theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to improve early detection of dyslexia in schools. \p Georgia Gould: As part of our Plan for Change, the department is determined to fix the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system and restore the trust of parents. We will do this by ensuring schools have the tools to better identify and support children before issues escalate.

The department know that effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with SEND. In an inclusive education system, settings should be confident in accurately assessing children and young people’s learning and development and meeting any educational needs with evidence-based responses.

A range of measures have been introduced, which aim to support the effective teaching of reading, including for those with SEND or at risk of falling behind. This includes the English Hubs programme, publication of the reading framework and writing frameworks and the publication of an updated list of high quality phonics programmes which have been validated by the department.

The department also launched ‘Reading Ambition for All’, a new continuous professional development programme for primary school teachers. Following this pilot year, we are working with the British Dyslexia Association to refine the programme to further support children with dyslexia.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

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Amanda Hack:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the role of play in supporting the (a) development and (b) learning of (i) children with special educational needs and disabilities and (ii) other children; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that reductions in school break times do not limit opportunities for play during the school day. \p Georgia Gould: The department recognises that play is critical to children’s wellbeing, learning and development. This is reflected in the early years foundation stage statutory framework, which supports early years practitioners to design a rich curriculum that includes regular opportunities for play-based learning.

Governing bodies (for maintained schools) and academy trusts (for academies) are responsible for deciding when sessions should begin and end on each school day. They are also responsible for deciding the length of each lesson and the timings for the morning session, the midday break and the afternoon session. The department does not collect data on the number of breaks, including lunch time, that schools schedule into their daily and weekly timetable.

Government guidance sets out the expectation that a school week is a minimum of 32.5 hours, inclusive of breaks. However, the department does not collect data on the amount of time provided.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to (a) ring-fence and (b) increase funding for school infrastructure where buildings are assessed as structurally unsound. \p Josh MacAlister: The government has given a long-term commitment for capital investment through to 2034/35 to improve the condition of schools and colleges across England, including those which may have structural issues.

The department is investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and renewal of the school and college estate, rising every year from £2.4 billion in 2025/26.

This is in addition to the investment of almost £20 billion in the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, delivering rebuilding projects at over 500 schools across England within the existing programme, with a further 250 schools to be selected within the next two years. Two schools within the Newton Abbey constituency, Dawlish College and Kenton Primary School, are already part of the programme. The department aims to set out further details on the process for selecting additional schools for rebuilding later this year.

Where there are serious and urgent safety issues with school buildings, such as those which threaten closure of a school, and that cannot be managed locally by responsible bodies, the department provides additional advice and support on a case-by-case basis.
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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. \p Georgia Gould: The department has made very significant investments into 16-19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in the 2025/26 academic year, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities.

That is why we have announced that the additional funding previously available for a range of larger 16 to 19 programmes will be focused in future on supporting larger than normal mathematics and high value A level programmes to support the pipeline of students for priority sectors. It remains a choice for institutions as to whether they offer this provision. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma achievement is included in the 16 to 19 performance tables. There are also newly approved IB Alternative Academic Qualifications that can form part of a diploma, available for delivery from August 2025.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on promoting foster caring in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Josh MacAlister: This government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities to recruit more foster carers and committed an additional £15 million in the budget. This funding is to start work to ensure every local authority has access to a hub and to embed the existing regional fostering recruitment and retention hubs, covering over 60% of local authorities in England. The hubs will transform the way people who are interested in fostering are supported and rollout of the Mockingbird programme, which offers peer-support to foster carers and the children in their care. Surrey County Council is part of the Fostering South East recruitment hub which officially launched in 2024, bringing together 20 local authorities.

The department is also funding Fosterlink, a support service for local authority fostering services not in the regional programme. This identifies areas for improvement and creates a national network to share best practice.
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Bambos Charalambous:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to launch a consultation on the new Local Authority Designated Officer handbook. \p Josh MacAlister: The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) plays a vital role in safeguarding children by overseeing the management of allegations made against individuals who work with children in any capacity. To ensure this role is delivered consistently and effectively across all local authorities, the next revision of ‘Working together to safeguard children’ will include enhanced content on the role of the LADO. The department will continue to work with the sector on any further developments, including the development of a LADO Handbook.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with stakeholders on the promotion of literature (a) about and (b) on the North East of England as part of the proposed National Year of Reading. \p Josh MacAlister: The National Year of Reading is a campaign to address the steep decline in reading enjoyment amongst children, young people and adults. It is a departmental initiative, in collaboration with our delivery partner, the National Literacy Trust, who are leading the delivery of the campaign.

