theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to ensure that Cornwall is eligible for full devolution without having to join a combined authority with Devon. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government has been clear in its goal to achieve universal coverage in of Strategic Authorities in England.The English Devolution White Paper set out the principles that will guide the government’s programme of widening and deepening devolution.

The government remains committed to working in partnership with local leaders to deliver its vision and will continue to engage with local partners in Cornwall to explore how the area can benefit from devolution.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Fred Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that parking companies (a) behave appropriately towards their customers and (b) have adequate ticketing practices. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government launched a consultation on 11th July 2025 which outlined its proposals for raising standards and protecting motorists.

All of the responses are now being analysed and the government will publish a response in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to local government finance statistics collated by his Department, what information he holds on how much local authorities made in profit on (a) on-street and (b) off-street parking in 2024-25. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government holds the below On and Off-Street Parking income data for Local Authorities in England for 2024-25. This is sourced from Revenue Outturn returns submitted by each authority in England.

All monetary values are presented in thousands of pounds (£000)

Type of Parking

Sales, Fees and Charges

Other Income

Total Income

On-street parking

1,362,370

99,522

1,461,892

Off-street parking

842,644

33,513

876,158

Local authorities are empowered to determine their parking arrangements through the Traffic Management Act 2004, which requires them to ensure that parking policies be proportionate, support town centre prosperity, and reconcile competing demands for kerb space whilst ensuring traffic moves freely and quickly on their roads and the roads of nearby authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital he plans to allocate to the Pride in Place programme in each constituent nation in each year of the next 10 years. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: We recently announced the Pride in Place programme, which will see up to £280 million shared among 14 places in Scotland, each receiving up to £20 million over 10 years. Up to £180 million will be provided to a further 9 Welsh communities as part of the programme.

These areas will join 10 areas in Scotland and 5 in Wales where work is already underway, taking the totals up to £480 million over 10 years in Scotland and £280 million over 10 years in Wales.

For Northern Ireland, corresponding funding will be made available. MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive to determine the appropriate delivery approach.

Further details on the neighbourhoods selected, individual funding profiles and the breakdown between revenue (RDEL) and capital (CDEL) will be shared in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to reduce child homelessness. \p Alison McGovern: The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of £1 billion in 2025/26. This includes a recent £84 million top up which included £10.9 million funding to support families and children in temporary accommodation, funding services to improve their quality of life whilst they are homeless.

We are developing a homelessness strategy to deliver the long-term solutions that we need to get back on track to ending homelessness. Our strategy will put prevention at its core, to reduce the number of children who experience homelessness, and will consider the needs of all groups who are at risk of and experience homelessness, including young people. We are taking a cross-government approach, including working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions as they develop the Child Poverty Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle homelessness in Newton Abbot constituency. \p Alison McGovern: The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of over £1 billion in 2025/26. Funding allocations are published on gov.uk here.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps he has taken to support community cohesion in (a) the South East and (b) Slough. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: MHCLG's Community Cohesion Unit works to support and promote cohesion across England, through working closely with local authorities, voluntary and community sector and faith organisations, and other government departments.

The government's new £2.87 million Common Ground Resilience Fund is supporting community connection and cohesion by funding locally led interventions to build community resilience. MHCLG will work with Slough Borough Council and other local authorities to deliver activities that build cohesion through the Common Ground Resilience Fund. As part of this overarching funding package, the Common Ground Award aims to recognise good practice in promoting social cohesion by investing capital funding into VCSE sector organisations that are bringing people together from different backgrounds, by supporting the cost of constructing or renovating facilities, or the purchasing of equipment to deliver services.

Additionally, the South East region, including Slough has been allocated £12 million from the Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF). Slough has been allocated £1.5 million from the PiPIF. The PiPIF will enable local authorities, in partnership with local communities, local MPs and other local stakeholders to support a range of projects such as upgrades to community facilities and public spaces such as parks, playgrounds and piers to improve health and well-being, bring people together and strengthen communities.

