theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress he has made in ensuring that all sub-postmasters impacted by failures in the Horizon IT system receive their full compensation; and what steps he is taking to address (a) delays and (b) discrepancies in payments under the (i) Historical Shortfall Scheme, (ii) Group Litigation Order Scheme and (iii) Overturned Historical Convictions Scheme. \p Gareth Thomas: As of 2 June 2025, £1,039 billion has been paid to over 7,300 claimants across the Horizon schemes. This represents a fourfold increase since July 2024, with more than 4,500 victims receiving compensation for the first time.

Claims across schemes are assessed by applying the specific facts of the case to established legal principles and other factors which support reaching a fair outcome.

We continue to seek the views of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to ensure fairness and consider ways we can speed up redress.

We are taking a variety of measures to increase the pace of the delivery of redress across our schemes. For example, we recently announced that we are reintroducing facilitated discussions in the GLO scheme – as requested by claimants’ lawyers. This should provide significant help in increasing the pace at which challenges are resolved.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a quoted portfolio in the British Business Bank. \p Gareth Thomas: The British Business Bank does have some quoted holdings, largely as a result of post-investment corporate activity. The focus of the Bank is on strengthening private markets. Any expansion of the Bank’s mandate into public markets would need a comprehensive analysis of options and is unlikely to be undertaken in isolation from other measures to incentivise increased investment into those markets by institutional investors.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the conversion success rate for inward investment deals managed by the Office for Investment is since October 2024. \p Sarah Jones: The Office for Investment (OfI) facilitates high-value, strategically important inward investment into the UK. As a dedicated concierge service, it provides a seamless journey for investors, unlocking high-impact opportunities and accelerating delivery of the government’s growth priorities.

Recently expanded to enhance its capabilities, the OfI played a pivotal role in securing the £63 billion announced at the International Investment Summit in October 2024. Since then, it has helped attract billions more across key Industrial Strategy sectors, including from Universal, Vishay, Vantage, Knauf, Rheinmetall, and Lendlease.

A full list of companies cannot be disclosed due to commercial sensitivities.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52390 on Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions, how many people are employed in the automotive industry. \p Sarah Jones: 132,000 people were employed in automotive manufacturing in the UK in 2024, 5.1% of total UK manufacturing employment, around half in manufacturing finished vehicles and half in manufacturing car bodies, parts and accessories. In addition, a further 263,000 jobs are estimated to be supported by the industry in the wider economy through its purchases of goods and services such as sales and maintenance, machinery and materials and financial services.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52390 on Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions, how many automotive manufacturing businesses are operating in the sector. \p Sarah Jones: In 2024, there were 3,570 businesses operating across UK automotive, of which the vast majority are small and medium sized businesses. Our Industrial Strategy aims to significantly increase investment and jobs in eight high-growth sectors - including automotive - by capturing a greater share of internationally mobile capital, encouraging domestic businesses to scale up, and creating resilient supply chains.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's publication entitled The UK’s modern industrial strategy, published on 23 June 2025, whether the strategy will provide additional funding to the Plan for Neighbourhoods. \p Sarah Jones: The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential. Through the Industrial Strategy we are targeting investment towards our eight-growth driving sectors, creating new opportunities so British workers can upskill and fill vacancies and supporting businesses to scale up. The industrial Strategy identifies and accelerates the highest-potential opportunities in these sectors, tackling investment barriers and unleashing the potential of clusters across the country.

The £1.5bn Plan for Neighbourhoods will deliver up to £20million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, laying the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards. The Industrial Strategy does not provide direct funding to the Plan for Neighbourhoods but complements it with a package of measures to boost regional growth.
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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he plans to take to regulate arms exports in line with international (a) legal and (b) human rights obligations; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of new international regulations over goods that could be used for torture. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: All export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. Criterion 1 requires us to comply with the UK’s international commitments and obligations (including our treaty obligations), and Criterion 2 requires us specifically to determine if there is a clear risk that the exported items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, including torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, or to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law. The Government will not grant an export licence if doing so would be inconsistent with the Criteria.

