theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to hire more GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are starting to see consistent growth in the general practitioner (GP) workforce. There was an overall increase of 440 full-time equivalent, or 1,298 headcount, doctors in GPs in September 2025 compared to September 2024.

The Government committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified GPs in primary care networks (PCNs) through a £160 million investment into the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) over 2024/25. This is part of our initiative to secure the future pipeline of GPs, with over 1,000 doctors otherwise likely to graduate into unemployment in 2024/25. Data on the number of recently qualified GPs for which PCNs are claiming reimbursement via the ARRS show that, since 1 October 2024, over 2,500 GPs were recruited through the scheme.

Newly qualified GPs employed under the ARRS will continue to receive support under the scheme in the coming year as part of the 2025/26 contract. Several changes have been confirmed to increase the flexibility of the ARRS. These include: GPs and practice nurses being included in the main ARRS funding pot; an uplift of the maximum reimbursable rate for GPs in the scheme; and no caps on the number of GPs that can be employed through the scheme.

We are boosting practice finances by investing an additional £1,092 million in GPs to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.4 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The 8.9% boost to the GP Contract in 2025/26 is faster than the 5.8% growth to the NHS budget as a whole.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the £100,000 eligibility threshold for tax free childcare on families affected by that provision. \p James Murray: The £100,000 adjusted net income threshold for Tax-Free Childcare was set to align with Income Tax boundaries and ensure clarity for parents. The vast majority of parents earn below the threshold.

The cap applies per individual rather than per household, reflecting the structure of the tax system and preventing incentives for the lower earner to reduce their income (for example by working fewer hours) to qualify.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the average (a) waiting time for people calling and (b) time spent on hold to the HMRC self-assessment line in each of the last five years. \p Dan Tomlinson: The below table provides the average call answer time (minutes: seconds) for HMRC’s employers helpline in each of the last five years:

Year

Total average over the year

2020-21

09:07

2021-22

12:03

2022-23

16:03

2023-24

22:20

2024-25

26:32

Overall, HMRC’s telephony performance was better in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24. However, HMRC’s employer helpline was affected by industrial action from December 2024, and this impacted wait times. The industrial action concluded in June 2025 and calls to the employer helpline are now being answered more quickly compared to 2024-25.

The average time spent on hold measures when a call has been answered by an adviser and the individual has subsequently been put on hold.

The below table provides the average time spent on hold (minutes: seconds) for HMRC’s employers helpline in each of the last five years:

Year

Average time spent on hold

2020-21

This data is not available

2021-22

02:00

2022-23

01:24

2023-24

01:35

2024-25

01:19

The below table provides the average call answer time (minutes: seconds) for HMRC’s Self Assessment helpline in each of the last five years:

Year

Total average over the year

2020-21

15:12

2021-22

17:07

2022-23

25:14

2023-24

37:15

2024-25

23:40

Call volumes to HMRC vary widely throughout the year and wait times can increase during busy periods. Calls to the Self Assessment helpline were generally answered more quickly in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.

The below table provides the average time spent on hold (minutes: seconds) for HMRC’s Self Assessment helpline in each of the last five years:

Year

Average time spent on hold (minutes: seconds)

2020-21

This data is not available

2021-22

01:28

2022-23

01:39

2023-24

02:02

2024-25

02:04

Improving day-to-day performance is a key priority for HMRC.

In 2024-25, HMRC handled 71.5% of adviser attempts across their helplines and had an average call answer time of 18 minutes 38 seconds. So far this year (April – August 2025), they have handled 83.5% of adviser attempts and call wait times have decreased to 13 minutes 38 seconds.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of existing rates of gaming duty on the land-based bingo sector in the context of (a) the pandemic and (b) trends in operating costs. \p Dan Tomlinson: No formal assessment has been made. Bingo Duty is charged at 10% of a Bingo Hall’s Gross Gaming Yield and is the second lowest rate of the seven gambling duties.