Furthermore, MHCLG is co-ordinating cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to help tackle high vacancy rates in (a) shopping centres and (b) other retail units. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is committed to fostering the conditions to reduce vacancy, including in our high streets and shopping centres. We have introduced legislation to ban upwards-only rent reviews in commercial leases to make tenancies more affordable, and will introduce lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties from 2026. As set out in the recent Pride in Place strategy, we have also introduced High Street Rental Auctions, empowering councils to bring vacant units back into use, and other measures to support revitalisation of vacant space including a new Community Right to Buy for valued assets, such as shops and pubs, and streamlined compulsory purchase orders. This is alongside up to £5 billion investment in 244 of the most deprived neighbourhoods which can be used to tackle high street vacancy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on taking steps to help support high streets in the context of trends in the levels of online shopping. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is fully committed to working with councils and other partners to revitalise our changing high streets. Through the Pride in Place programme, we are investing up to £5 billion funding to revive deprived neighbourhoods and high streets. The department engages regularly with councils on a variety of issues, including our plans for neighbourhood and high street regeneration.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations to Lincolnshire since 2023. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: UKSPF provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022-26), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula. The funding methodologies for the periods 2022-25 and 2025-26 are published on gov.uk.

Changes were made to the English allocation methodology for 2025-26 to support mayoral combined authorities with capital for early development of local growth plans and local priority investments, as well as targeting places with the highest levels of deprivation.

The county of Lincolnshire received a total of £34.7m (including a £1.97m Multiply allocation) across 2022-25 and a further £14.8m of UKSPF funding for 2025-26 through the newly established Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority to deliver interventions in line with their local priorities.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Pride in place strategy, published on 25 September 2025, what steps he is taking with local authorities to help tackle (a) faith-based prejudice and (b) racism. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has launched its Pride in Place Programme, providing up to £5bn funding and support over the next decade for 244 places across the country. This flagship offer will help build strong, resilient communities in areas that experience the most entrenched social and economic challenges.

All forms of racial and religious hatred are completely unacceptable and have no place in our communities. The Government has established an independent working group to advise on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred or Islamophobia. Furthermore, the Government has established an Antisemitism Working Group to provide advice on antisemitism.

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders to fulfil their statutory obligations to asylum seekers. They are also working to deliver the commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels, by the end of this Parliament.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making the qualification of Certificate in Local Council Administration (a) mandatory and (b) included in training in the first year of employment for town and parish clerks. \p Alison McGovern: Town and parish council clerks play a crucial role in enabling councils to effectively serve and represent their communities. There are currently no plans to make the Certificate in Local Council Administration mandatory for town and parish council clerks, as this would place an undue burden on the sector. Town and parish councils operate independently of central government and are best placed to understand their staff’s development needs.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to review regulations affecting (a) rent and (b) service charges in (i) high streets and (ii) shopping centres. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: This government recognises the importance of a fair commercial leasehold market for the health of the high street. We are legislating to ban the use of upwards-only rent reviews, which make high street businesses uncompetitive if the market declines. We have also tasked the Law Commission, in addition to their ongoing review of the Landlord and Tenant Act (1954), with considering the law governing the maintenance, repair and upgrading of leased commercial buildings, including service charges.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of unoccupied shop buildings in North Shropshire. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is fully committed to revitalising our high streets and tackling vacancy, in North Shropshire and across the country. To help reduce the number of unoccupied shop units, the Government is empowering councils through High Street Rental Auctions, enabling them to bring long-term vacant properties back into use.

This is supported by wider national measures, including banning upwards-only rent reviews in commercial leases and introducing lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors from 2026. Additional powers such as the community right to buy and streamlined compulsory purchase orders will further support local revitalisation and help create more vibrant, accessible high streets.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local authorities to ensure the sufficiency of their trading standards enforcement teams. \p Alison McGovern: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80438 on 20 October 2025.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a breakdown of how each local authority spends its share of the new £84 million homelessness support funding announced in the news release entitled £84 million injection to tackle homelessness, published on 9 October 2025. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities are best placed to understand local need. Our funding provides local authorities with the flexibility to determine the most effective services to support vulnerable individuals in their areas.