We keep all extant licences under regular review and have suspended licences where concerns that they may violate the criteria have emerged. The UK also continues to work internationally to improve the robustness of international arms transfers and human rights assessments, with the goal of bringing them to the highest possible standards.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Record-breaking International Investment Summit secures £63 billion and nearly 38,000 jobs for the UK, published on 14 October 2024, what the regional breakdown is of those jobs. \p Sarah Jones: The figures released as part of the International Investment Summit last autumn are aggregate values of investment plans from several multi-national enterprises. The Office for Investment does not hold information from companies on the regional breakdown of their job proposals in their investment plans.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the UK has imported rare earth minerals from Russia since 2022. \p Sarah Jones: HRMC’s Overseas trade statistics (country of dispatch basis) show that the UK did not import any Rare Earth Elements (REE) products* dispatched directly from Russia, between 2022 and April 2025.

*HS codes 280530, 284610, 284690, 360690
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) South Northamptonshire constituency, (b) other semi-rural constituencies and (c) rural constituencies will be affected by (i) the Strategic Sites Accelerator and (ii) other place-based investment initiatives set out in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025. \p Sarah Jones: The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential, targeting government investment towards eight-growth driving sectors (IS-8). The Strategy’s place-based approach focuses efforts on the city regions and clusters where the IS-8 concentrate, to identify and accelerate the highest-potential opportunities in these places. There are clusters of the growth driving sectors across the whole country, including in rural areas, and the policy package addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by these businesses.

The Strategic Sites Accelerator will prepare and accelerate strategic sites for development. The Office for Investment and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working closely together to identify sites for development which align closely with the Industrial Strategy’s strategic focus and the Government’s Plan for Change.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 2 of his Department's publication entitled General terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal, how he will allocate the 100,000 vehicle quota among companies. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The United States as part of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, has created a quota of 100,000 vehicles for UK automotive imports at a 10 percent tariff rate, down from 27.5% We have been engaging with industry to seek their views on how we can ensure that the quota works for industry as a whole. The quota has been implemented today, 30 June, by the US and came into effect at 00:01 US Eastern time.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the expiry of Country of Origin quotas under the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement will be considered by the UK-Canada trade taskforce; and what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Canada on the expiration of Country of Origin quotas. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: As agreed between our Prime Ministers, the UK and Canada will establish a new structured Working Group to deepen the bilateral trading relationship further, including by building on existing arrangements and addressing bilateral market access barriers.

That will include looking at Rules of Origin arrangements under the Trade Continuity Agreement, and what can be done there to grow trade and make it easier for UK exporters to access the Canadian market.

The Business and Trade Secretary had a warm introductory conversation with his Canadian counterpart at the G7, where they agreed to work together on deepening and growing the bilateral trading relationship further.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s publication entitled Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: second progress report, published on 16 June 2025, what steps he is taking to remove (a) false, (b) misleading and (c) incorrect information from the Companies House register. \p Justin Madders: The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 has given Companies House new powers to tackle false, incorrect or misleading information on its registers. To 31 May 2025, the use of these powers by Companies House has impacted 121,800 companies and has seen the removal of information including 100,500 registered office addresses.

In addition to removing information from its registers, Companies House is developing new capabilities to detect, track and block suspicious information pre-registration. These steps have already prevented over 10,000 suspicious filings.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made on the implementation of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government is committed to strong neighbourhood policing for everyone in England and Wales, wherever they live. On 10 April, the Prime Minister and Home Secretary outlined further details about our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, including that by July, every community, will have named and contactable officers dedicated to addressing issues facing their communities. Local communities and businesses will also have ongoing opportunities to engage with neighbourhood teams and raise local concerns and priorities through regular local beat meetings.

The Guarantee was developed through close working with the National Police Chief’s Council and other policing leads, and we continue to work closely with them to ensure it is delivered across all police forces in England and Wales.

