theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she considered making an environmental impact assessment on the decision to ban volumetric concrete mobile plants in 2028. \p Lilian Greenwood: As part of its consideration of the evidence, the Department for Transport has assessed the potential environmental impacts in accordance with the Environment Act 2021 which requires Ministers of the Crown to have ‘due regard’ to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy.

Current exemptions to weight limits for VCMs will expire in 2028. This policy is being maintained.
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of combining City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements CRSTS 1 and 2. \p Simon Lightwood: Discussions are underway between the department and MCAs, including West of England, on how the transition between CRSTS 1 and CRSTS 2 can be delivered. Some MCAs are also moving towards Integrated Settlements which will enable greater flexibility for planning and decision making at a local level.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with South Western Railway on extending London Waterloo Services past Exeter St Davids to Newton Abbot. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department and South-Western Railway (SWR) are in regular discussion regarding its service provision, which aims to balance the needs of both passenger and taxpayer. There have, however, been no recent discussions with SWR regarding extending London Waterloo services via Exeter St Davids to Newton Abbot.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with Avanti West Coast on the (a) reliability and (b) speed of wifi connectivity on west coast mainline passenger railway services. \p Simon Lightwood: The Secretary of State and the Rail Minister met with Avanti West Coast (AWC) in January to discuss industrial action and performance. They did not specifically discuss Wi-Fi connectivity however, officials meet with AWC regularly to discuss services for passengers, including Wi-Fi.

The Department is considering the feasibility of a range of technology options to improve passenger Wi-Fi services on the rail network. AWC recently completed a positive trial using laser window etching technology to improve connectivity and are exploring future use. The Department is also measuring the strength of mobile signals along the rail network to fully understand where interventions are needed, and the potential impacts.

Operators are required to achieve challenging customer experience targets across a range of measures, including Wi-Fi connectivity. These standards are regularly and independently inspected via the Service Quality Regime and there are accountability and financial consequences for failure.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce a contactless payment system for commuter rail services in Devon. \p Simon Lightwood: At this stage there are no plans for such a scheme. However, this Government remains committed to making ticketing simpler and more flexible for passengers and to working with local authorities to support integrated transport plans in their areas.  We want to expand ticketing innovations such as Pay As You Go (PAYG) where possible and further details on any wider expansion of PAYG will be announced in due course.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the impact of her policies on electric vehicle charging companies’ (a) pricing and (b) subscription models. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government is committed to ensuring public charging is affordable for all. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, chargepoint operators are required to clearly provide the price of charging at public chargepoints in pence per kilowatt hour. While this does not cap the cost of charging or require chargepoint operators to use a specific pricing model, it does ensure consistency in the way prices are displayed, making it easy for drivers to compare public chargepoints and choose the best rate.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken any recent work with (a) her Department, (b) Heathrow Airport, (c) Network Rail and (d) others to make progress on the construction of a Western Rail Link to Heathrow. \p Mike Kane: Since plans for expansion were paused in 2020, the CAA has not conducted any work in relation to a Western Rail link to Heathrow. Should any such plans emerge as part of fresh proposals for Heathrow expansion, the CAA would review the elements of those plans relevant to its role as economic regulator of Heathrow in accordance with its statutory duties.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of British Airways' recent performance on the UK-Ghana route. \p Mike Kane: British Airways operate direct routes between the UK and Ghana from London Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow Airport.

UK aviation operates in the private sector, and airlines are responsible for ensuring they reach an acceptable level of performance for their passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) publishes flight punctuality statistics and is responsible for ensuring the industry meets relevant regulatory requirements.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37781 on Voting Rights: Young People, whether her Department plans to instruct the Boundary Commissions to perform an early boundary review of Parliamentary Constituencies to ensure electoral equality at the General Election 2029 with the addition of voters aged 16 and 17. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government has no plans to amend the timing of the next Parliamentary Boundary Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-07)

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Sir Mel Stride:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average award is for pension credit claimants with a non-CTA immigration status. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested statistics are not held by the Department.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether (a) disabled people and (b) carers will be consulted on the outcomes of the Timms review. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Timms review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. This will include carers' organisations so that the voices of unpaid carers are heard.

