theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for civil servants to access the ill health retirement scheme. \p Anna Turley: The Department recognises the importance of timely access to ill health retirement and there is a process in place to ensure that members, employers, the scheme medical advisor and, where appropriate, the pension scheme administrator, all work together to complete this as quickly as possible.

Whilst there are indicative timelines for various steps, timelines may vary due to the complexity of each case and complex cases may take longer when external parties are also required to contribute to the process.

Employers and members have oversight of progress of their own individual cases and the Cabinet Office continues to monitor the contractual performance of the scheme medical advisor and the pension scheme administrator.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) ongoing work items, (b) unallocated cases and queries, (c) cases and queries allocated but not yet in progress and (d) cases and queries in progress but not yet completed were (i) being dealt with and (ii) still to be dealt with by MyCSP on 1 September 2025. \p Anna Turley: MyCSP, the Civil Service pension scheme administrator, does not record the data in the format requested. It reports to the Cabinet Office on a monthly basis. As at 31 August 2025, 73,725 new work items were received in August. A work item reflects an individual piece of work or task. There are 46,983 outstanding items - 9,950 cases awaiting a response and 37,033 items assigned for work to be completed.

The outstanding volumes are in line with what we would expect to see based on the differing clearance targets for certain tasks, such as retirements which can take up to 4 months to process. This is what the Cabinet Office expects to see and monitors on a monthly basis.

The Cabinet Office continues to emphasise to MyCSP the importance of meeting contractual performance levels and improving member experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for the civil service ill health retirement scheme. \p Anna Turley: Members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme are eligible for ill-health retirement benefits under the Scheme if the Scheme Medical Adviser is of the opinion that they have suffered a permanent breakdown in health involving incapacity for employment. The eligibility criteria was reviewed on the introduction of the Alpha scheme in 2015, and are consistent with those in other public service pension schemes.

The Cabinet Office regularly monitors ill-health retirement cases and currently 99.9% of quotes for ill health retirement are being issued within 10 days by the scheme administrator.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of delays in processing pensions on claimants. \p Anna Turley: There are no reported delays of pension processing caused by the ongoing industrial action in MyCSP.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to introduce compensation for pension claimants financially impacted by delays in pension processing caused by industrial action among MyCSP staff. \p Anna Turley: There are no plans to introduce compensation for members and there are no reported delays of pensions being processed caused by the ongoing industrial action in MyCSP.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set out the appointment process for the Permanent Secretary, Director of Government Communications. \p Anna Turley: The appointment process for the Director of Government Communications followed the process for Permanent Secretary recruitment set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles (here, paragraphs 44 - 47).

The role was advertised on Civil Service Jobs from 19 May to 15 June 2025.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the National Audit Office's report of 16 June 2025 entitled Investigation into the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. \p Anna Turley: The Government’s assessment is that the National Audit Office (NAO) report of 16 June 2025 reinforces the need for markedly stronger governance, oversight and performance management over the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

There is a continuing commitment to the forthcoming outsourcing arrangement with Capita, commencing in December 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to review the decision to outsource Civil Service Pension Scheme administration, in the context of performance levels under the present contract. \p Anna Turley: At present there are no plans to reverse or conduct a formal review of the decision to outsource Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) administration.

The Government remains committed to the forthcoming outsourcing arrangement with Capita, subject to strengthened governance, enhanced oversight and performance management to secure better outcomes for all members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42571 on Cabinet Office: Equality, which diversity networks in his Department received network time in the last month for which figures are held; and how much time was given in each case. \p Anna Turley: Collating and recording network time would present a disproportionate administrative burden on the central HR team as this information is not held centrally.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 3 September 2025 in response to the Rt hon. Member for North West Essex during Prime Minister's Questions, Official Report, Column 281, on what date he was informed that the Deputy Prime Minister had not correctly paid stamp duty. \p Anna Turley: The Prime Minister was kept updated appropriately.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government's Plan for Change document of December 2024, CP1210, what changes have been made to the Government’s (a) milestones, (b) missions, (c) foundations and (d) mission boards since 1 September 2025. \p Anna Turley: No changes have been made to the Government’s Plan for Change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Dan Carden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the number of Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman complaints which are upheld. \p Anna Turley: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent of Government, and the Cabinet Office does not centrally keep records of, or track all, the recommendations made by the PHSO (including those upheld).