The Government has made £200 million available in FY 25/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales, including up to 3000 additional neighbourhood officers by March 2026.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support she is providing to (a) Lancashire Police and (b) other forces to tackle tool theft. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We recognise the deeply damaging impact theft has on victims who rely on the tools of their trade to earn a living. We are determined to prevent those thefts from happening in the first place and, where they do occur, ensure those perpetrating them receive a criminal justice response. To do that, we need more police in our communities, tackling the local crimes that impact on people’s livelihoods. That is why this Government has increased funding for the policing system in England and Wales by up to £1.2 billion in 25/26 (compared with the 24/25 settlement), including an additional £200 million to kickstart delivery of our commitment to 13,000 neighbourhood policing roles. We will ensure that everyone has a named, contactable officer, responsive to local problems, including tool theft.

Alongside this, the Home Office funds, and works with, the police-led National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) and senior policing leads to prevent the theft of tools and tackle the re-sale of stolen equipment. The NBCC shares information about theft with police forces and businesses and provides advice about preventing crime. The NBCC’s tool theft prevention guide can be found here: tool-theft-crime-prevention.pdf

The Home Office and National Vehicle Crime Working Group have additionally secured a significant new commitment which will improve the security of vans, which may be targeted in relation to tool theft. Thatcham Research (an independent, not for profit, automotive risk intelligence organisation) has agreed expand their New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA) to increase van security. From February 2027, vans will have locks and alarms on the back doors (previously NVSA only covers the cab area of vans) and a motion sensor on the load area of the van. This is supported by crime prevention advice for tradespeople developed by the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives: Secured by Design - Vans & Tool Theft.
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Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring the Border Force to (a) check and (b) record the identities of people leaving the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office reintroduced exit checks in April 2015. Working with carriers, exit checks routinely provide us with vital information that confirm a person’s exit from the UK. Details are set out at this link: Exit checks fact sheet - GOV.UK.
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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure the provision of appropriate accommodation for police officers whose careers were shortened by significant injury. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Where a police officer is assessed as permanently medically unfit and leaves the service, there are a range of benefits that may be payable under the occupational pension and injury benefit schemes. The entitlement for an individual would depend on the particular circumstances.

This government has also committed to supporting policing through the Police Covenant and National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS). The covenant is a pledge by government that those who work or have previously worked in policing are not disadvantaged as a result of their service.

NPWS have compiled a leavers package focusing on supporting officers and staff who are leaving the service to transition from a career in policing.

We are not taking any steps to ensure provision of accommodation for former police officers leaving due to illness or injury and as far as we know, there are no other formal provisions for doing so. However, as the answer explains, there are enhanced provisions through the injury benefits and pension arrangements designed to provide financial support to police officers who are no longer able to perform the role through illness or injury.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Northumbria Police sought (a) permission, (b) guidance, and (c) clearance from her Department prior to the destruction of (i) documents and (ii) records on 29 and 30 April 2024 relating to (A) events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984 and (B) the 1984-85 miners’ strike. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 53866 on Knives: Crime, if she will list the (a) names of members and (b) organisations they represent of the coalition to tackle knife crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Coalition brings together a diverse range of stakeholders, including community leaders, campaigners, bereaved families, young people affected by knife crime, and subject matter experts, who contribute to shaping policy in key areas
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to support the Interpersonal Abuse and Violence Against Men and Boys (Strategy) Bill. \p Jess Phillips: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 29 April to Question 47887.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information she holds on the (a) ethnic background and (b) religious belief of civil servants in her Department in (i) 2022-23, (ii) 2023-24 and (iii) 2024-25. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Information on ethnic background and religious belief of Civil Servants in the Home Office is published in both the Departments annual workforce diversity statistics and Civil Service statistics based on the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ASCES). The data for 24-25 will be published soon in Civil Service statistics and the Home Office annual diversity publication for 24-25 will be released in Q1 2026.

Home Office workforce diversity statistics - GOV.UK

Civil Service statistics - GOV.UK
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time is for forensic analysis of (a) fingerprints and (b) DNA testing in criminal investigations. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Individual forces would hold data on fingerprint processing times.