We are committed to concluding the review by Autumn 2026 and reporting outcomes to the House in a ministerial Oral Statement. We have committed to a general debate on this, in Government time. Any legislation to implement the outcomes of the review will not be brought forward until that has happened.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-07)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that claimants with (a) severe mental health conditions or (b) physical disabilities are not penalised for non-attendance at in-person Universal Credit identity verification appointments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: DWP has committed to identifying and supporting claimants with complex user needs, including those with mental health conditions or disabilities.

Where a claimant has received a migration notice they discuss what support they need with appropriately trained agents, so that suitable arrangements can be put in place.

This would include identifying the best option to make the claim, what support network a claimant already has and what measure DWP can put in place to accommodate by making reasonable adjustments. The claimant can be referred to the Help to Claim Service which is delivered by Citizens Advice, this offers support via phone, webchat, and face-to-face appointments to successfully make the claim, complete any verification and support the claimant until the first payment of universal credit is made at the end of the first assessment period.

Any support requirements and conditions identified are carried over into the claimants Universal Credit account for future reference.

DWP recognises that not all claimants can attend in-person appointments due to health or disability-related barriers. To accommodate this, the department offers multiple identity verification channels:

Claimants receive digital alerts to remind them about their appointment. They have an option for these to be delivered by text message or email. All agents and work coaches receive training on tailoring our approach to accommodate the specific needs of the claimant.

If a claimant fails to attend, for the next month an agent will endeavour to contact the claimant to understand the reason for non-attendance. They will try numerous times to make contact using the claimant’s preferred contact channel. Where contact is made there will be an assessment of whether the claimant had a “good reason”, which may include mental health conditions or physical disabilities. The agent will consider whether alternatives to the initial face-to-face appointment are needed, how the claimant can be supported to complete the ID verification process and work with any support network in place.

Where the claimant does not respond and is not contacted, staff are trained to consider safeguarding measures, making referrals to appropriate agencies and referring cases for a home visit. The claim will only be closed as a last resort once all avenues are exhausted. There is an option to reopen the claim once contact is made.
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Sir Mel Stride:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households were exempted from the benefit cap for the latest period for which data is available, by (a) reason for exemption and (b) amount they would otherwise have had capped. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested statistics are not readily held by the Department and to produce them would incur disproportionate cost.
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Christine Jardine:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the stigma around benefit assessments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Following the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation, we have launched our wider review of the PIP assessment. At the heart of this will be coproduction with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and MPs so their views and voices are heard. We’ve also made a commitment that those with severe, lifelong conditions will not be called for a UC reassessment – allowing them to live with dignity and security.

We are also taking action to get the basics right and improve the experience for people who use the system of health and disability benefits. This includes exploring ways to improve trust and transparency in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Work Capability Assessments through reviewing our approach to safeguarding, recording assessments to increase trust in the process, and moving back to having more face-to-face assessments while continuing to meet the needs of people who may require different methods of assessment. We are committed to providing a multi-channel health assessment service. WCAs are still cleared using a questionnaire and supporting medical evidence where possible. Where this is not possible, individuals will be required to have a face-to-face, telephone or video assessment.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the forthcoming Timms Review will include the needs of veterans in its scope. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Veterans, depending on their needs, can access a variety of support including PIP, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), the Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP), and the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP). No changes are proposed to the Armed Forces Independence Payments.

The government is committed to ensuring that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a non-means tested cash benefit which is there for people, now and into the future. That is why we have launched a wider review of the PIP assessment as a whole, to make sure it is fair and fit for the future in a changing world and helps support disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence.

My officials will work with their counterparts in the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) to ensure they are kept informed of the Timms Review, and its deliberations, as the review progresses in the coming year.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with (a) Citizens Advice, (b) disabled people and (c) carers as part of the upcoming Timms Review. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are committed to co-producing the Timms Review with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. This will include carers' organisations so that the voices of unpaid carers are heard.

I have been engaging widely over the summer, including with welfare rights organisations, to consider how to approach the review and how it can best be co-produced. I will share more details on this and how disabled people and other stakeholders will be involved in the review as plans progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-07)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) make work pay and (b) stop long term dependency on Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Through our Make Work Pay reforms – and the increases we made in April to the National Living and Minimum Wages – we are working to put more money into the pockets of working people and ensure that work remains a reliable route to financial security.