The PHSO’s investigation reports and recommendations are directed to relevant departments and Arms Length Bodies. The PHSO however does publish complaints data annually, for 2024-25, please find this here: https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/organisations-we-investigate/annual-data-complaints
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the contract awarded by his Department to Korn Ferry for the recruitment of the National Armaments Director has been fulfilled. \p Anna Turley: I refer to my answer given on 9 July HC66214. Korn Ferry continue to support the appointment process for the National Armaments Director role.
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target. \p Anna Turley: Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments.

In Cabinet Office, Line Managers are expected to be aware of, and ensure compliance with, the minimum 60% attendance expectation for their direct reports. Data on workforce attendance is not collated centrally by the department.

Where employees fail to reach or maintain expected attendance levels, beyond what is agreed with their line manager as part of workplace adjustments or caring responsibilities, due consideration is given as to whether it is reasonable to take disciplinary action. The level of sanction will be dependent upon the individual circumstances of the case.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of police officers will be eligible to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in her Department in 2026. \p Anna Turley: I refer to the answer given to PQs UIN 74202 and 74515.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-02/74202

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-02/74515
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether prison wardens are defined as working class, for the purpose of their children applying to the internship scheme. \p Anna Turley: As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on whether (a) trade union diversity networks are eligible for trade union facility time and (b) whether staff can claim both diversity network time and facility time. \p Anna Turley: Trade unions are separate organisations from the Civil Service and they may have their own diversity networks for their members.

In line with the Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework, trade union representatives are entitled to be granted reasonable unpaid time off to participate in trade union activities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025. \p Anna Turley: Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns is published annually, and is available here: Sickness absence in the Civil Service - GOV.UK. The next update will be for the year ending 31st March 2025.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Public Bodies Handbook – Part 2: The Approvals Process for the Creation of New Arm’s-Length Bodies, whether his Department's public bodies team assessed Passenger Standards Authority against the requirement that the creation of a new arm's length body should only be considered as a last resort; whether the Department for Transport provided evidence that alternative delivery models were considered; and which of the three tests in Chapter 2 of that guidance Great British Railways met. \p Anna Turley: The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently considering delivery options for the Passenger Watchdog.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has issued guidance to special advisers on undertaking (a) national and (b) local political activities during working hours when accompanying Ministers in a local election purdah period. \p Anna Turley: The rules for national and local political activities are set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments utilise the rooms in 26 Whitehall. \p Anna Turley: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) now occupy 26 Whitehall.

Their Ministers are listed below:

Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Chair)

Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

Ian Murray MP, Minister of State

Kanishka Narayan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Liz Lloyd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Digital Economy)
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there is an annual allowance for (a) works, (b) fittings and (c) fixtures for Ministerial residences in (i) Downing Street, (ii) Carlton Gardens and (iii) Admiralty House. \p Anna Turley: The Government Property Agency (GPA) does not have an annual allowance for works, fittings and fixtures for Ministerial residences.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2025 to Question 52864 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, when the Government last undertook a valuation of Admiralty House. \p Anna Turley: The valuation of Admiralty House was last updated in March 2025.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information they hold on the number of workdays that were completed remotely in their Department in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date. \p Anna Turley: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish FOI reference, FOI2025/09624, dated 16 July 2025. \p Anna Turley: A copy of the information released in the response to the referenced Freedom of Information request has been deposited in the Library of the House.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Security Advisor discussed the case on Chinese espionage recently dropped by the CPS with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Beijing on 14th July 2025. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government has a clear and consistent policy to not comment on the NSA’s meetings to protect sensitive information pertaining to this country’s national security. This has been the case under successive governments.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to p.382 of the document entitled Central Government Supply Estimates 2024-25, Main Supply Estimates, HC139, published on 17 July 2025, what policy area relates to the Cabinet Office’s contingent liabilities that are subject to legal privilege. \p Chris Ward: The contingent liabilities referred to are related to a small number of cases and disputes which are subject to legal privilege. Given this, we are unable to disclose any details.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals to introduce unitary government in Gloucestershire on democratic representation in towns with a population of more than 100,000 people. \p Alison McGovern: Gloucestershire councils have not yet submitted their proposal(s) for local government reorganisation. They are due by 28 November. Once proposals are submitted, and following a statutory consultation, Ministers will carefully consider proposals against the criteria set out in the invitation letter sent to Gloucestershire councils on 6 February 2025, before a decision is taken on which proposal, if any, is implemented.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of property businesses that do not adequately renovate town centre commercial properties on economic growth. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: There are no plans to make such an assessment. However, the National Planning Policy Framework supports the role of high streets and town centres, by expecting local plans to create a positive framework for their growth and adaptation.

This Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets. To address the blight of vacancy, the Government has implemented High Street Rental Auctions, which empowers local authorities in England to auction the lease of persistently vacant commercial high street properties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the empty home premium applies to (a) retirement and (b) care properties where the tenant has passed away and ownership has fallen to an executor. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities have the discretionary power to charge a council tax premium on long-term empty dwellings in their area. Where the premium is in place, it applies to properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The government has introduced regulations on mandatory exceptions, which are explained in guidance here, including an exception where probate has been granted. Once the exemption period has ended, normal rules on empty properties apply.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help improve the availability of free housing-related advice services in Nottingham. \p Alison McGovern: Councils have a statutory duty to provide or secure the provision of advice and information about homelessness and the prevention of homelessness, free of charge. This should form part of each council’s strategy for preventing homelessness. You can read more about this in Chapter 3 of the homelessness code of guidance on gov.uk here.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 75625 on Building: Safety, if he will make it his policy to intervene in the London Plan to remove regulatory requirements on new build housing in London that do not apply across the rest of England. \p Samantha Dixon: Building regulations are set nationally under the Building Act 1984 and apply uniformly across England, but local authorities, including those in London may apply additional planning or enforcement measures.

The Department continues to work closely with the Greater London Authority and other stakeholders to ensure that building safety reforms are implemented consistently and proportionately across all regions. We keep regional impacts under review as part of our ongoing engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and future updates to guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a national fire and rescue service statutory advisory body to oversee national standards on (a) fire cover, (b) training, (c) equalities and (d) health and safety. \p Samantha Dixon: The government has accepted, in principle, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendation to establish a national college of fire and rescue. The Inquiry report suggested a range of potential functions for a college to fulfil, including the development of policies and procedures to ensure both the effectiveness of fire and rescue services and the safety of firefighters and the public.

The government response to the Inquiry’s report notes that a necessary first step in the process will be to consult on the functions a college should have, what these functions should look like and how the college could best be structured and delivered. We expect to launch this consultation in the coming months.

Any future college function relating to national standards would build on the work already undertaken by the Fire Standards Board (FSB), which currently develops and maintains a suite of professional standards for fire and rescue services in England. The 19 standards currently published by the FSB cover a range of topics relating to operational management, leadership and ethics.
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Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) headcount and (b) FTE staff are employed by the Building Safety Regulator; if he will list the addresses of its offices; and how many assigned desks for staff it has in total. \p Samantha Dixon: As of 2nd October 2025, the Building Safety Regulator’s headcount was 404 and FTE was 394.2.

A list of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offices and their addresses are publicly available on the HSE website - HSE Offices.

HSE operates a hybrid working model in which staff are able to work from home or from their designated office. There are no assigned desks in offices for staff, instead using a hotdesking system.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 21A of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the timeframe within which the responsible person should give residents of domestic premises (a) comprehensible and (b) relevant information about the risks to residents identified by risk assessments of their housing stock. \p Samantha Dixon: Article 21A of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes clear that whenever there has been a fire risk assessment in a multi-occupied residential building, the risks identified in the assessment must be communicated to residents as well as the measures being taken to address these risks. This requirement is also the case whenever the fire risk assessment is updated.

In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which is an annual requirement. This advice is repeated in guidance on blocks of flats.

There is a regulatory making power to mandate the frequency of this information, and we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary, but the important information should already be communicated to residents under the existing provision.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the expiry dates of postal voting mandates for individual electors with postal votes. \p Samantha Dixon: The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuing guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on electoral registration, including on the expiry dates of postal voting mandates for individual electors with postal votes. The Government continues to support local authorities as they undertake activity related to the expiry of postal vote arrangements through New Burdens funding and engagement with the electoral sector.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department was informed of the Department for Transport’s decision to cancel the A12 widening scheme between junctions 19 and 25 before 8 July 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government received confirmation that the A12 widening scheme had been cancelled on 7 July 2025. Together with National Highways and local partners, we are working through the impacts of this decision. We will be able to provide further details as this work progresses.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the appeals system for private parking disputes is (a) independent, (b) fair and (c) transparent. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. It has recently outlined, in a public consultation, its proposals to better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

Specific views are being sought on the level of parking charge caps and on the appeals service.

