in the women’s employment rate.

      Bereavement Support Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on bereavement-related employment support; and whether that consultation...

      Employment: Menopause

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support employers in reducing stigma around menopause in the workplace.

      Unemployment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of trends in the levels of gender disparities in the unemployment rate.

      Employment: Migraines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve employers' awareness of migraine symptoms amongst employees.

      Social Security Benefits: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets her Department has set for resolving complaints about decisions on benefits.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the number of Universal Credit claimants with limited capability for work and work-related activity by recorded medical...

      Access to Work Programme: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was between approval of an Access to Work application and commencement of support in each of the past two years,...

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many people have been assessed at a PIP assessment as having a progressive and life-limiting condition who do not qualify for Special...

  • Treasury

    • Financial Insitutions: Membership

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to promote membership of (a) credit unions, (b) building societies and (c) mutual banking institutions.

    • Public Sector: Pay

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her department has made of the differences in percentage pay increases between different public sector staff like prison staff, probation...

      Cryptocurrencies

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026, to Question 118363, on Cryptocurrencies, whether (a) the Financial Conduct Authority or (b) Bank of England...

      Cryptocurrencies: Regulation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to regulate cryptocurrency investment.

      Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the total public expenditure committed to achieving net zero by 2050, including projected liabilities, broken down by year...

      North Sea Oil

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she has taken to support growth in the North Sea oil industry.

      Carbon Emissions: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what total revenue accrued to the Exchequer from (a) the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, (b) carbon taxes, (c) related environmental levies and (d) other...

      Banks: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Growth Allowance within the ring-fencing reforms on the availability of finance for...

      Bank Services: Visual Impairment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the absence of in-person banking services in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and...

      Electricity: Standing Charges

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her department has made of the potential impact of VAT on domestic energy bills on regional inequalities in electricity standing charges...

      Logistics and Storage: Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of targeted business rate relief for storage and logistics-based businesses.

      Real Estate Investment Trusts: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC paid in (a) withheld tax repayments and (b) rebates relating to UK Real Estate Investment Trust distributions to non-UK residents in...

      Landlords: Income Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2ppt increase to the rate of property income tax on residential landlords in South Shropshire.

      Fraud: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what safeguard assessments have been put in place to prevent AI profiling of demographics while investigating fraud, as a result of the Quantexa deal.

      NHS: Vat

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is the policy of HM Revenue and Customs to inform NHS commissioners of concerns regarding unpaid VAT liabilities prior to filing a winding-up...

      National Wealth Fund

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when will a Bill be brought forward to update the remit of the National Wealth Fund.

      National Wealth Fund: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the National Wealth Fund's updated Financial Framework will be published.

      State Retirement Pensions: Women

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what equality impact assessment she has undertaken regarding the effect of the increase in Normal Minimum Pension Age on women, particularly those with...

      Cost of Living: South Holland and the Deepings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to help support people with the cost of living in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

  • Department for Transport

    • Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide a list of the innovative research and development programmes for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions, including the...

    • Shipping: UK Emissions Trading Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the decision not to temporarily exempt the Isle of Wight from the...

      Cranston Inquiry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the final financial report of the Cranston Inquiry will be published.

      Shipping: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ban discharge from all vessels in UK territorial waters.

      Railways: Mobile Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment Network Rail has made of the adequacy of existing trackside infrastructure, including GSM-R masts and overhead line stanchions, for...

      Northern Trains

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120876 on Northern Trains: Rolling Stock, what the ten Northern Trains routes with the...

      Immigration Controls: EU Countries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on juxtaposed ports and Kent traffic flows should flexible and proportionate implementation of...

      Railways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 123169, when she expects to issue a Long Term Rail Strategy.

      Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Codes of Practice

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 15 April 2026 to Question 126329, when her Department plans to publish the revised MCA Rescue Boat Code.

      Ports: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to publish the findings of the Net Zero Ports call for evidence.

      Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on its considerations of the recommendations of the report by the Contrail Impact Mitigation Task and Finish...

      Ferries: Conditions of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 126523 on Ferries: Conditions of Employment, when the Department expects to publicly confirm...

      Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for each train operating company under DfT Operator ownership, how many services were operated with fewer carriages than planned in each of the last...

      European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Department plans to make a decision on potential accession to the Eurofima Convention.

      Railways: East of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, if she will develop new Outline Business Cases for the Haughley Junction upgrades.

      DfT Operator: Public Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has DfTO undertaken on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.

      British Transport Police: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has the British Transport Police made on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.

      Network Rail: Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of Network Rail's funding from 2024 to 2029 to prevent average asset deterioration of the railway...

      Railways: Mobile Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Network Rail has made on improving passenger mobile connectivity through the upgrade from GSM-R to the Future Railway Mobile...

      Stanford-le-Hope Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with stakeholders on the timely delivery of Stanford-Le-Hope train station.

      Network Rail: Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed changes in average asset age and percentage asset life used across major railway infrastructure asset categories...