Our Universal Credit Bill also tackles the perverse incentives in the UC system that drive people into dependency by rebalancing the core payment and health top up to better encourage those who can work to enter or return to employment.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the (a) structure or (b) allocation of the welfare budget. \p Sir Stephen Timms: This Government is committed to a social security system which raises employment and living standards by supporting and incentivising people into work and to work more, reduces poverty by supporting people at times of higher cost and dependency, and promotes fairness and controls overall spending to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system for future generations. The Government’s welfare cap rule also helps ensure the long-term sustainability of the welfare system. A new welfare cap covering the current parliament was introduced at Autumn Budget 2024.

The financial sustainability of the benefit system is considered in the round as part of the forecasts for annually managed expenditure which are produced twice yearly as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast process.

At Spring Statement 2025 the OBR forecast that expenditure on Universal Credit is forecast to increase from £75.8billion in 2025/26 to £88.9billion in 2029/30 – with Universal Credit expenditure representing a similar share of GDP in 2029/30 as in 2025/26. The number of households on Universal Credit is forecast to increase from 6.3million in 2025/26 to 6.8million over that time period. The OBR will provide a further update as part of the Autumn Budget.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Work Capability Assessment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As we outlined in our Pathways to Work Green Paper, we are scrapping the controversial Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to end the dysfunctional process which drives people into dependency, delivering on the Government’s commitment to reform or replace it, and removing the ‘can or can’t work flaw’ at the heart of our social security system.

Going through the WCA is complex, time consuming and stressful for customers, especially if they also have to go through the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) process. Therefore, it is right that we move to one assessment and do not put millions of people through two, similar and lengthy functional assessments.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the Fleet Solid Support programme. \p Luke Pollard: Successful delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme, which is currently in the design phase, remains a priority. The acquisition of Harland & Wolff (H&W) by Navantia UK (NUK), following the administration of H&W, has provided greater certainty to the delivery of the FSS programme and protects the UK’s shipbuilding capability, and the supply chain that supports this, now and over the long-term.

The works to recapitalise the Belfast shipyard were restarted in spring following NUK’s takeover of the four H&W yards in January 2025. This investment will further strengthen UK capability, modernising the shipbuilding facilities in Belfast and leading to increased productivity and capacity.

NUK have recently started work on a new transport barge at their Methil facility in Fife. The barge will play a key role in the FSS programme, facilitating construction of the ships across multiple sites and represents an £8 million investment by the company.

Design work is progressing well and production of the first FSS ship is expected to begin in 2025, with all three vessels bolstering the Royal Fleet Auxiliary over the coming decade.

Whilst we have agreed with NUK the minimum changes to the contract necessary, the impact on the approved cost and in-service dates is still being assessed and will be mitigated as far as possible. On completion of this work, it will be subject to re-approval by the relevant authorities, with updates provided through official channels at the appropriate time. We are unable to comment any further on the details of the contract due to commercial sensitivities.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a timeline for the delivery of new vessels under the Fleet Solid Support contract with Navantia. \p Luke Pollard: Successful delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme, which is currently in the design phase, remains a priority. The acquisition of Harland & Wolff (H&W) by Navantia UK (NUK), following the administration of H&W, has provided greater certainty to the delivery of the FSS programme and protects the UK’s shipbuilding capability, and the supply chain that supports this, now and over the long-term.

The design work is progressing well and production of the first FSS ship is expected to begin later in 2025, with all three vessels bolstering the Royal Fleet Auxiliary over the coming decade.

Whilst we have agreed with NUK the minimum changes to the contract necessary, the impact on the approved cost and in-service dates is still being assessed and will be mitigated as far as possible. On completion of this work, it will be subject to re-approval by the relevant authorities, with updates provided through official channels at the appropriate time. We are unable to comment any further on the details of the contract due to commercial sensitivities.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planned in-service date of SSN-AUKUS. \p Luke Pollard: The planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces. The aim is to deliver the first UK submarines into service in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute-Class vessels.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Royal Air Force’s APPIVATE programme to upskill users. \p Luke Pollard: The effectiveness of the RAF's Appivate programme is continuously assessed through user testing, feedback and engagement from application development through to rollout. For each product delivered through the Appivate programme, metrics on customer satisfaction and engagement are tracked to ensure user needs are met at every stage.