The consultation closed on 26th September.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has (a) commissioned or (b) procured third-party providers to (i) assess, (ii) index or (iii) identify (A) extremism and (B) disinformation. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government takes the threat of extremism very seriously and will continue to work with partners to tackle extremism in all its forms.

The Government is also alarmed by the unprecedented rate at which threats to information integrity are growing.

My department has not specifically commissioned or procured third party-providers on the matter in question.

We fund the National Community Tensions Team which send the department regular reports on hate crime and community tensions. Additionally, the Government’s Independent Antisemitism Adviser, Lord Mann sent the department reports on hate crime and community tensions.

DSIT and MHCLG have supported the Local Government Association to deliver training aimed at supporting frontline local authority practitioners to respond to acute information incidents.
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Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she plans to take in response to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory's report entitled Legal analysis of the conduct of Israel in Gaza pursuant to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, published on 16 September 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September to question 72500.
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Sarah Green:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking diplomatic steps to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid convoys through the Kerem Shalom crossing. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations, the United States and Israel, to push for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, most recently in the Foreign Secretary's discussions at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing economic sanctions on Israel in relation to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 17th September to Question 74580.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24, published on 18 September 2024, whether she has taken steps to cease the importation of (a) products and (b) services originating from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK Government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law. Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the existing agreement between the UK and Israel or in our agreement with the Palestinian Authority. Where there are doubts about the declared origin of goods, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) undertakes checks to verify the origin and ensure fiscal compliance. The UK Government encourages accurate labelling of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine to avoid misleading consumers and promote transparency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_111

Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to secure the release of Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention centres. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 13th October to Question 76963.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking in response to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 3 September to question 71442.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_113

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the programme of engagements was for President Isaac Herzog during his visit to the UK in September 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: President Herzog came to the UK on a private visit, but his programme included meeting the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary on Wednesday 10 September.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_114

David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking with the Palestinian Authority to support a two-state solution. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the announcements made by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary on 21 September, further details of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-formally-recognises-palestinian-state.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_115

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to answer Question 75168 tabled on 4 September 2025 by the hon. Member for East Londonderry. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon. Member's written parliamentary question. I issued a response to the Hon. Member on 3 October.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_116

Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help (a) identify and (b) support older people in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I have on 23rd June to question 57551.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_117

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she expects detained British national Alaa Abd el-Fattah to be released. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Alaa Abd El-Fattah was released from prison on 23 September 2025, following a Presidential pardon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_118

Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her predecessor's correspondence to the Chair of the International Development Committee of 1 September 2025, when her Department (a) first and (b) most recently made an assessment of the risk of genocide by Israel in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 24 September to Question 69737.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_119

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of (a) targeted attacks and (b) instances of (i) forced conversion and (ii) imprisonment of (A) Christians and (B) other religious minorities in Afghanistan; and what recent representations she has made to the authorities in Afghanistan on these matters. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Afghanistan is a focus country in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) freedom of religion or belief approach, announced on 8 July. FCDO officials regularly urge the Taliban to uphold human rights. We also engage directly with a range of Afghans to inform our policy and programmes. The UK Government supports the UN Special Rapporteur's mandate to document abuses, including those targeting religious minorities. Without inclusive governance that reflects Afghanistan's religious, ethnic, gender and cultural diversity, we will never see an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_120

Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international allies on the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Alaa Abd El-Fattah was released from prison on 23 September 2025, following a Presidential pardon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_121

Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what further steps she plans to take to encourage the Egyptian authorities to release Alaa Abd El-Fattah. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Alaa Abd El-Fattah was released from prison on 23 September 2025, following a Presidential pardon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_122

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will place restrictions on the trade of British-manufactured equipment with Israel in circumstances where there is evidence of a risk that such equipment will be used to facilitate the construction of illegal settlements. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 3 July to Question 62975.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_123

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in Laos on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone. \p Seema Malhotra: The UK continues to raise the case of Sombath Somphone's disappearance with the Lao authorities, both bilaterally and through multilateral fora such as the UN Human Rights Council. Most recently, on 3 September 2025, the previous Minister for the Indo-Pacific raised the case with the Laos Deputy Foreign Minister during the UK-Laos Political Dialogue. This followed up on her visit to Laos in April, where she also raised the issue. The UK remains committed to supporting human rights in Laos and will continue to raise this case.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_124

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with local authorities on flood preparedness. \p Emma Hardy: The Floods Resilience Taskforce meets quarterly to coordinate and drive forward work on national flood resilience by national and local government, including representatives from Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Authorities and MHCLG. It met on 8 September and reviewed preparedness for flooding this autumn and winter.

