theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support people living with arthritis in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. \p Ashley Dalton: Services for those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including arthritis, are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs), including NHS Lincolnshire ICB, which serves the South Holland and the Deepings constituency. The Department expects MSK services to be fully incorporated into integrated care system planning and decision-making.

In Lincolnshire, arthritis patients at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH) are seen as part of two cohorts, namely early inflammatory arthritis (EIA) or arthritis patients identified during grading of referrals and then put into ULTH’s general rheumatology urgent/routine cohort. For early inflammatory arthritis, ULTH works to a target of six weeks to treatment. This broadly necessitates patients having their first appointment at between two and three weeks. At present, most new patients referred today would be seen in clinic at approximately six to seven weeks and commence treatment within a few further weeks.

Our recently published 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these will help deliver improvements to arthritis care in all parts of England.

More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all support people to manage their long-term conditions, including arthritis, closer to home.
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Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the MS Society’s report entitled A Different Path: Rethinking MS hospital care, published in September 2025, what steps he is taking to improve hospital care for people with multiple sclerosis. \p Ashley Dalton: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services, including hospital care, for their local population, including for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs to assess the demand for service provision in designing their local services.

Whilst there hasn’t been a specific discussion with NHS England regarding the MS Optimum Clinical Pathway, there are initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as MS, across England. These include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which aims to improve MS care by supporting the NHS to address variations in care and promoting best practices.

The Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, published by NHS England’s RightCare Programme, supports healthcare systems in improving the care of individuals living with progressive neurological conditions, including MS. It aims to enhance local services and reduce hospital admissions by focusing on preventative care and optimising the delivery of services.

NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP) is a multi-year programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The NTP has collaborated with clinicians and patient groups to create specific pathways for MS, aiming to improve the quality and coordination of care.

NHS England has also recently updated its Specialised Neurology Services (Adults) Service Specification, which includes services for people with MS. Service specifications define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. The refreshed service specification is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/

The three shifts outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan will support people with long-term conditions, including those with MS, to better manage their condition and access services closer to home. For example, it will empower them to access their medical history and allow them to book and manage their appointments and medication.
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Sir Mark Hendrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of patients who have been referred by their GP for a possible Parkinson's diagnosis and are not seen by a neurologist or geriatrician within 18 weeks in line with NICE guidance. \p Ashley Dalton: We recognise the importance of a timely diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and remain committed to delivering the National Health Service constitutional standard for 92% of patients to wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. This includes patients waiting for elective treatment on neurological pathways.

We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring lists and waiting times down. We provided additional investment in the Autumn Budget 2024 that has enabled us to fulfil our pledge to deliver over two million more elective care appointments early. More than double that number, 4.9 million more appointments, have now been delivered.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the specific productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the constitutional standard.

The Getting It Right First Time programme, which provides tailored regional and national support to providers, also has a neurology specific Further Faster workstream. This is a clinically led initiative supporting peer to peer learning and improvement. A neurology 'handbook' and checklist with benchmarked data and case studies has been published and there are regular neurology online sessions for clinical and operational leads.

The shifts outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan will free up hospital-based neurologists’ and geriatricians’ time by shifting care from hospitals to communities, utilising digital technology to reduce administrative burdens, and promoting prevention to reduce the onset and severity of neurological conditions that lead to hospital admissions. This includes expanding community-based services, employing artificial intelligence for productivity, developing integrated neighbourhood health teams, and investing in digital tools and data. These shifts will enable earlier identification and management of Parkinson's disease, allowing specialists to focus on complex cases and improve patient outcomes.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Cancer Plan will include strategies to improve the accuracy of diagnoses for those with Myeloma. \p Ashley Dalton: Improving diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers, as early and accurately as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.

To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.

We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancers earlier and treating them faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.