You can find local authority level allocations of the £84 million announced on 10 October here:
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve social housing completion rates. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 2 July, the government set out its five-point plan for kickstarting a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. Taken together, the grant funding support and regulatory certainty and stability that this government is providing will enable Registered Providers to quickly ramp up investment in existing and new stock. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on that day (HCWS771).

Section 106 agreements are, and will remain, an essential mechanism for delivering social and affordable housing. The government continues to progress work on a holistic policy package that will deal with the legacy problem of existing uncontracted S106 units and also prevent the problem recurring by laying the foundations for a simpler, more transparent, and more resilient S106 system.

On 25 May, the government published a Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (which can be found on gov.uk here) which included proposals to implement a new power for authorities to decline to determine planning applications made by developers who fail to build out at a reasonable rate. The consultation closed on 7 July and we are currently considering all feedback received.
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Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Sikhs entitled Anti-Sikh Hate Crime Report, published in October 2020. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: We welcome the Sikh Guard initiative, a third-party reporting service specifically for the Sikh Community. The Government has worked with the police to fund True Vision, an online hate crime reporting portal, designed so that victims of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report. As a part of this, True Vision has been working with the Sikh Guard (established by the National Sikh Police Association) and Rakkha initiatives to encourage reporting from within Sikh communities.

The Government also funds the National Online Hate Crime Hub, which supports individual local police forces in dealing specifically with online hate crime. The Hub provides expert advice to police forces to support them in investigating these abhorrent offences.
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Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of regulations relating to private parking enforcement companies. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government is aware of concerns about poor practice from a number of parking operators and is determined to raise standards.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September, and the government will respond in due course.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 97 of his policy paper entitled Pride in Place Strategy, published on 25 September 2025, whether the Cumulative Impact Assessments process will regulate existing betting premises. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Cumulative Impact Assessments will give local authorities powers to determine whether the cumulative impact of the number or density of gambling premises in a local area undermines the licensing objectives, particularly in areas that have been identified as vulnerable to gambling-related harms. We will introduce Cumulative Impact Assessments when parliamentary time allows.

While we expect that this would apply to new premises seeking a gambling licence or variations of existing licences, local authorities do already have a number of tools to manage existing betting premises, such as site inspections, restrictions on opening hours and suspending or revoking a gambling premises licence if premises are found to be non-complaint with the licensing objectives.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that projects funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will continue to receive support when that programme ends. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support regional growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This includes establishing a new local growth fund, for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands; providing financial investments to capitalise a new recyclable mayoral growth fund for mayors in the North and Midlands with an integrated settlement; and launching the Pride in Place Programme, which represents one of the largest investments in deprived neighbourhoods for a generation - up to £5 billion over 10 years to support up to 250 places.

This is in addition to increases in council’s Core Spending Power and the upcoming reforms to the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) moving to a more up-to-date assessment of each council’s needs and multi-year allocations.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department have made an assessment of the potential impact for home boiler longevity of amending Part L of the Building Regulations to mandate (a) boiler inhibitor checks and (b) re-dosing as part of a boiler's required service. \p Samantha Dixon: Approved Document L provides statutory guidance on how to comply with Part L, including advice on adding an inhibitor when a heating system is installed and on providing maintenance information to homeowners through a home user guide.

Checks or re-dosing of inhibitors during routine servicing are outside the scope of the Building Regulations where no building work is being undertaken. The safe installation, maintenance and use of gas systems and appliances are covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 2018.

The Government intends to amend Part L and its accompanying guidance in the coming months. The new standards, known as the Future Homes Standard, intends to effectively preclude the installation of gas boilers in new homes and ensure the use of low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what grant funding is available to help small businesses improve their Energy Performance Certificate ratings to at least C; and whether he plans to introduce new such grants for small businesses. \p Martin McCluskey: EPC’s are an important metric to ensure that small businesses are as energy efficient as possible, allowing them to understand where bill savings and carbon emission reductions can be achieved. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme continues to provide grants of up to £7,500 for small non-domestic property owners, with the threshold for single heat pump installations set at 45kWh. This helps install low carbon heating systems and improve EPC ratings.