The product rollout process involves comprehensive user testing and feedback to guarantee that users are proficient in utilising the new solutions. This includes providing guides or demonstrations and offering in-person support to assist individuals. As part of RAF Digital, there is also wider engagement and input into larger Defence programmes around digital upskilling of users, such as DS4D (Digital Skills for Defence).
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the Dreadnought programme. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to page 11 of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 Annual Update to Parliament, which was published on 22 May 2025. The publication is available at the following location:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682f01c2e9440506ee95398c/20250522-Defence-Nuclear-Enterprise-2025-Annual-Update-to-Parliament-v10.pdf
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what AI tools are used by the Defence Equipment and Support Artificial Intelligence and Automation Centre. \p Luke Pollard: Defence Equipment and Support's (DE&S) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation Team uses a range of tools and techniques to develop software and AI within Defence. Their tools and techniques evolve quickly and in line with the rapid evolution of AI technology and the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) obligations to ensure responsible use of AI.

The tools used are commercially available cloud-based tools, including open source. The AI software is built on Defence's Digital Backbone (including MODCloud and Defence DevSecOps Service). DE&S make careful use of Cloud services such as Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service where appropriate. All such use is assured through Secure by Design and in line with MOD policy on AI.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-07)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on upgrading (a) RAF Lossiemouth and (b) RAF Akrotiri to a new digital Air Traffic Control system. \p Luke Pollard: The Lossiemouth Programme team has completed a programme of thorough research into potential suppliers of Digital Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems and understand the required regulatory assurance processes for the Military Aviation Authority. The programme is now proceeding to its second formal investment approval gate prior to commencing commercial action to invite industry to tender for this programme. The forthcoming approval will also seek a decision of the best value proposition to provide the infrastructure and advanced building design that will also be required.

For RAF Akrotiri, a wider infrastructure project to deliver a new Headquarters building has commenced which will include provision for a Digital ATC Control Room. This is aiming to complete construction by early next decade. The Akrotiri project team are working closely with the Lossiemouth project team to ensure that opportunities to align procurement of new Digital ATC equipment are understood.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential strategic merits of increasing shipbuilding capacity in the north of England. \p Luke Pollard: This Government has an ambitious shipbuilding pipeline with major naval programmes in progress at a number of UK shipyards, recent export success of the Type 26 frigate to Norway and a number of forthcoming civil shipbuilding programmes.

The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) is leading the work for Government to explore further opportunities, working with the whole of industry including in the North of England. As part of their work, the NSO assesses current and future capacity needs while recognising the input required from the commercial part of the sector across the United Kingdom.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service leavers have accessed the Career Transition Partnership in the North East in the past year. \p Al Carns: Registration with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is mandatory for all Service Leavers and provides employment advice and support for those leaving military service, during the ‘transition’ phase of approximately two years before and after leaving Service. The most recent official statistics provided in Defence Statistics (published February 2025), states 15,665 Armed Forces service leavers were eligible for CTP for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Unfortunately, it has not been possible to collect data regarding how many Service leavers have accessed the CTP specifically in the North East.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 32 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how frequently senior ministers from the National Security Council (Nuclear) committee will meet to discuss the UK’s nuclear deterrent. \p Luke Pollard: The National Endeavour to maintain and renew the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent is a whole of Government effort. The Ministry of Defence works closely with other Government departments, including the Cabinet Office, His Majesty’s Treasury, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to ensure its effective delivery. The National Security Council (Nuclear) remains committed to regularly reviewing progress on the National Endeavour. It receives comprehensive updates on delivery at least twice each year, with involvement from all relevant Departments.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 6 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress his Department has made on developing a dedicated strategy for the financial services sector by March 2026. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Finance and Investment Strategy and the Defence Investors' Advisory Group that will be supporting the strategy will formally meet in early autumn in preparation for the publication in early 2026.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 55 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, what proportion of the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation will be staffed by (a) military and (b) civilian personnel. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2025, to Questions 59137, 59138, 59140 and 59143, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) to Question 59406.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-11/59137

This evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is in the initial stages of planning and therefore requires substantial design work. The outcome of this, and subsequent details within, will be announced in due course.