The National Year of Reading aims to reverse long-term declines in reading for pleasure by engaging new audiences and reshaping public attitudes to embed lasting, meaningful change, beyond 2026.

The National Year of Reading 2026 will involve a huge range of events and activities in communities, including in the North East. Some will be bigger versions of well-loved events such as World Book Day and other major events are currently being planned. More information can be found on the National Year of Reading website: https://www.goallin.org.uk/.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Curriculum and Assessment Review interim report, published in March 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) climate and (b) nature education is embedded across the curriculum. \p Georgia Gould: It is important that pupils learn about climate and nature education. Therefore, these topics are already included within the geography, science, and citizenship national curricula, and schools can also choose to teach these matters where they feel relevant in other subjects.

In addition, the Natural History GCSE will enable more young people to benefit from the opportunity to learn about the natural world in more depth at key stage 4. It will equip them to understand, and respect, the natural world and contribute to the protection and conservation of the environment locally, nationally and internationally.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s interim report set out that rapid social, environmental and technological change necessitates that the curriculum keep pace, including a greater focus on sustainability and climate science.

The Review’s final report has been published on 5 November with the government response to the recommendations published on the same day.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to help improve the rate of early diagnosis of dyslexia in children. \p Georgia Gould: The department knows that effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In an inclusive education system, settings should be confident in accurately assessing children and young people’s learning and development and meeting any educational needs with evidence-based responses.

A range of measures have been introduced, which aim to support the effective teaching of reading, including for those with SEND or those at risk of falling behind. This includes the English Hubs programme, publication of both the reading framework and the writing framework, and the publication of an updated list of high quality phonics programmes for schools validated by the department.

We have also launched a new continuous professional development programme for primary school teachers: ‘Reading Ambition for All: teaching children who need the most support, including those with SEND’. Following this pilot year, we will be working with the British Dyslexia Association to refine the programme to further support children with dyslexia.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the ongoing Curriculum Review will include a focus on expanding or deepening the teaching of practical financial skills for pupils. \p Georgia Gould: On 5 November, the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review published its final report which includes recommendations for a refreshed curriculum and assessment system in England. The government responded to this report. The response includes a commitment to strengthen pupils’ foundational understanding of financial education in mathematics and citizenship, with digital resources to support teaching.

Work is now underway to deliver a new curriculum and assessment system that is ambitious for every child, rich in knowledge and strong on skills.

The government is legislating so that academies will be required to teach the reformed national curriculum, alongside maintained schools. This will give parents certainty over the core of their child’s education.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact the omission of a minimum age limit for sex education within the revised Relationship, Sex and Health Education statutory guidance on pupils under the age of 9. \p Georgia Gould: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools, but the statutory guidance for relationship, sex and health education (RSHE) recommends that primaries teach sex education in years 5 and/or 6, in line with content about conception and birth, which forms part of the national curriculum for science.

The guidance is absolutely clear that schools are responsible for ensuring that lesson content is age-appropriate, whilst trusting teachers to respond to issues at the right time, allowing flexibility to develop a curriculum that meets the needs of their pupils, and this is one of the guiding principles of all RSHE.

The guidance is also clear that primary schools should consult parents about the content of anything that will be taught within sex education, including giving advice about parents’ right to request withdrawal from sex education.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with state schools which exclusively offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) on her decision to stop funding for the IB from September 2026. \p Georgia Gould: ​​I refer the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup to the answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 83028.
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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with her Cabinet colleagues to promote equality as part of the Government mission entitled Break Down Barriers to Opportunity. \p Georgia Gould: All children and young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter where they are from. However, we know educational inequalities exists across the country. This is not acceptable in Huddersfield or nationally.

The department is tackling inequalities in the system head-on through our Plan for Change. In September, we rolled out 30 hours of funded childcare for working parents, saving eligible parents using their full entitlement an average of £75,000 a year.