Additionally, the Government’s Business Energy Advice Service pilot scheme has so far supported nearly 3000 SMEs in the West Midlands with expert energy efficiency and decarbonisation advice. 340 grants have been awarded with a value of £8.7m.
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Marie Goldman:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Warm Home Discount is provided to eligible claimants who have their bills included in their rent. \p Martin McCluskey: Earlier this year, the Government consulted on broadening Warm Home Discount eligibility to include households whose energy costs are included in their rent. However, it was not feasible to take this forward without increasing the cost of the scheme for all consumers. We recognise the challenges this presents and continue to keep eligibility under review.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that those in rented accommodation live in warm, energy-efficient homes. This is why we recently consulted on raising minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. We received a significant number of responses and will publish our response in due course.
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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he received an invitation to speak at the annual dinner of the Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies on 21 October 2025; what his response was; and when he sent his response. \p Michael Shanks: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero receives a high volume of invitations to events and is therefore not able to accommodate all requests.
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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provisions of the Marine Policy Statement 2011 in the context of achieving his Department’s policy on new oil and gas licencing. \p Michael Shanks: In March, the Government consulted on its commitment not to issue new licences to explore new fields.

The Marine Policy Statement was published in 2011 under a previous government. It includes support for oil and gas exploration.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, this aspect of the Statement is unlikely to carry any practical effect in future.

Updating the Statement would be resource intensive for all governments involved. Instead, the Government is taking a more strategic approach to marine spatial planning, developing colocation solutions and working with the Marine Management Organisation on the replacement of the East Marine Plan.
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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to bring forward primary legislation to ban new oil and gas licences. \p Michael Shanks: The Government has committed to not issue new licences to explore new fields while managing existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan.

On 1 October, the Secretary of State announced legislation to end new onshore oil and gas licensing in England.

Our ‘Building the North Sea’s energy future’ consultation, which closed earlier this year, sought views on how we should implement these commitments. We will respond in due course.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the number of households that are not on the smart meter network in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. \p Martin McCluskey: The Department does not hold statistics on smart meter penetration on a constituency level.

The latest statistics to include the percentage of domestic electricity smart meters by local authority are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smart-meters-in-great-britain-quarterly-update-march-2025.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77318 on Batteries: Storage, for what reason he does not plan to make fire services statutory consultees on planning applications involving battery energy storage sites. \p Michael Shanks: Planning Practice Guidance strongly recommends that battery developers engage with fire services ahead of the submission of their planning application. However, further to dialogue with the National Fire Chiefs Council, government is of the view that making fire services statutory consultees would risk creating disproportionate administrative burdens for the fire services.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Crown Commercial Service considered the (a) cost and (b) accessibility of the RM6277 framework to small independent recruitment agencies during the design and tendering process. \p Chris Ward: Crown Commercial Service (CCS) considered bidding costs and accessibility for small independent agencies in the design and tendering of RM6277: Non‑Clinical Staffing, including lotting, proportionate evaluation and market engagement.

Small-medium enterprises, including small independent recruitment agencies, secured over 70% of places across lots 1 to 6 and 46% in lot 7. This is in line with the government’s strategy to back small and medium-sized businesses.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the RM6277 framework agreement on small and medium-sized recruitment agencies supplying non-clinical staff to the NHS. \p Chris Ward: Crown Commercial Service (CCS) designed the RM6277 Non Clinical Staffing commercial agreement with small-medium enterprise (SMEs) accessibility in mind. SMEs secured over 70% of places across lots 1 to 6 and 46% in lot 7.