The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of raising the VAT registration threshold from £90,000; and whether she plans to conduct a review of the impact of current thresholds on SMEs. \p Dan Tomlinson: With a VAT registration threshold of £90,000, the UK’s threshold is higher than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are kept out of the VAT system.

The Government’s approach to the VAT threshold aims to balance potential impacts on small businesses, including their growth and financial sustainability, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the carbon border adjustment mechanism supports the international competitiveness of businesses. \p Dan Tomlinson: The CBAM is an environmental policy designed to support decarbonisation and mitigate the risk of carbon leakage. It will be introduced on 1 January 2027.

Carbon leakage can undermine efforts to reduce global emissions and curtail private investment in decarbonisation – compromising efforts to reach net zero and limit global warming to 1.5°C.

The CBAM will ensure highly traded, carbon intensive products from overseas face a comparable carbon price to those produced here so that UK decarbonisation efforts lead to a true reduction in global emissions rather than simply displacing carbon emissions overseas. It will give industry confidence to invest in the UK knowing their decarbonisation efforts will not be undermined.
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Julia Lopez:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her (a) Department and (b) HMRC have conducted on the potential impact on clinical trial numbers from the introduction of VAT to medicines provided free under Early Access Medicines Scheme programmes. \p Dan Tomlinson: VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Taxation is a vital source of revenue which helps to fund public services.

Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) allows patients access to free medicines for life threatening conditions before receiving full NHS approval.

Under UK VAT law, some transactions where no money changes hands are treated as if a supply has been made – these are called deemed supplies. This is to keep the system fair. Whether VAT applies to medicines or treatments provided for free under the EAMS will depend on the precise facts of the case. In certain circumstances the giving of goods away for free can be outside the scope of VAT. Where the supply is within the scope of VAT a relief may apply, meaning the supply can be made VAT free.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the rebate provided under the Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme in line with inflation. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme has provided a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas since its introduction in 2012, with the rate remaining unchanged during that time. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average; remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and; relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.

The Government carefully considers the impact of fuel duty on households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has undertaken research into the potential impact of VAT reductions on (a) the re-use of goods, (b) minimum warranty periods and (c) other circular economic practices in industry. \p Dan Tomlinson: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.

One of the key considerations when assessing a new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

The Government keeps all taxes under review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data her Department holds on the revenue from stamp duty land tax on primary homes in the last financial year for which figures are available by (a) local authority and (b) Parliamentary constituency. \p Dan Tomlinson: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect data via the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return on whether a residential property will serve as a primary residence. However, the Higher Rates for Additional Dwellings (HRAD) apply when an individual acquires a residential property while already owning another piece of residential property anywhere in the world.

SDLT paid on homes which did not pay HRAD on a local authority basis can be calculated using Table 7b and on a Parliamentary constituency basis using Table 8b of the UK Stamp Tax statistics publication available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics

In both cases, SDLT paid on homes which did not pay HRAD is calculated by subtracting HRAD receipts from Residential receipts. Please note that the statistics publication covers the temporary thresholds period ending 1 April 2025 so the HRAD share may be higher than usual.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, if she will review the availability of affordable credit in mission critical neighbourhoods. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises that credit, when provided responsibly, can be crucial for people facing unexpected expenses or managing their cash flow.

The UK has a diverse landscape for credit provision to individuals, comprising traditional banks, challenger and specialist banks, credit unions, and non-bank finance providers. Within this landscape, Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) play an important role in delivering credit to consumers who are underserved by mainstream lenders. In 2024, CDFIs provided £81.8 million in loans to over 130,000 individuals. More than a third of these borrowers in England were based in the North, which contains most of England’s mission critical neighbourhoods as identified by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods.

Today I have published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, which includes a focus on how to improve access to affordable credit. The Strategy outlines measures to support the community finance sector, including encouraging partnerships between the sector and mainstream firms. It was developed in collaboration with a range of consumer and industry representatives and the Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders to deliver on the interventions.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of including credit unions in the forthcoming National Financial Inclusion Strategy. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises the importance of the credit union sector in promoting the financial inclusion, education, and resilience of communities throughout the country.