The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the impact on carers is included in NICE technology appraisals for rare and progressive diseases. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of classifying stage 4 breast cancer as very severe in relation to access to life-saving drugs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he plans to make interim payments to people affected by sodium valproate as recommended in the Hughes report on Options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, published on 7 February 2024. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 64336 on Vamorolone, what the consequences are for (a) Integrated Care Boards and (b) NHS Trusts for not making NICE recommended medicines available within 90 days of publication of relevant guidance. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the recommendations of the Hughes report on Options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, published on 7 February 2024. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to consult on reforms to the UK’s Substances of Human Origin; and whether that consultation will include proposals on (a) innovation, (b) patient safety and (c) donor protection. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to (a) bring forward modernised UK-specific legislative proposals for Substances of Human Origin (SoHO) and (b) (i) adopt and (ii) adapt relevant elements of the EU’s updated SoHO legislation. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to support the domestic (a) collection and (b) processing of (i) blood, (ii) plasma, (iii) cells and (iv) tissues. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on (a) providing maternity care and (b) settling legal cases of medical negligence related to maternity care in each of the last four years. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Imkaan’s report entitled Why Should Our Rage be Tidy, published in November 2024, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS is equipped to (a) identify and (b) appropriately respond to signs of domestic and sexual violence. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Imkaan’s report entitled Why Should Our Rage be Tidy, published in November 2024, what steps his Department has taken to help tackle the mental health impacts of violence and abuse on Black and minoritised survivors of violence against women and girls. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the performance of Northwick Park Hospital on cancer in the last five years. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) social enterprises and (b) cooperatives providing (i) NHS and (ii) social care services. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of removing Sport England’s role as a statutory planning consultee under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the consideration of sporting and recreational needs in local planning decisions. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill contains no provisions relating to the role of Sports England in the planning system.

The government is committed to reviewing the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth.

As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), we intend to consult on removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sports England.

We also intend to review the range and type of planning applications on which statutory consultees are required to be consulted and consider whether some types of application could be removed, or addressed by alternative means of engagement and provision of expert advice.

Further details will be set out in due course.
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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.5 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether he plans to amend the Greater London Authority's powers. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Greater London Authority (GLA) is an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) and will be formally made as such via the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (‘the Bill’). As with other EMSAs, the Bill will grant the GLA the ‘right to request’, allowing them to request additions to the devolution framework to help deliver their areas of competence. Requests could be for further powers, funding or place-based pilots. Requests will be considered by Government and responded to within 6 months. This will be the primary way the powers of all Strategic Authorities will be amended going forward; however the Bill delivers on our commitment to devolve responsibility for the disposal of TfL operational land to the Mayor of London.

It is my Department’s expectation that some of the GLA’s requests for future devolved functions will be informed by an analysis of the powers and policy approaches of any global cities which can provide valuable lessons for London. As such, there is no defined list of global city authorities with which the Department plans to compare to London.

The working group jointly sponsored by my Department and the GLA has met a total of three times since November 2024. It has provided a forum to discuss potential priorities for the GLA’s ‘right to request’ informed by global city comparisons. The group has also worked to ensure the Bill's provisions align with the GLA's unique devolution settlement. Work has also been ongoing to agree an Integrated Settlement for London, as was announced at the Spending Review in June 2025. The working group is intended to provide a forum for engagement with the GLA on an ongoing basis, as such the Department does not plan to publish final conclusions.
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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his plans are for the future of Business Improvement Districts. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government recognises the important role Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) can play in regeneration and place making. We encourage BIDs to work in partnership with their local authority to deliver growth in their local area. We made a commitment to strengthen BIDs and raise standards in the English Devolution White Paper in December 2024 and we are considering options for reform.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the enforcement powers of local authorities in respect of (a) parking infringements and (b) obstructions to the public highway. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government recognises the importance of effective enforcement in maintaining safe and accessible public highways. Local authorities have a range of powers to enforce parking regulations and address obstructions on the highway under existing legislation, including the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Highways Act 1980. We do not have plans to extend them.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing national planning policy and guidance in relation to meanwhile use. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has made no such an assessment.