The Forensic Capability Network holds data on contractual compliance levels for DNA testing conducted on behalf of policing by the commercial sector.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken to process forensic evidence in criminal investigations. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Individual forces would hold data on fingerprint processing times.

The Forensic Capability Network holds data on contractual compliance levels for DNA testing conducted on behalf of policing by the commercial sector.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the restriction on people linked with (a) Palestine Action and (b) similar groups from going near civilian defence manufacturing sites. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government fully supports the police to use all the powers available to them to prevent crimes occurring as a result of unlawful direct-action tactics, and to ensure those who do commit them face the full force of the law.

It is important to note that the police are operationally independent from government. This means that the Home Office are unable to direct the police to take any particular operational decision, including those around the management of direct-action protest groups.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much their Department has spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for languages other than (i) British Sign Language and (ii) languages native to the UK for people contacting (A) their Department and (B) its agencies in 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with a Frontier Worker Permit are (a) on UK employment contracts and (b) paid above the National Minimum Wage. \p Seema Malhotra: The Frontier Worker Permit scheme implements our commitment under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to protect the rights of EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens who were frontier working in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 for as long as they continue to be frontier workers.

The Agreements provide that frontier workers must not be discriminated against on grounds of nationality as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment. Free and confidential advice on the National Minimum Wage is available by contacting Acas on xx-xxxx-xxxx. Any worker who believes they are not receiving what they are entitled to can also complain directly to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs via their online complaints form on GOV.UK, which can be found by searching “complain about pay and work rights”.
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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse was of establishing and operating the National Age Assessment Board; and if she will divert this expenditure into training social workers in local authorities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Due to the operational nature of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB), the costs are subject to change and are currently not published. The Home Office continues to keep all aspects of the immigration system under review, including the best process for conducting age assessments.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of illegally working while awaiting an asylum claim have on the outcome of that claim. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Illegal working is a criminal offence, and it is important for asylum seekers to adhere to the rules on the right to work in the UK. Evidence of illegal working will routinely be taken into account when assessing an asylum seeker's claim.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the Defending Democracy Taskforce met in Northern Ireland between January 2025 and June 2025. \p Dan Jarvis: Meetings of the Taskforce are attended by Ministers and senior officials from multiple government departments, and have to date, all taken place in secure government premises within the Whitehall estate. These meetings, that I chair in my role as Security Minister, are complemented by official led meetings with Devolved Governments including Northern Ireland.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds policy on the mental health of asylum seekers. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 May to Question 53554.
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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate the number of asylum applicants who have had their initial claims rejected and subsequently made a further application. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Data on initial decisions on asylum claims, including refusals, is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum claims and initial decisions detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2025. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. Data on the number of further submissions is not available from published statistics.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60413 on Asylum: Northern Ireland, whether her Department plans to purchase (a) tower blocks and (b) student accommodation to house those people claiming asylum in Northern Ireland. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 23 June 2025 to UIN 60413.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Department is responsible for ensuring that (a) Deliveroo and (b) gig economy platforms monitor users to ensure compliance with usage policies. \p Georgia Gould: Regulatory oversight of gig economy platforms spans multiple departments and agencies depending on the specific aspect being regulated. For example, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology is responsible for data protection policy and legislation as it relates to personal data, and the Department for Business and Trade has responsibility for the legislative framework on employment rights.

Platform usage policies are contractual matters between the companies and their users, with companies responsible for enforcing their own terms of service within the bounds of applicable laws.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to make a formal decision on the methodology for the 2031 Census; and what steps he plans to take to hold stakeholder consultation prior to that decision. \p Georgia Gould: The UK Statistics Authority published their recommendation on the next (2031) Census on 17 June. The recommendation outlines the consultation they undertook in order to reach their recommendation.

The Government will publish their response in due course.
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Claire Hanna:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland's report entitled Windsor Framework realities - barriers to trade in the UK internal market, published in June 2025. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government stands by its view that the Windsor Framework is delivering practical benefits in Northern Ireland and we are committed to its implementation alongside protecting the UK internal market.