CCS commercial agreements are not mandatory, and provide a compliant route to procure common goods and services. It is the responsibility of each organisation, including the NHS, to determine whether to use a framework.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend the Freedom of Information Act to the Motability scheme. \p Chris Ward: The Government has no plans to extend the Freedom of Information Act to the Motability Scheme. The Motability Scheme is delivered by Motability Operations which is an independent commercial company under contract to the Mobility Foundation, a registered charity.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 54875 on Admiralty House: Council Tax, whether Council Tax (a) discount, exemption, disregard and (b) premium is applied to the Government's bill for each of the unoccupied Admiralty House ministerial residences in 2025-26. \p Anna Turley: Discount, exemption, disregard and premiums billing for Admiralty House are determined by the Local Authority. In this instance, this would be Westminster City Council.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a breakdown of the performance of Allied Universal (G4S) against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their integrated security and technology services contracts with the Government Property Agency. \p Anna Turley: The Government Property Agency (GPA) is currently investigating clarifying consistent performance metrics of all of its supply chain partners with a view to publishing on agreement.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library copies of each HR Connect newsletter issued since 1 January 2025. \p Anna Turley: HR Connect is an internal staff digital newsletter which provides updates and news relevant to civil servants in the People Function. As was the case under the previous administration, it is an internal document and therefore not intended for external publication
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_438

Edward Morello:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to tackle delays in pension processing as a result of industrial action among MyCSP staff. \p Anna Turley: As MyCSP is a private company, the Cabinet Office cannot be directly involved in tackling any delays in the processing of pensions caused by industrial action.

However, we are encouraging both MyCSP and the PCS Trade Union to engage in dialogue to resolve this dispute as soon as possible. We continue to monitor the situation closely. There have been no reports of pension delays arising from the ongoing industrial action in MyCSP
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_439

Edward Morello:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many pension claimants have been affected by delays caused by the industrial dispute among MyCSP staff. \p Anna Turley: There have been no reports of pension delays arising from the ongoing industrial action in MyCSP
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_440

Gill German:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report from the Molly Rose Foundation entitled the Children’s exposure to (a) suicide, (b) self-harm, (c) depression and (d) eating disorder content online, published in October 2025. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government thanks the Molly Rose Foundation for its research.

Under the Online Safety Act, intentionally encouraging or assisting suicide is a priority offence for providers’ illegal content duties, and the government is taking action to give illegal self-harm content the same status, something the Molly Rose Foundation has long campaigned for.

Services likely to be accessed by children must use highly effective age assurance to prevent children encountering content that encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.

Ofcom has enforcement powers under the Act and has announced investigations into over 60 services suspected of failing to comply with their duties, including a pro-suicide forum.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_441

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Ofcom’s enforcement powers to tackle the online sale of illegal drugs in vape liquids. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act (OSA) places duties on services to reduce the risk that they are used to facilitate illegal sales of controlled drugs. DSIT has regular discussions with Ofcom regarding the implementation of the OSA’s duties. Where providers fail to comply with these duties, Ofcom can issue fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or £18m, whichever is higher. The Act establishes that the Secretary of State must review the functioning of the Act within 2-5 years of the regime taking effect. This will include reviewing the adequacy of Ofcom's enforcement powers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_442

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 119 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the level of UK resilience to digital service loss. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government recognises the importance of resilient digital infrastructure to national security and public services. The Department has not made an overall assessment of the level of UK resilience to digital service loss. However, the Department reviews the most significant risks to the security and resilience of UK digital infrastructure and makes a detailed assessment of their likelihood and impact through the National Security Risk Assessment, including the impact on human welfare, public behaviour, essential services, the economy, the environment, security and international order. A summary of these risks is published in the National Risk Register.

Communications providers are legally required to take appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure their networks are secure and resilient.  Ofcom monitors compliance and enforces standards under the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021.  Providers designated as Operators of Essential Services under the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018 must also take appropriate steps to secure their networks and minimise the impact of incidents. The forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will further strengthen the UK’s cyber defences and build the resilience of our digital services. In addition, DSIT also works in partnership with communications providers to promote resilience across the sector and respond jointly to emergencies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_443

Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to encourage internet network providers to increase the coverage of full fibre broadband in (a) residential flats and (b) commercial properties. \p Kanishka Narayan: As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.