The government recognises the important role that meanwhile use can play in activating empty high street units, including through pop-up shops and community hubs, while longer-term plans are developed.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to establish a national fund to support planning and housing teams in councils with limited resources or expertise. \p Matthew Pennycook: Since February this year, the government has provided over £29 million in direct grant funding to support local planning authorities in implementing policy changes following the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67508 on 21 July 2025, which sets out our wider plans for supporting local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop the skills they need.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to introduce a performance framework that (a) publicly tracks local authority delivery of affordable housing and (b) links it to future funding eligibility. \p Matthew Pennycook: The new Local Government Outcomes Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, sets out a priority outcome that everyone has access to a decent, safe, secure, and affordable home.

The government has published twelve draft metrics measuring delivery of this outcome, including metrics to measure social housing demand, and number of homes held within council Housing Revenue Accounts. We expect to publish the final metrics for the framework alongside the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

Funding decisions for the Affordable Homes Programme are made on an individual basis and are made by our delivery partners, Home England and the GLA. All applications are expected to demonstrate how they meet the usual funding criteria, including value for money.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage partnerships between (a) councils, (b) housing associations and (c) community-led housing groups through matched funding or shared risk models. \p Matthew Pennycook: As set out in our five-step plan for delivering a decade of renewal for the social and affordable housing, we are committed to strengthening social housing providers’ financial capacity to deliver new homes, including through our new ten-year, £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

We also encourage providers to explore opportunities to extend their financial capacity further, and to enable delivery in sensitive, rural areas, by working together to deliver new homes through joint ventures.

Where advice on how to make best use of these arrangements is required, councils, housing associations, and community led-housing groups outside of London can reach out to Homes England’s Self Commissioned Homes Delivery Unit. Councils in England can also seek specialist advice on all aspects of housing delivery from the Local Government Association’s Council Housebuilding Support Service.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68060 on Islamophobia, whether the responses to the Islamophobia definition call for evidence from organisations which are subject to his department’s policy of non-engagement would be considered and given material weight. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Working Group is an independent, non-statutory body which will provide advice to ministers on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/islamophobia. Ministers will consider the advice that the independent working group provides.

Any proposed definition by the independent Working Group should comprehensively reflect multiple perspectives and implications for different communities. The Working Group launched a Call for Evidence to build on the extensive consultation they’ve already undertaken. The Call for Evidence closed on Sunday 20 July. It was open to the public and any individual or organisation was welcome to submit evidence.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce targeted housing initiatives to support young people in high-cost areas. \p Matthew Pennycook: The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people, including key workers, are now locked out of homeownership.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA.

The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers.

First-time buyers in East England may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.
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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to protect family homes from being converted into houses in multiple occupation. \p Matthew Pennycook: National permitted development rights allow a C3 dwellinghouse to change use to a C4 House in Multiple Occupation for up to six people sharing facilities without the need for a planning application.

Larger Houses in Multiple Occupation require a planning application which the local authority will determine in-line with the local plan and in consultation with neighbours.

Local authorities can remove the permitted development right for HMOs of up to 6 people to protect local amenity or wellbeing of the area by introducing an ‘Article 4’ direction.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of (a) the New Homes Bonus and (b) payments for bringing empty homes back into use on the number of empty homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 73762 on 9 September 2025.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of estate agents who are not members of a redress scheme. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has made no such estimate.

The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT), operated by Powys County Council, approve the bodies that administer government-sanctioned estate agent redress schemes.

In instances where NTSEAT or the agent redress schemes are made aware of an agent potentially operating without redress scheme membership, cases are referred to the relevant local authority for further investigation.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of higher levels of regulation in the private rented sector on the number of people who are unable to rent privately and in need of local authority temporary accommodation. \p Matthew Pennycook: An Impact Assessment (IA) for the Renters’ Rights Bill was published in November 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here.