Today, I will publish the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, setting out an ambitious programme of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK.

The strategy builds on the Government’s recognition of the key role credit unions play in serving underserved groups, with interventions to support the credit union sector scale and serve its members more effectively.

Action to improve financial inclusion requires a joined-up approach and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the sector to deliver on the important interventions set out in the strategy.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the value of the pound since the UK left the EU on the UK economy. \p Lucy Rigby: The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. The value of sterling is determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors. The Bank of England assesses the impact of financial market movements on the economy in its quarterly Monetary Policy Report - the latest can be found here.
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Brian Leishman:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will review the conduct of C Mutual Ltd and Maiden Life Försäkrings in the context of the removal of the Family Protection Plan. \p Lucy Rigby: It is for the FCA as the regulator of financial services to decide whether to take any steps in relation to this issue and I can confirm that HMT has asked the FCA to look into this matter. The FCA will respond directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Financial Conduct Authority has given to financial institutions on the anti-money laundering checks on (i) UK domestic Politically Exposed Persons and (ii) their spouses or partners when purchasing a house to determine the true source of (A) deposits and (B) equity. \p Lucy Rigby: Guidance for financial institutions on the treatment of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and can be found here:

FG25/3: Treatment of politically exposed persons | FCA

The guidance was updated in July 2025, including to clarify that unless other enhanced risk factors are present, UK PEPs and their relatives must be subject to a lower level of enhanced due diligence than overseas PEPs.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of banking hubs that will be operational at the end of each year to 2028. \p Lucy Rigby: Currently there are 190 banking hubs operational and Cash Access UK, who oversee banking hub rollout, expect 200 to be operational by the end of 2025. The UK banking sector has publicly committed to delivering 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

As the timing of the roll-out of banking hubs is industry-driven, the Government does not make year-on-year estimates.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 81775 on , what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent regulatory changes to mortgages by the FCA on the (a) average deposit required and (b) approval rate for first-time buyer mortgages. \p Lucy Rigby: The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market that offers various low deposit products; prospective buyers are encouraged to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances.

The government is committed to making home ownership more accessible by supporting first-time buyers, and welcomes changes made this year to support homeowners. FCA clarifications to their affordability testing rules earlier this year are allowing customers to borrow around 10% more on the same income. This could equate to an additional £20k for an average first-time buyer.

Additional flexibility from the Bank of England in relation to their loan-to-income rules are also allowing more customers to access larger mortgages in relation to their incomes. The Bank of England estimates that this change provide capacity for lenders to support up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the hon Member for Hampstead and Highgate received a Ministerial severance payment. \p Dan Tomlinson: Ministerial severance is payable under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 when a Minister leaves office and meets the following statutory conditions:

Ministers who have not attained the age of 65 and are not appointed to a relevant ministerial or other paid office within 3 weeks of the last day of service, are eligible for a severance payment of one quarter of the annual ministerial salary being paid.

Details of HM Treasury ministerial severance payments, including recipients and amounts, are published in the annual report and accounts.
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her Department's priorities are for the forthcoming UN Tax Convention negotiations. \p Dan Tomlinson: The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention, including the recent informal sessions for the technical workstreams.