Defence: Research (docx, 16.6KB)
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Ms Julie Minns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent Scottish biodegradable municipal waste from being shipped to (a) English border constituencies and (b) other English constituencies, in the context of the Scottish Government's forthcoming ban on disposing of such waste in Scottish landfill sites. \p Mary Creagh: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills, Wendy Morton, on 11 July 2025, PQ UIN 65784.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department plans to provide to local authorities and material recovery facilities to ensure sorting and recycling infrastructure can be upgraded so it is consistent. \p Mary Creagh: Defra is working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and waste industry representatives to support Material Recovery Facility (MRF) readiness for the Simpler Recycling requirements.

Simpler Recycling requires the following recyclable waste streams from all households and workplaces in England: glass, metal, plastic, paper and card, food waste (and garden waste from households only). These measures will increase the quantity of dry recyclable material collected for sorting at MRFs and is a requirement from 31 March 2025 from workplaces, 31 March 2026 from households and 31 March 2027 from micro-firms (with less than 10 FTEs).

We have engaged with MRF operators and local authorities through WRAP’s MRF Forum to identify challenges with MRF capacity, investment, upgrade timelines, and to work with the sector to identify interventions to support MRFs as they prepare for Simpler Recycling. WRAP is developing interventions to support Local Authorities setting up new MRF contracts or procurement of other resources associated with implementation of Simpler Recycling requirements. An assessment is being undertaken of the potential future composition of dry mixed recyclable waste streams and the associated financial implications resulting from this.

The MRF operators who are engaged with us are aware of their obligations and are working hard to upgrade their facilities to ensure they can separate the target materials as required by Simpler Recycling.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-07)

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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle waste crime. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to tackling waste crime. We are preparing significant reforms and have increased the Environment Agency’s (EA) funding to continue to increase the pressure on illegal waste operators.

We will reform the waste carriers, brokers and dealers regime and the waste permit exemptions regime. This will make it harder for rogue operators to find work in the sector and easier for regulators to take action against criminals. In addition, our planned digital waste tracking reforms will make it harder than ever to mis-identify waste or dispose of it inappropriately.

We have increased the EA’s total budget for 2025-26, including the amount available to tackle waste crime. This will enable EA to increase its frontline criminal enforcement resource in the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and area environmental crime teams by 43FTE. This will be targeted at activities identified as waste crime priorities using enforcement activity data and criminal intelligence. These include tackling organised crime groups, increasing enforcement activity around specific areas of concern such as landfill sites, closing down illegal waste sites more quickly, using intelligence more effectively, and delivering successful major criminal investigations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-07 conversation_26

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department requires operators of biomass power stations to publish annual data on the quantity and composition of ash produced. \p Mary Creagh: All installations permitted under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 are required to supply pollution inventory data annually. For biomass power stations, this includes the amount of ash produced, but not it’s composition. Pollution Inventory data is published after it has been verified by the Environment Agency. Pollution Inventory data can be found here: Pollution Inventory - data.gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_1

Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of Integrated Care Boards in England which have a Fracture Liaison Service. \p Ashley Dalton: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.

Data for integrated care systems (ICS) is available from the FLS Database, a national audit of secondary fracture prevention services in England and Wales, for which services must have an existing FLS to be eligible to participate. This dashboard suggests that at least 32 ICSs had at least one trust that offered FLS in 2024.

We remain committed to rolling out FLS across every part of the country by 2030. In the meantime, we are investing in 14 high-tech DEXA scanners, which are expected to provide an extra 29,000 scans to ensure that people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_2

Dr Kieran Mullan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of excluding measures of grading in brain tumour diagnosis on his targets for cancer diagnosis set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. \p Ashley Dalton: The target for earlier cancer diagnosis is to diagnose more cancers at stages 1 and 2, because when cancer is diagnosed earlier, there are more potential treatment options and the likelihood of successful treatment is higher. The grading of brain tumours is not directly comparable to the staging of cancers because brain tumours at grade 1 and grade 2 are not considered cancerous. Only brain tumours at grades 3 and 4 are classed as cancerous.