The IA makes clear that the reduction in forced evictions could result in a reduced number of households at risk of becoming homeless, with section 21 evictions currently the second leading cause of homelessness. This will in turn reduce the costs to the public purse and wider society of temporary accommodation.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an estimate of savings to local authorities from providing funding to local charities. \p Alison McGovern: The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector plays an important role in the delivery of services and running of facilities that support happier, healthier communities. Many local authorities deliver in partnership with their community organisations, and we encourage them to continue to do so.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there is sufficient planning human resource capacity to enable the timely sign-off of pre-start conditions for affordable housing developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67508 on 21 July 2025.
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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to build more family homes in London and the South East. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.

Through bold reform of the planning system; significant investment in land, infrastructure, and social and affordable housing; and a range of other measures, we will deliver the homes working families need across the country, including in London and the South-East.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help enable people living in social rented housing to own pets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government wants to ensure more tenants can experience the benefits of pet ownership.

Many social landlords set out their pet policies in their tenancy agreements and will allow tenants to keep pets where it is appropriate to do so. Consideration is given to whether the pets can be well looked after and any adverse effects on the lives of neighbours and those living nearby.

We encourage all social landlords to adopt similar policies.

The circumstances in which pets may be kept is, however, for social landlords to determine locally, taking account of the views of their tenants.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the consistency of Local Planning Authorities in applying the (a) NPPF and (b) Planning Practice Guidance. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not directly assess the consistency of Local Planning Authorities in applying the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance.

However, independent Planning Inspectors examine local development plans to ensure they are legally compliant and sound, including in respect of whether they are consistent with national policy.

Similarly, when determining appeals, Planning Inspectors consider these principles, ensuring that decisions reflect national policy and guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria his Department used to select Plymouth and South Yorkshire as the initial locations for Defence Growth Deals. \p Luke Pollard: The five Defence Growth Deals announced on 8 September 2025 by the Secretary of State for Defence covering Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were assessed using a criteria that looked at the Defence Industrial Base and Ecosystem, the area’s strategic importance to defence, including strengths in specific D Industrial Strategy sub-sectors. It looked at Strategic Location and alignment with existing HMG regional growth initiatives. Finally it looked at Growth Potential such as measures to boost local productivity (e.g., training, R&D) and the overall labour market.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-17 conversation_270

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he will consider including those veterans who were exposed to asbestos pre-1987 whilst on active service and who later contract lung cancer in the 2016 lump sum compensation scheme payable currently only to those who contract mesothelioma. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The lump sum provision under the War Pensions Scheme applies only to veterans suffering from diffuse mesothelioma. Diffuse mesothelioma has a unique causal link to asbestos exposure, and the inexorable nature of the disease coupled with the lack of effective treatment leads to poor life expectancy.

Service personnel who develop lung cancer or asbestos-related diseases including before 1987 may be eligible to claim compensation under the War Pension Scheme or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme provided there is a causal link to Service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-17 conversation_271

Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made to develop the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Defence is developing a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce to provide a clear, trauma-informed and survivor-centred approach to tackling sexual harassment and abuse, simplifying access to support and strengthening partnerships with NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centres, local authorities and specialist charities. We have identified two regional locations that will each have a small team of specialised posts dedicated to delivering initiatives focussed on prevention, education and support; these have an anticipated pilot launch date of December 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the (a) Mini Uncrewed Air Systems and (b) Beyond Visual Line of Sight persistent ISTAR aspects of the TIQUILA programme. \p Luke Pollard: Project TIQUILA is delivering two Uncrewed Air Systems capabilities, Eagle and Kestral, to the British Army. Both of which reached the Army’s Initial Operating Capability in April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-17 conversation_273

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment he has made of the suitability of the (a) Ares vehicle platform for offensive infantry operations and (b) the Ajax Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant. \p Luke Pollard: The Army continues to undergo a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary.

The ARES variant of Ajax is designed for mounted close combat and is being delivered to the Field Army. The decision to field ARES with Infantry Battalions was taken after a considerable assessment programme. There is currently no Ajax Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) variant and whilst there is a concept demonstrator, this is not a prototype IFV. The Army continually assesses the requirements to deliver the Armoured Infantry Capability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the RAF’s dual-capable aircraft programme will be delivered. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 63225 on 7 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Poole (Neil Duncan-Jordan).