The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.
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Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair of the Association of International Retail dated October 15th 2025, on what evidential basis the Exchequer Secretary stated that tourism receipts in 2023 were 103 per cent of 2019 levels; and whether those figures related to tourism receipts for international tourism alone. \p Dan Tomlinson: The 103% figure for the UK’s real recovery in tourism receipts between 2019 and 2023 is based on official data. The underlying data comes from the ONS Balance of Payments (series FJPF), which tracks spending in the UK by overseas visitors. To adjust for inflation, the figures are deflated using the UK Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), also published by the ONS. The percentage is calculated by comparing 2023 receipts (in 2019 prices) to the 2019 baseline.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of (a) tax and (b) benefit contributions of individuals by (i) nationality and (ii) country of birth in Northern Ireland since 2020. \p Dan Tomlinson: HM Treasury does not conduct assessments of tax and benefit contributions of individuals by nationality or country of birth.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people claimed (a) Statutory Maternity Leave, (b) Statutory Paternity Leave and (c) Statutory Parental Leave by income decile in the 2024/25 financial year. \p Dan Tomlinson: Numbers of individuals in receipt of statutory payments, including breakdowns by income decile, are published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/parental-leave-and-pay-evidence-hmrc-data-covering-april-2014-to-march-2025
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James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) business rates, (b) VAT and (c) energy costs on small hospitality businesses. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government recognises the vital role that small hospitality businesses play in supporting the UK’s economy and communities.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that small hospitality businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, the Government has prevented RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. The UK’s VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent. The UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD, at £90,000. This keeps the majority of businesses, including many small businesses in the hospitality sector, out of the VAT regime altogether.

The government recognises the impact that energy costs can have on businesses, especially small businesses. To help with this, the Government announced in December 2024 a new Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial which aims for Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels to receive free energy and carbon cutting advice to slash their energy bills as part of the government’s Plan for Change. The Government will continue to monitor the impact of energy costs on businesses.

The Government keeps all areas of the tax system under review. Any changes to the tax system are announced as part of the annual Budget process.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she made of the potential merits of reducing Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland. \p Dan Tomlinson: This is a matter for the NI Executive. The 2014 Stormont House Agreement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive agreed, in principle, for the power to set the rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland on certain trading profits to be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Agreement set out that the Executive would need to formally request the power to change the Corporation Tax rate in Northern Ireland. The Executive would also need to demonstrate that its finances were on a sustainable footing, and that the Executive’s block grant would need to be adjusted to reflect the Corporation Tax revenues foregone if the devolved power were exercised.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff were involved in conducting the Research and Development tax relief reform and intensive support Screening Equality Impact Assessment, published on 18 September 2025; and how many hours were spent by (a) Departmental staff and (b) external consultants in its preparation. \p Dan Tomlinson: Tax policy reforms are implemented by HMRC through projects, to ensure efficient and accurate implementation taking account of customer needs. Projects follow set procedures, monitoring and governance. As part of the governance process, screening equality impact assessments (EQIAs) are delivered by the Project Team to determine whether full assessments are needed. The screening assessment for the R&D reforms published on 18 September concluded that a full assessment was not necessary. The resource and time used for the screening EQIA is part of the policy project delivery resource and not tracked separately. No external consultants were engaged.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what reporting public bodies are undertaking on the (a) system performance, (b) community impact and (c) compliance with inclusion obligations of the deployment of British Sign Language AI. \p Ian Murray: 85294: We are not aware of any digital public services currently using AI generated BSL content. The Service Manual and Service Standard guide service teams across the public sector on the design and development of digital services, including those enabled by AI.

A service must be accessible to everyone who needs it, including services only used by public servants. Digital services must meet level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) as a minimum and service teams must include disabled people and people who use assistive technologies in the design of those services.

The compliance of central government digital services with the WCAG regulations is monitored by the Government Digital Service.

85295: In addition to above (85294) c) services must make sure the non-digital parts of a service are accessible. For example, government departments must make sure that users who are deaf or have a speech impairment are offered a way to contacting the service (by text, email or in person with a British Sign Language translator or lip reader).

This standard would still apply if the service used BSL content that was AI generated.
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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the recent 5CA data breach on protecting consumers online. \p Ian Murray: As the UK's independent regulator for data protection, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is responsible for monitoring compliance with the UK's data protection legislation and investigating complaints regarding breaches of the legislation. The ICO is investigating a data breach following a report by Discord.

The ICO provides guidance for the public on data protection on its website. Anyone concerned about the impact of the breach could also contact the ICO for further advice, by telephone on xx-xxxx-xxxx and through its website: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/.