      Aviation and Railways: Tickets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of integrated data and through-ticketing between rail services and airlines worldwide; and if she will...

      Network Rail: Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the funding required by Network Rail for the control period 2029 to 2034 to recover the average asset age to 2015...

      Aviation: Fuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the aviation sector on the (a) potential impact of jet fuel shortage on the industry and (b) distribution of...

      Roads: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120940, on which day the Department expects the forthcoming change to update the road...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Government Departments: Buildings

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate his Department has made of the scale of the maintenance backlog across central government property.

    • Wes Streeting

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much will be paid to the Rt hon. Member for Ilford North following his resignation as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

      Lord Mandelson

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter from the Cabinet Secretary to the Hon Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 25 April 2026, section 3, what was the reason for...

      Lord Mandelson

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2026 to Question 113783 on Cabinet Office: Reviews, whether any staff involved with the Humble Address also...

      Intelligence and Security Committee

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124834 on Intelligence and Security Committee: Press Releases, whether the uplift in...

      Business Rates: Canary Wharf

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Prime Minister's Chief Secretary has had discussions with JP Morgan on business rate discounts on offices in...

      Ministers: Redundancy Pay

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate has been made of the expected expenditure on exit payments to Ministers in the last month.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many households were placed in temporary accommodation outside their home local authority area in each of the last...

    • Tower Hamlets: Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124686 on Tower Hamlets Council, what work the Tower Hamlets...

      Local Government: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to councils on best practice for the operation of casting votes in No...

      Homelessness: Brighton and Hove

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness in the debate on...

      Homelessness: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure local authorities in England fulfil statutory duties to assess young...

      Waste Disposal: Birmingham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has provided additional (a) funding and (b) support to Birmingham City Council to facilitate...

      Local Government: Surrey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the new councils of (a) West Surrey and (b) East Surrey will be given Borough status.

      Charities: Business Rates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his department monitors if local authorities grant discretionary business rate relief for charities.

      Tenancy Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2026 on tenants with...

      Council Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Valuation Office Agency is applying the statutory requirement...

      Social Rented Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to help increase the number of empty properties used to deliver social rent homes.

      Housing: Barrowby

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the December 2024 update to the National Policy Planning...

      Private Rented Housing: Anti-social Behaviour

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to make private landlords responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour caused...

      Shared Ownership Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of permitting shared ownership staircasing valuations to be (a)...

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce new powers to allow local authorities to address illegal Traveller encampments.

      Floods: Risk Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to Lead Local Flood Authorities on the application of Section 245 of the...

      Private Rented Housing: Tenancy Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the rental period of converted assured periodic tenancies is determined for the purposes of a tenant's notice to...

      Leasehold: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date he plans to implement the abolition of marriage value for lease extensions.

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of unauthorised traveller development...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been built in (a) Fylde constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) England since July 2024.

      Agriculture: Land Use

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on planning policy...

      Houseboats

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of whether the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the housing...

      Conveyancing: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to reform the conveyancing process for residential property in England.

      Leasehold: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the lease extension premium formula on leaseholders with short...

      Planning Permission: Harpenden and Berkhamsted

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made on the ability of Local Authorities to effectively halt unauthorised planning...

      Social Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure people living in social housing receive sufficient decoration allowance...

      Local Plans: Newcastle-under-Lyme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the impact of there being no approved Local Plan in Newcastle-under-Lyme on people...

      Social Housing: Foreign Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of social housing allocations made to households where the lead tenant is not...

  • Home Office

    • Surrey Police: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her department is taking to support improvements at Surrey Police, in the context of the recent report by HMICFRS.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Baroness Harman and Gordon Brown

      To ask His Majesty's Government what vetting procedures were undertaken prior to the appointments of Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation,...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Egypt: World War I

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 19 September 2024 (HL783), what progress they have made towards (1) identifying and marking the graves of...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Taiwan: Foreign Relations

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance bilateral relations with Taiwan and to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international bodies such as the...

    • Israel: Palestine

      To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations, if any, they have made to the government of Israel about the ill-treatment, including the use of sexual assault, of Palestinian...

      Tibet: Pre-school Education

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Human Rights Watch report, “Start with the Youngest Children” China’s Use of Preschools to...

      Iran: United Nations

      To ask His Majesty's Government what factors they considered when nominating Iran to the UN Committee for Program and Coordination.

      China: Foreign Relations

      To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Chinese ambassador following the convictions of Chi Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen.

      Israel: Palestine

      To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with their counterparts in the government of the USA regarding the implementation of the two-state solution in Israel and...

      Baroness Harman

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many foreign visits have been undertaken by Baroness Harman as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls since March 2025.

      Eritrea: Human Rights

      To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made at the United Nations Human Rights Council about renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Waste: Crime

      To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards implementing the reforms to the rules for carriers, brokers and dealers set out in their Waste Crime Action Plan of 20 March.

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

What is this?

The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.

We let you vote on whether or not the answer given is adequate.

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