Additionally, ‘commercial properties’ are included in Project Gigabit, the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. More than £2.4 billion of Project Gigabit contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_444

Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to increase the reliability of infrastructure for 5G connectivity in London. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government wants all areas of the UK, including London, to benefit from reliable and high-quality mobile coverage, and this is reflected in our ambition for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.

The department continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to deliver on this ambition, including removing barriers to deployment where they exist. This includes launching a call for evidence as soon as possible to assess the merits of planning reform to support the deployment of mobile infrastructure.

Through the Electronic Response and Resilience Group, DSIT works in partnership with communications providers to promote resilience across the sector.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 amended the Communications Act 2003 to place new security duties on telecoms providers to identify, reduce, and prepare for the risks of security compromises in public telecoms networks or services and to remedy or mitigate their adverse effects. These obligations are overseen by Ofcom, who have powers to enforce compliance. Ofcom publish information on security and resilience of networks in their annual Connected Nations UK Report.

In December 2023, Ofcom launched a public Call for Input on the power back-up at mobile network access sites across the UK. They published an update on their work in February this year, confirming they are completing further analysis to determine the appropriate and proportionate measures that mobile operators should put in place.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_445

Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support the deployment of dark fibre for data-intensive businesses in (a) England, (b) London and (c) west London. \p Kanishka Narayan: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on dark fibre in the leased lines market. DSIT regularly engages with Ofcom and industry stakeholders on these and related issues.

DSIT provides steers to Ofcom through our Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services. Ofcom must have regard to this when making regulatory decisions, including in the context of the Telecoms Access Review.

In July, DSIT published a consultation on a draft updated SSP that sets out the Government’s view on business connectivity, setting it as a priority for the regulator. Officials are currently reviewing responses to the consultation and DSIT will publish its response in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_446

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding for the Mental Health Goals programme has been allocated; and what criteria she uses to distribute that funding. \p Kanishka Narayan: The government has allocated up to £50 million over five years to the Mental Health Goals programme. Funding decisions are guided by strategic direction from the programme’s expert co-Chairs and assessed through academic peer review and a representative Steering Committee. Selection criteria include scientific excellence, potential to advance precision psychiatry, meaningful involvement of people with lived experience, and likelihood of attracting industry investment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_447

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to expand the Intellectual Property Office's Fake Toys, Real Harms campaign to (a) schools, (b) health services and (c) community networks. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Intellectual Property Office is committed to raising consumer awareness and understanding of IP crime and infringement and the risks surrounding it.

The Fake Toys, Real Harms campaign has demonstrated this through national media coverage and collaboration with law enforcement and the toy industry to share the message amongst consumers.

Its content is and will continue to be shared widely with partners, particularly during the Christmas shopping period.

This campaign supports the IPO’s education programme, which inspires young people to realise their ideas and better understand intellectual property.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_448

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the pharmaceutical sector on promoting research and development investment in the UK. \p Kanishka Narayan: Officials and Ministers from the department meet regularly with representatives from the pharmaceutical sector, including on investment in research & development.

This includes engagement on the Life Sciences Sector Plan, which sets out the Government’s 10-year strategy to grow the UK’s Life Sciences sector and drive inward investment. The plan includes clear actions that will support R&D – from our commitment to reduce the set-up time for commercial clinical trials to fewer than 150 days, through to establishing a national Health Data Research Service together with the Wellcome Trust, backed by £600 million. Going further, in September, the Government launched the Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund, backed by £50m, which aims to support major R&D investments in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_449

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance her Department has issued to fire and rescue services on safety standards in relation to 5G masts. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not issued guidance on fire safety standards for 5G masts and does not have responsibility for setting such standards. Mobile network operators are responsible for the operation, maintenance and safety of their infrastructure. The Department engages regularly with mobile network operators in relation to resilience of network infrastructure.

Rules relating to fire risk and 5G infrastructure is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.