The Windsor Framework provides a wide range of support for business between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government will keep working with businesses and organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses as we move forward.

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the European Union, once agreed and implemented, will make it easier to move goods across the Irish Sea, so Northern Ireland can enjoy the same products as the rest of the UK.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60822 on Public Buildings: Concrete, whether the Government Property Agency holds this information; and how many buildings in his Department have RAAC. \p Georgia Gould: As at February 2024, there were three Government Property Agency (GPA) buildings with confirmed presence of RAAC. None have been identified post 1st January 2025.

The GPA does not hold information on buildings across the wider public estate.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date (a) was the last and (b) is the next meeting of the Honours and Awards Secretariat. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK Honours and awards system does not comprise a committee or administrative team known as the Honours and Awards Secretariat.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the transparency data entitled Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - April 2025 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 29 May 2025, for what reason his Department spent £729.99 at Maray Albert Dock. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The referenced cost declared in the Cabinet Office transparency return was associated with the UK-Ireland Summit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54764 on Cabinet Office: Pay, what the annual wage costs were for the EU relations secretariat in the most recent year for which figures are centrally held. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Salary data for the Civil Service is published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics, an Accredited Official Statistics release. Civil Service Statistics 2025 is due to be published on 30 July 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_326

Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 60552 on Prime Minister: Social Media, whether large language models are used in the preparation of the Prime Minister's social media posts. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 24 June 2025, Official Report, PQ 60552.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_327

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57480 on Broadband: Newton Abbot, what his planned timetable is for supplying (a) data speeds of over 30Mbps to the remaining 2% of (i) homes and (ii) businesses and (b) gigabit capable broadband to the remaining 17% of (A) homes and (B) businesses. \p Chris Bryant: The rollout of superfast and gigabit-capable broadband is primarily driven by the private sector, with government only intervening where commercial development will not suffice. The government plans for 99% of UK homes and businesses to have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032. In Newton Abbot, Openreach is delivering a Project Gigabit contract to premises that are unlikely to be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout. This contract will disproportionately target premises currently without superfast speeds (>= 30Mbps).

The first connections under this contract are expected to be made early next year, and the contract is currently expected to run until 2030.

In the meantime, we expect superfast and gigabit-capable coverage to continue to steadily increase in Newton Abbot as a result of suppliers’ commercial rollout.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_328

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on exempting Category 1 services from their associated obligations under the Online Safety Act. \p Feryal Clark: It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to determine which services fall into Category 1. Ofcom’s current roadmap estimates publishing the register of categorised services this summer, with the additional duties for Category 1 services becoming enforceable once the relevant codes of practice are in force.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_329

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many times he has met with organisations working to tackle antisemitism since taking office. \p Feryal Clark: Ministers and officials have regular meetings about tackling racism, prejudice and discrimination online. For example, we have engaged a range of stakeholders and held roundtables to understand the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act in tackling antisemitism. Ministerial meetings and engagements are published through quarterly transparency reports on GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_330

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much their Department has spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for languages other than (i) British Sign Language and (ii) languages native to the UK for people contacting (A) their Department and (B) its agencies in 2025. \p Feryal Clark: Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery. However, no contracts have been awarded for the core department in 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_331

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 61122 on Life Sciences: Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with Innovate UK on ensuring the Launchpad programme supports clusters of SMEs beyond the Greater Belfast area. \p Feryal Clark: The Health and Life Sciences Launchpad is already supporting clusters beyond the Greater Belfast area. For example, in Coleraine, it is funding EOSDX, which is developing an AI-driven, non-invasive structural biomarker test for breast cancer diagnosis. In Derry City and Strabane, it is funding ActionSense’s development of an innovative rehabilitation project aimed at transforming stroke recovery. And in Craigavon, it is supporting e-Clear to develop a dementia training platform. More information on funded projects is available at https://www.ukri.org/publications/innovate-uk-funded-projects-since-2004/. Innovate UK and the Launchpad Cluster Management Organisation HIRANI will continue to support stakeholders across Northern Ireland to drive innovation led growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_332