We are also rolling out free breakfast clubs in every state-funded primary school, expanding free school meals to all children on Universal Credit, and have delivered the largest ever uplift to early years pupil premium.

We are recruiting an additional 6,500 expert teachers in our schools and colleges and are making good progress, with over 2,000 more teachers in our secondary and special schools.

The department will spend close to £1.5 billion over the next three years on improving family services and early years education to begin the hard work needed.

We will fund Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to ensure that children and families who need support the most, especially those from low-income backgrounds or with additional vulnerabilities, can access it. These hubs will be open to all families but will be located in disadvantaged communities where support is most needed, ensuring services are both inclusive and targeted.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to mandate a National Activities Safeguarding Framework for Children and Vulnerable Adults participating in extracurricular activities. \p Josh MacAlister: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

There are existing frameworks and legal powers in place to safeguard children participating in extracurricular activities.

The Children Act 1989 places legal obligations on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their areas and protect them from harm. There are also similar safeguarding responsibilities placed on local authorities regarding vulnerable adults under the Care Act 2014. Where concerns arise, the department expects their services to intervene using the wide range of powers available to them.

The department’s statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ also makes clear that child protection arrangements apply where extracurricular activities are provided by a school or college’s governing body, under their direct supervision or management. Where this is not the case, safeguarding requirements should be included in any lease or hire agreement for the premises.

Providers of extracurricular activities also have a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children attending their settings and protect them from harm. To support them, the department has published safeguarding guidance and free-to-access e-learning.

However, we are actively considering how to further enhance safety in this sector, and as part of our recent call for evidence, which closed on 21 September, we sought views on proposals to strengthen safeguarding in out-of-school settings.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September 2025 to Question 70899 on Nurseries: Finance, whether her Department has made an assessment of the financial viability of private equity-backed nursery providers. \p Olivia Bailey: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on the Plan for Change.

As laid out in the Best Start in Life strategy, the department therefore keeps the structure of the market, including the role of private equity, debt, profit levels, and the prices that parents pay, under close review.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to mandate the flying of the (a) Union flag and (b) Saint George's Cross at schools in England. \p Georgia Gould: Schools in England are free to display the Union flag and the Saint George’s Cross, and it is a matter for individual schools to decide.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82745 on Roads: Freight, if she will publish all substantive written representations her Department has received from the road haulage industry on road user charges since 4 July 2024; and if she will publish her Department's responses to those representations. \p Keir Mather: The Department has received no written representations on road user charges from the road haulage industry since July 2024.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the value for money of public funding for (a) commercial vehicle charging and (b) hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. \p Keir Mather: The Government is supporting the uptake of zero emission commercial vehicles, and their supporting charging and fuelling infrastructure, through initiatives such as the Plug-In Truck and Van Grants, which are reducing upfront costs for heavy goods vehicles and vans, and the £30 million Depot Charging Scheme and the up to £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID). The Department continually monitors and reviews grants to optimise delivery and value for money.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the names of the (a) people and (b) organisations responsible for the (i) leadership and (ii) operational design of Great British Railways; and what proportion of those people are (A) civil servants, (B) secondees from private companies and (C) external appointees from the rail industry. \p Keir Mather: Richard Goodman, Director General, is the Department for Transport’s Senior Responsible Officer for the design of Great British Railways and Chair of the Rail Reform and Strategy Portfolio Board that includes the NR CEO and DfTO CEO.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83387 on Large Goods Vehicles: Electric Vehicles, how much underspend has been identified to date; and what the revised total forecast spend for the programme is in (a) 2024–25 and (b) 2025–26. \p Keir Mather: The Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (R&D) programme had a total programme funding spend of approximately £106 million in the 2024-25 financial year. We are unable to confirm the spend for 2025-26 as the financial year is still in progress with projects placing orders for final zero emission HGVs and infrastructure sites.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83382 on Railways: Safety, what proportion of the campaign’s (a) production and (b) promotion costs were borne by train operating companies (i) owned and (ii) controlled by her Department; and whether she has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of that rebrand once the operators’ expenditure is included. \p Keir Mather: The production costs, referenced in the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83382 on Railways: Safety, were all borne by the Department for Transport.