The Taskforce discussed the risk of flooding and the improvements made by Taskforce members to prepare, respond and recover. They also discussed national flood modelling and forecasting, communication of flood warnings, exercising of the National Flood Response Centre and improving the awareness of flood schemes.

Lead local flood authorities (unitary and county authorities) are required to manage local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. Local flood risks should be identified and managed as part of a local flood risk management strategy.

The Environment Agency and Defra will continue to work with their partners in local authorities to improve flood readiness, including Lead Local Flood Authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_125

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on the adequacy of the level of flood preparedness in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) is supporting 26 flood groups across Cambridgeshire, alongside Cambridgeshire County Council, to be prepared for flooding by creating a flood plan and access to a flood kit. There are two active flood groups in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire area: Cottenham, and Little Downham and Pymoor.

Regarding the ongoing inspection, maintenance, and repair of the raised earth embankments river defences in the area, a risk-based approach has been adopted to ensure resources are directed to where they provide the most flood risk benefit.

To prepare better for the future, the EA has several strategic projects focused on improving long term flood resilience, these include Fens 2100+ and the Cranbrook/Counter Drain project. Fens 2100+ is developing a long-term plan to manage future flood risk in the Fens and the Cranbrook/Counter Drain project is working on water storage proposals through the restoration of sand and gravel workings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_126

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Floods Resilience Taskforce is taking to prepare for potential floods in winter 2025-26. \p Emma Hardy: The Flood Resilience Taskforce, which brings together national and local government, emergency services and other partners, met on 8 September and reviewed preparedness for flooding this autumn and winter.

The Taskforce discussed the risk of flooding and the improvements made by Taskforce members to prepare, respond and recover, including improvements to national flood modelling and forecasting, communication of flood warnings, exercising of the National Flood Response Centre and improving the awareness of schemes to support those affected by flooding.

The Taskforce concluded that at local and national levels, preparedness for flooding has overall increased compared to September 2024. Taskforce members will continue to work throughout the autumn and winter to protect communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_127

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to mitigate the impact of flooding on households ahead of winter 2025-26. \p Emma Hardy: We are investing a record £2.65 billion over two years for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. Around 1,000 projects will receive fresh funding in 24/25 and 25/26.

Flood Action Week, running from 13th of October, will inform the public how to understand their flood risk and the actions they can take. This will include raising awareness of the flood warning service, what to do when they receive a warning, and the benefits of taking property flood resilience measures.

The Flood Resilience Taskforce, which brings together national and local government, emergency services and other partners, met on 5 September and reviewed preparedness for flooding in autumn and winter, The Taskforce considered improvements to national flood modelling and forecasting, communication of flood warnings and improving awareness of schemes to support those affected by flooding.

The Taskforce concluded that at local and national levels, preparedness for flooding has overall increased compared to September 2024. Taskforce members will continue to work throughout the autumn and winter to protect communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_128

Dan Aldridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) promote competition and (b) expand consumer choice in the water sector. \p Emma Hardy: Ofwat has a primary duty set out in Section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to carry out its relevant functions in the way it considers best to protect the interests of consumers by, where appropriate, promoting effective competition.

There are existing competitive markets in the sector. All businesses in England are already able to choose their water retailer as part of the business retail market. Housing developers also have flexibility over whether they contract with incumbent water companies or 'New Appointments and Variations’. Both of these markets can provide an improved level of service to customers.

The Independent Water Commission makes a number of recommendations intended to strengthen competition within the water sector and protect consumers. The Government has already announced immediate actions, such as the creation of a water ombudsman to protect consumers in disputes. A White Paper setting out further detail will be published and consulted on this autumn, forming the basis of a new water bill.