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-26/63225
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Iqbal Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the (a) development and (b) procurement of AI-enabled defence systems in each of the last three years. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold specific figures on the development and procurement of AI-enabled defence systems. AI is not a standalone capability, but an enabling technology embedded across projects in both defence systems and in the business space across the Ministry. Over the last three financial years (FY) spending within the Chief Scientific Adviser's research portfolio on AI has been:

· FY2022-23 - £46.20 million

· FY2023-24 - £52.13 million

· FY2024-25 - £37.44 million

Procurement costs are not separately recorded and are integrated within wider programme budgets.

In August the MOD announced a procurement plan worth up to £180 million for digital decision capabilities to enable scalable operations involving autonomy, including using AI and machine learning to speed up decision making. Further detail on MOD's plans for investment in AI-enabled capabilities will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with Elbit Systems UK on the potential impact of protests on its sites. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence tracks risks to the defence sector as part of its routine monitoring of supply chain resilience, this includes engagement with suppliers. Some UK defence companies, including Elbit Systems UK, have faced costs and disruption due to criminal damage and staff intimidation by groups such as Palestine Action. We are working with the Police to address these offences and mitigate future risks. While individual businesses have been affected, the overall impact on Defence has been limited, with no significant effects reported on the defence supply chain or the reputation of our world leading defence industry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service leavers have accessed the Career Transition Partnership in Lincolnshire in each of the last five years. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Registration with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is mandatory for all Service leavers.

The most recent official statistics provided in Defence Statistics (published February 2025), states that 15,665 Armed Forces Service leavers were eligible for CTP for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Since 1 October 2024 (the start of the current CTP contract and the earliest date at which such data is available) 1362 Service leavers have accessed the CTP through Cottesmore, the resettlement centre that services Lincolnshire.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable regional distribution of defence investment under the new Defence Industrial Strategy. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy contains a number of policy offerings designed to support and bolster the defence industrial base across the nations and regions of the UK. This includes the five Defence Growth Deals that were announced in Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Defence Growth Deals are just one element of the commitment we have made to the nations and regions of the UK and the Defence Investment Plan which will be published this autumn, will work to ensure that defence is investing in the most appropriate way to support defence and defence-adjacent companies and deliver growth for the whole of the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, whether the (a) Defence Research and Evaluation organisation and (b) UK Defence Innovation will be public sector arm’s length bodies. \p Luke Pollard: A decision on the delivery model for a Defence Research and Evaluation (DRE) organisation has not yet been made and will be aligned with the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group organisational design as part of Defence Reform. Details of which will be announced in due course. The Strategic Defence Review stated that in forming the DRE the Department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally. Dstl has been part of the NAD Group since April, and Dstl’s CEO reports to the National Armaments Director. Dstl is an Arms Length Body (ALB), but its status is being reviewed as part of a review of ALBs and the work to form the NAD Group.

The UK Defence Innovation organisation will not be an ALB. It will report to the National Armaments Director as part of the wider NAD Group.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 69834 on Water Charges, whether households can request that the smart element of smart water meters is deinstalled. \p Emma Hardy: Smart water meters provide an increased regularity of data, in comparison to standard meters, which enables water companies to identify leaks in the property and can help incentivise more water efficient behaviours assisting in reducing overall water consumption. If customers are concerned about their bills increasing, many companies offer the option to switch to the lowest tariff if they find that their metered bill is more expensive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 69834 on Water Charges, whether participation in tariff pilots is optional. \p Emma Hardy: All water companies have committed to carrying out a charging trial by 2030. Ofwat has set good practice principles for the charging trials, which all companies must follow.

In designing their trials, companies are required to consult with the Consumer Council for Water to ensure that safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable consumers or exclude them from trials where appropriate. This means that customers who may be struggling to pay their water bills are protected whilst the trials are carried out.