To minimise implementation costs, train operating companies (including those under public ownership) will gradually phase out the current See It. Say It. Sorted. campaign materials and are only required to introduce the new posters or announcements when these would usually be replaced through business-as-usual rotation of materials.

Campaign posters, both digital and physical, are required to be displayed only at locations which train operating companies already retain for public messaging campaigns or for their own content, and which are not otherwise used for commercial purposes, in order to avoid any loss of advertising revenue. We have not asked train operating companies to provide detailed production or implementation costs as we anticipate them being minimal on this basis.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the funding required for Network Rail to undertake detailed planning for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme. \p Keir Mather: The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and upgrades to Haughley Junction were not among those projects funded at this time.

The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this includes the EACE and Haughley Junction schemes.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 83373 on DfT Operator, whether her Department has issued any (a) Notices to Improve or (b) written instructions to any DfT Operator train operating company in relation to (i) service performance or (ii) financial control since April 2024. \p Keir Mather: The Department has not issued any Notices to Improve to any of the DfT Operator train operating companies because none have been in breach of their formal contractual terms.

DfT regularly engages with all operators on service performance and financial management, aligned with this Government's priorities on improving performance and reducing subsidy.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82735 on Great British Railways, how much her Department expects the rail passenger services subsidy to reduce by in each year over the period covered by the Spending Review 2025. \p Keir Mather: Rail passenger services subsidy is expected to reduce by over 50 per cent from £2.4 billion in 2024-25 over the period of the Spending Review.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84701 on Roads: Accidents, whether her Department has requested data from (a) the Home Office and (b) the police on the number of roadside drug-driving tests carried out since 2020. \p Lilian Greenwood: While statistics on breath tests are published by the Home Office, the equivalent information on roadside drug-driving tests are not. Decisions relating to the collection and publication of this data would be a matter for the Home Office.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) provide information to the Department on the Christmas Drink and Drug Driving campaign, Operation Limit. This includes the number of drink and drug tests administered during the winter period.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82409 on Railways: Public Ownership, whether her Department plans to draw on best practice from (a) devolved operators such as Transport for London, Merseyrail, ScotRail and Transport for Wales and (b) private sector train operating companies in developing guidance for publicly-owned operators. \p Simon Lightwood: We expect DfT Operator Limited (DFTO) to draw on best practice from across the rail sector, and other relevant sectors, for its operators.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her timetable is for publishing the next Rail network enhancements pipeline. \p Simon Lightwood: This Government recognises the need to develop stable, long-term pipelines for investment and to give communities, investors and the supply chain visibility and certainty about those pipelines.

The Secretary of State set out the rail enhancement schemes across the country that are funded as part of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline over the Spending Review period in July. We continue to make announcements on schemes as they progress or are added to the pipeline, such as the recent announcement of the Cowley Branch Line Upgrade on 23 October. Rail enhancements schemes are also set out in the UK Infrastructure pipeline published by NISTA 11 July, which government has committed to update regularly. This provides a level of transparency on the rail enhancements portfolio that has not been seen since October 2019 and the last RNEP update.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84700 on Road Traffic Control: Oxford, whether her Department holds information on the level of income the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has received from Oxfordshire County Council for access to vehicle registration data in each year since 2020. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has not directly provided vehicle keeper data to or received income directly from Oxfordshire County Council in the time frame specified.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff left her Department in each of the last five years, broken down by grade. \p Simon Lightwood: The table below presents the headcount of permanent civil servants who have left from the central Department for Transport over the past 5 years, categorised by grade. To ensure the inclusion of the most recent data, the data is provided on a rolling year basis from October to September.

Grade

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

AA

3

AO

12

14

16

18

114

EO

50

75

63

45

75

HEO

145

159

184

174

134

SEO

116

123

111

119

177

Grade 7

108

135

137

149

160

Grade 6

42

48

42

55

74

SCS1

15

20

20

15

28

SCS2

4

5

7

3

8

SCS3

2

2

1

Perm Sec

1

1
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing (a) registration, (b) geofencing and (c) remote identification requirements for (i) drones and (ii) drone components in order to improve (A) traceability and (B) enforcement. \p Keir Mather: This Government is delivering the following reforms in the Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

(a) All drones weighing 100g or more with a camera must be registered from 1st January 2026.