Businesses can help prevent data breaches by improving their cyber resilience using the guidance and tools on offer from the government. This includes the new Cyber Action Toolkit for small businesses, the highly effective Cyber Essentials scheme which prevents common cyber-attacks, and the Cyber Governance Code of Practice to help boards and directors manage digital risks.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the 2017 Electronic Communications Code on (a) telecoms operator profits and (b) consumer prices for telecom services. \p Kanishka Narayan: The 2017 changes to the Electronic Communications Code, which included changes to the valuation regime, were intended to support network deployment and facilitate infrastructure sharing. Following engagement with stakeholders about the impact of the 2017 reforms, government consulted on further changes to the Code, included in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.

A specific assessment of the impact that the 2017 reforms have had on small family businesses has not been carried out. The 2022 Act – which includes provisions that will, when commenced, extend the 2017 valuation regime to additional cases - received Parliamentary scrutiny and was subject to a published De Minimis Impact Assessment.

Given the commercial – and often sensitive – nature of most Code agreements, meaningful data on rents would be difficult to collect and assess. In addition, rent is only part of operators’ expenditure, any such data therefore could not be causally related with profits and consumer price changes.
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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with science and discovery centres on their financial resilience since the covid-19 pandemic. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government recognises the important role these centres play in engaging the public with science and inspiring young people. As set out in the answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84033, Minister Vallance has followed up with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to explore a coordinated approach to supporting these centres. I refer my honourable friend to that answer for further detail.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with BT Openreach on the cyber-security of the CL-WAP telephone and internet exchange adjacent to the Royal Mint. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for security and resilience risks.

The Government does not comment on discussions around the security of specific sites.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with which countries does the UK operate international science partnership funds; and how much and what proportion of the funding for the partnership with Japan is from (a) public and (b) private sources and (i) domestic and (ii) foreign contributors. \p Kanishka Narayan: The International Science Partnership Fund currently operates in:

United States of America, Japan, Canada, India, South Korea, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Israel, Taiwan, China, Ireland, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, and Latvia (non-ODA)

South Africa, Kenya, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey, and Ghana (ODA)

Information on spend in Japan is not provided under the exemptions in the Ministerial Code that cover information that is not currently held and where there would be a disproportionate cost to gaining it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential economic merits of increasing levels of transparency over copyrighted works that are being used by generative AI developers to (a) train and (b) improve the performance of their models. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government recently consulted on several topics relating to the interaction between copyright and artificial intelligence (AI), including seeking views on increasing levels of transparency over the use of copyright material in AI model development.

The Government’s priority now is to consider all responses to the consultation, to help inform next steps. Alongside this we launched expert working groups in July, bringing together representatives of the creative, media and AI sectors, and convened a parliamentary working group on the issue.

The Government will continue to engage extensively on this issue, and its proposals will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_280

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans she has to ensure that the Government’s expert working groups on AI and copyright help increase levels of transparency that copyright holders have over the use of their copyrighted material as inputs for (a) training and (b) improving the performance of AI models. \p Kanishka Narayan: We are establishing technical working groups to inform our approach to copyright and AI. They will be designed to bring together both British and global companies, alongside voices beyond the AI and creative sectors. A range of issues will be discussed, including transparency in the development and deployment of AI in the UK. The terms of reference will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's joint press release entitled Creative and AI sectors kick-off next steps in finding solutions to AI and copyright, published 16 July 2025, whether she will (a) publish the terms of reference for the expert working groups on AI and copyright and (b) set out (i) the expected number of meetings for each group and (ii) how she plans to update Rt hon. and hon. Members on the groups' outputs; and what consideration she made of the balance between UK based and non-UK based organisations in determining the membership of the groups. \p Kanishka Narayan: We are establishing technical working groups to inform our approach to copyright and AI. They will be designed to bring together a range of experts and stakeholders across key issues, including transparency and technical standards. The terms of reference will be published in due course. This will set out the meeting structure for the technical working groups.