The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_3

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a vaccination programme for primary school children against Group A Streptococcal infection. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department works closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England, with expert advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, to design, implement, and deliver vaccination programmes offering high levels of long-term protection.

There is currently no licensed vaccine for the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacterium in the world. In the absence of a vaccine, UKHSA has been actively involved in several projects to increase our understanding of the transmission of GAS infections and identification of key risk factors. These have formed the basis of national public health guidelines to control the spread of infection and protect those most at risk.

NHS England also provides public guidance on how parents can protect themselves and their children against GAS, including recognising the symptoms and getting treatment. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/strep-a/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_4

Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made with NHS England of the efficacy of booster vaccinations for mPox. \p Ashley Dalton: An assessment of the efficacy of booster vaccinations has not been made as there is currently no requirement for mpox booster vaccinations.

There is currently insufficient evidence to support routine boosters of mpox vaccination in immunocompetent individuals, namely people with the ability to produce a normal immune response; further information is contained in Smallpox and mpox: the green book, chapter 29, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smallpox-and-vaccinia-the-green-book-chapter-29
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_5

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of future trends in the level of prostate cancer rates up to May 2028. \p Ashley Dalton: An increase in prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing in recent years has led to increased prostate cancer diagnoses. However, it is worth noting that the increase in diagnosis has not impacted upon mortality rates.

We know that the best way to treat prostate cancer is by identifying it as early as possible. The Department is investing £16 million into the Prostate Cancer UK-led Transform screening trial, which seeks to find better ways to detect prostate cancer. This trial will compare the most promising tests that look for prostate cancer in men that do not have symptoms and aims to address disparities in detection rates across different groups. This will contribute to our further understanding of prostate cancer including its prevalence. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those living with prostate cancer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_6

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his US counterpart on the Government’s rejection of the US President’s proposal for the resettlement of Palestinians in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary frequently has calls with his US counterpart on a range of issues, including the situation in Gaza, most recently on 27 January. The role played by the US, alongside Qatar and Egypt, in negotiating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, has been crucial, and the Prime Minister reiterated this in his recent call with President Trump. Gaza lies in ruins, and it is crucial we move through the phases of the agreement to the reconstruction of Gaza. We have been clear that we oppose moving Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to and rebuild their homes and their lives. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. Only that over time will ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_7

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to help prevent the displacement of residents in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Gaza lies in ruins, and it is crucial we move through the phases of the current ceasefire agreement to the reconstruction of Gaza. We oppose moving Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to and rebuild their homes and their lives. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. Only that over time will ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_8

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether civil servants conducting email audits can review the email inboxes of (a) other civil servants and (b) special advisers. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Cabinet Office does not routinely conduct email audits of its staff. Staff email inboxes cannot typically be accessed by colleagues without permission, but email data can be retrieved for security or HR purposes in exceptional circumstances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_9

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22185, Prime Minister: Furniture, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of attendees at the Plan for Change launch event on 5 December 2024 who were members of the Labour Party but were neither MPs or Ministers. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: This was an official government event, with attendees and an audience that included members of the public, business people, and public sector workers. Some members of the Labour party attended.
wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_10

George Freeman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has discussed the UK’s gene-editing legislation with his counterparts in the European Union. \p Daniel Zeichner: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Government is introducing legislation to enact the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants and food and feed before the end of March.

The European Commission has published a proposal that is similar in aim to the Precision Breeding Act. The department is monitoring progress on the EU’s regulatory proposal closely and engaging with the European Commission when appropriate.

Officials have met with EU counterparts several times to discuss England’s approach to precision breeding and the EU’s proposal on new genomic techniques, including through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee and through the UK-EU Joint Consultative Working Group Agri-food structured group.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-20 conversation_11

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) he, (b) his officials and (c) his special advisors have had meetings with the animal rights group Animal Rising. \p Daniel Zeichner: No, neither the Secretary of State, his officials, nor Special Advisors have met with this organisation.

Details of Ministers’ and Special Advisor meetings with external organisations and individuals are publicly and freely available on GOV.UK. This has been the case for decades.