(b) Drones weighing 250g or more must have geo-awareness requirements from 1st January 2026. Then, from 1st January 2028, Geo-awareness requirements will apply to all drones weighing 100g or more with a camera.

(c) Drones weighing 250g or more must have remote identification (RID) requirements from 1st January 2026. Then, from 1st January 2028, RID will apply to drones weighing 100g or more with a camera.

These reforms will improve traceability because they will enforce the registration of a RID “digital numberplate” that can be linked to a registered operator. Geo-awareness and RID will help law enforcement to target the actively non-compliant drones that have switched off RID and are ignoring geo-awareness alerts of airspace restrictions, therefore reducing the volume of incidents and length of investigation for suspicious drone activity.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who will be responsible for conducting the (a) economic and (b) environmental analysis of Heathrow Airport expansion. \p Keir Mather: The Department for Transport has commenced the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) and will lead on conducting the economic and environmental analysis that supports that document. This will be in collaboration with other government departments and other expert bodies as appropriate.

As announced, we will also seek the independent view of the Climate Change Committee, and the Secretary of State will be writing to the Climate Change Committee shortly to set this out.

Before Heathrow expansion can proceed, a scheme promoter must also prepare and submit a full Environmental Statement as part of the Development Consent Order application.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82986 on Aviation: Alternative Fuels, how many UK-based sustainable aviation fuel production facilities have (a) commenced construction and (b) reached final investment decision. \p Keir Mather: The only commercial scale SAF producer in the UK is P66’s Humberside Refinery. Through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) we have awarded over £198m to 21 UK SAF projects. Information on these projects is published on gov.uk.

There are a wide range of SAF projects across the UK using different technologies and at different stages of development. However, much of the information on the development of fuel projects that DfT holds is commercially sensitive.

Our policies are both ambitious and pragmatic to the realities of the SAF industry. The SAF Mandate entered into force on 1 January 2025. In its first year, the mandate requires that SAF constitute 2% of total fossil jet fuel supplied, increasing to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040. Provisional data suggests the UK was already on track, with SAF accounting for approximately 2% of aviation fuel supplied in 2024.

On the supply side, we are creating the right environment to support the future construction of UK SAF production plants through measures such as the UK’s pioneering SAF Clearing House, AFF, and legislation to provide investor confidence via a Revenue Certainty Mechanism.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_113

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of rejoining the EU's European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. \p Keir Mather: Through our regular engagement with the aviation industry, we are aware of the operational implications following the loss of access to the EU’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

The Department continues to work with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, which is leading the Government’s business case on a future Satellite Based Augmentation System, to ensure that the aviation requirements are understood and considered as part of the decision-making process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_114

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77563 on Palantir, whether the visit to Palantir was arranged through Global Counsel; and whether Lord Mandelson was involved in arranging that visit. \p Stephen Doughty: Officials from our Embassy in Washington arranged this trip in the normal way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_115

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Estonian counterpart on reports that Russian jets entered Estonian airspace. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to question 81195 on 20 October 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_116

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to establish a formal recognition scheme for British (a) citizens and (b) organisations undertaking (i) humanitarian and (ii) medical work in Ukraine. \p Stephen Doughty: We are proud of the fast, flexible and responsive support provided to Ukrainians living through Russia's invasion, including by British nationals, British organisations, and through projects initiated or funded by the UK. We pay tribute to the humanitarian and medical workers who are key to delivering that support. Many continue to operate in high-risk environments to reach those most in need, often in the most challenging circumstances. We continue to reflect on how best to recognise the efforts of those working in such challenging conditions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_117

John Grady:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international counterparts to ensure the continued implementation of the Dayton Accords. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is working closely with our international partners and parties across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to uphold the Dayton Peace Agreement, rule of law and rights of all BiH citizens, including Bosniaks in Republika Srpska. In July, the Foreign Secretary spoke with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy about safeguarding BiH's stability, and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have regular coordination meetings with Quint counterparts. On 9 October, I held a joint meeting with the Foreign Ministers of BiH and Serbia.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_118

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister discussed (a) Russian oil imports and (b) the refining of oil from Russia by Turkish-based companies during his meeting with the President of Turkey on 27 October 2025. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on Ukraine made by the Foreign Secretary on 15 October 2025.
wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_119
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_119

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Finnish counterpart on the case of Dr Päivi Räsänen; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to (a) promote and (b) help safeguard freedom of speech across Europe. \p Stephen Doughty: The specific case raised by the Hon Member is a matter for the Finnish authorities.