We will publish a progress update before the end of the year, which will be informed by findings from the technical working groups.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what research her Department has commissioned on the potential impact of media content on electronic devices on (a) babies and (b) toddlers. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act requires services that are likely to be accessed by children to risk assess their service and provide additional measures for child users of all age groups, including early years. Ofcom’s Children Register of Risks lists 0-5 years as an age group for which it expects services to consider the age-related risks based on the developmental stage of the children.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure social media companies protect consumers from illegal content advertising weight loss jabs. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act gives online platforms duties to tackle illegal content and activity on their services. This includes content advertising illegal sales of drugs. Ofcom is the regulator for this regime, and it sets out steps that providers can take to comply with their duties. Ofcom has strong powers to enforce against platforms that fail to fulfil their duties to protect users from illegal content.

The government is clear that people should only purchase medicines and medical products through legitimate, regulated channels. Anyone with weight or health concerns should consult their GP or a qualified healthcare professional who can provide safe, appropriate treatment options.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take to support Jamaican authorities to ensure that (a) search and rescue efforts and (b) UK aid are able to access the hardest hit areas of Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the hon. member to the written ministerial statement published on 4 November.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to help eradicate polio in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Pakistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to question 76022 on 17 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_286

Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure access to humanitarian aid for women and children in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is actively supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups including women and children. In August, the UK announced £3 million funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to contribute to UNFPA's response and early recovery results under four key pillars: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Gender-Based Violence; Adolescents and Youth; Interagency Coordination. This funding addressed the urgent needs of women and girls facing violence within Gaza. The UK has also funded United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) with £9.7 million to support provision of ready-to-use infant formula, water, sanitation and hygiene services, psychosocial services for children, and social protection to children. We continue to call on Israel to fully enable the UN and other humanitarian organisations to be able to deliver humanitarian aid in Palestine.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with international partners to help ensure that (a) pregnant women and (b) breastfeeding women and (c) young children can access (i) healthcare and (ii) humanitarian aid in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 4 November to Question 85841.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the UN Secretary-General’s report entitled Situation concerning Western Sahara: report of the Secretary-General, published on 30 September 2025, and whether she plans to raise that report at the Security Council. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 30 October to Question 85129.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the steps taken by the interim Syrian regime on (a) the (i) identification and (ii) the safe disposal of chemical weapons and (b) the protection of the rights of minorities since December 2024. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK welcomes the Syrian Government's commitment to ridding Syria of the Assad regime's chemical weapons. We continue to engage the Syrian Government to support their efforts to locate, secure and destroy chemical weapons left by the Assad regime. The UK has committed over £2.8 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to support the OPCW's verification of the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria.

The UK welcomes efforts by the Syrian Government to protect the rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background. This includes their investigations into outbreaks of sectarian violence in coastal areas and Suwayda, and their facilitation of the UN to investigate human rights violations. We will continue to judge the Syrian Government on its actions not its words.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_290

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UN Secretary-General’s report entitled Situation concerning Western Sahara: report of the Secretary-General, published on 30 September 2025, if she will call for an independent human rights body to monitor human rights in (a) occupied Western Sahara and (b) refugee camps. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 84938.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Sir Edward Leigh:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with international counterparts to help ensure the protection of Christian communities in Yemen. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK remains committed to freedom of religion or belief for all. We are concerned about the situation facing minority communities in Yemen, including Christians, particularly in areas under Houthi control. Reports indicate that minorities cannot practise their faith freely and that they face harassment and discrimination. We raise these concerns regularly with international partners, including at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, pressing for respect for human rights and accountability for violations. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic influence and humanitarian support to protect civilians in Yemen, including Christian communities, and to work closely with the UN to press for an inclusive peace process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support British citizens in the Caribbean impacted by Hurricane Melissa. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon. Member to my statement to the House on 4 November 2025, Official Report, vol. 774, col. 33WS to 35WS.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff were involved in conducting the Equality Impact Assessment of Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025 to 2026, published on 22 July 2025; and how many hours were spent by (a) Departmental staff and (b) external consultants in its preparation. \p Chris Elmore: The requested information is not readily available, and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.