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report entitled Detecting Deep Fakes: Artificial Intelligence and Anti-Jewish hate: A Case for regulating Generative AI published by INACH, Decoding Antisemitism, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Antisemitism Policy Trust. \p Feryal Clark: Antisemitic content can have a chilling effect on Jewish users online. The government is working to ensure that all users feel confident engaging online without fear of harassment or abuse. The Online Safety Act regulates AI-generated content in the same way as ‘real’ content - where it is shared on an in-scope service and is either illegal content or harmful to children. The Act also gives online platforms duties where there are risks of their services being used to carry out certain priority offences – this includes illegal antisemitic content which stirs up hatred.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_333

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to expedite the delivery of gigabit broadband to premises due to be covered by the Project Gigabit contract awarded to Freedom Fibre for north Shropshire. \p Chris Bryant: Project Gigabit is designed to adapt if and when a contracted supplier can no longer complete its planned delivery.

Building Digital UK (BDUK) is already working to put in place alternative solutions for premises in North Shropshire that require support from Project Gigabit. This is likely to involve the cross-regional contract with Openreach.

BDUK will provide further information as these solutions develop over the next few months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_334

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Project Gigabit procurement process for (a) north Shropshire, (b) mid west Shropshire, (c) Cheshire, (d) west Herefordshire (e) Forest of Dean and (f) the Peak District. \p Chris Bryant: All Project Gigabit contracts in all areas are awarded following a transparent, fair and robust procurement process, during which suppliers are required to prove they have the capability and capacity to meet their obligations.

If this subsequently changes, suppliers are required to inform Building Digital UK, so that the delivery of Project Gigabit can be adapted accordingly.

This is not always a simple process, as commercial operators’ plans and capacity vary, but the scheme is flexible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_335

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to tackle digital exclusion among older people. \p Chris Bryant: Tackling digital exclusion, which disproportionately impacts certain demographics including older people, is a priority for government.

That is why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan – First Steps in February 2025, which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year on digital inclusion. Digital exclusion is often age-related, which is why we are keen to address lack of digital skills, as well as access to the internet and to suitable devices.

These actions are our immediate steps to boost digital skills and confidence, widen access to devices and connectivity, and get support to people in their own communities so everyone can reap the benefits of technology.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_336

Helen Grant:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the education of women and girls globally. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is committed to empowering women and girls around the world through our international work. We work through the humanitarian system, leveraging multilateral institutions' funding, and strategically deploying scarce resources to improve access to quality education, particularly for women and girls, through stronger systems.

In November 2024, the UK provided £14 million of support for Sudanese refugees through Education Cannot Wait. This reaches 200,000 vulnerable displaced children with education interventions in Sudan and Sudanese refugee populations in Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda.

An estimated 60 million girls are sexually assaulted on their journey to, from and in school annually. In May 2025, the Minister for Africa launched the new Ministerial Taskforce on Ending Violence in and around Schools co-chaired by the UK and Sierra Leone. 11 countries endorsed a joint declaration committing to make violence prevention in and around schools a political priority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_337

Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what resources he plans to provide to the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. \p Stephen Doughty: The appointment of David Smith MP as UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is a clear signal of the value placed by the UK on championing FoRB for all around the world.

The Envoy David works closely with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers in promoting FoRB and regularly meets with Lord Collins as the Minister for Human Rights on the issue. I met with the Envoy on 6 May to discuss his work. He is supported in his work by the FCDO FoRB team and other officials across the organisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-30 conversation_338

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times has their Department accepted in full the position of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s (a) findings and (b) recommendations on (i) issuing an apology and (ii) other forms of redress in the last 10 years. \p Catherine West: Since 2015, there have been 6 full Parliamentary and Health Services (PHSO) investigations regarding the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO has accepted the findings and recommendations of the PHSO on each occasion.