Separately from this, we regularly reaffirm our support for the protection of LGBT+ rights and measures to prevent discrimination against the LGBT+ community globally.

Equally we support freedom of expression as a fundamental right and we have a long history of promoting freedom of expression globally, underpinned by our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We will continue to highlight the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief and regularly work with other diplomatic partners in this regard.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_120

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the regulation of satellites in space. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology leads the UK’s international engagement on the regulation of satellites in space. This includes representation at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and regular bi-and multi-lateral dialogues with partners at official and ministerial level.

Ofcom, the independent telecommunications regulator sponsored by DSIT, represents UK interests at the International Telecommunication Union, which deals with the international regulation of radio frequency spectrum for space activities. FCDO leads on arms control in space through the UN First Committee.

Ministers and officials will be discussing the regulation of satellites in space as part of the Department's international engagement over the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_121

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish an impact assessment on the decision to close the UK Space Agency. \p Kanishka Narayan: The UK Space Agency is not closing – it is being brought together with DSIT's Space Directorate to create a more efficient, integrated approach to delivering our space ambitions. This change, part of our Plan for Change to cut red tape and make Whitehall more agile, will reduce duplication and strengthen ministerial oversight.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_122

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Information Commissioner has issued guidance on the amount of time that a Freedom of Information request applicant should wait following a decision notice before (a) seeking an internal review from a public authority and (b) making an appeal to the Information Commissioner. \p Ian Murray: Whilst DSIT sponsors the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), government policy for Freedom of Information (FOI) sits with the Cabinet Office. The ICO has not issued specific guidance for applicants on how long to wait after a decision notice before seeking an internal review or making an appeal. Under the FOI Act, internal reviews are not statutory, and authorities set their own timelines. The Code of Practice on FOI issued by the Cabinet Office states that it is usual practice for public authorities to accept a request for an internal review within 40 working days. The ICO advises applicants to complain to the ICO within three months of the final response or last substantive contact with the public authority, or risk ineligibility.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_123

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to make harmful pornographic content illegal on online platforms. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act protects users from harmful and illegal pornographic content. Extreme pornography is a priority offence, meaning that services must proactively mitigate and remove such content.

In addition, the Secretary of State and Victims Minister are introducing a new offence via the Crime and Policing Bill that will crack down on violent pornography, criminalising the possession and publication of images depicting strangulation and suffocation. This will also be designated as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, meaning platforms will be required to take proactive steps to prevent users from seeing illegal strangulation and suffocation content.

Since 25 July 2025, services that host, publish or allow the sharing of pornography must also implement highly-effective age assurance to prevent children encountering pornographic content.

These measures are part of the government's Plan for Change to halve violence against women and girls, sending a strong message that dangerous and sexist behaviour will not be tolerated.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_124

Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to establish accessible, non-police reporting pathways for (a) children and (b) young people who experience online harassment. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act requires services in scope to take steps to protect children from both illegal content and harmful content, including abusive and bullying content. These services must implement easy-to-use reporting mechanisms for users to report illegal content and content harmful to children. Providers should respond quickly and effectively and signpost children to appropriate support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_125

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that companies implementing (a) age-verification and (b) safety requirements use (i) secure and (ii) adequately regulated third-party vendors for data processing. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act requires providers to give particular regard to the protection of users’ privacy rights when complying with their new safety duties, including when using age assurance measures. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has a range of criminal and civil enforcement tools at its disposal, including prosecution and substantial monetary penalties for serious breaches of data protection legislation.

Third party vendors must have appropriate technical and security measures in place to protect personal data. Where Ofcom has concerns that providers have not complied with their obligations under data protection law, it may refer the matter to the ICO.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-07 conversation_126

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82329 on Department for Business and Trade: Mr Money Jar, whether his Department has paid Mr Money Jar for social influence or digital work since 4 July 2024. \p Kanishka Narayan: The department has not paid Mr MoneyJar (Rotimi Merriman-Johnson) for any social media content since 4 July 2024.