theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (a) review and (b) update clinical guidelines on (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment of type 1 diabetes and eating disorders. \p Karin Smyth: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for determining whether its guidelines should be reviewed or updated in light of new evidence. NICE takes a proactive approach to surveillance, monitoring for changes in the evidence base that may impact on its recommendations. Topics for new or updated guidance are considered through the NICE prioritisation process. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by a prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer.

NICE intends to carry out focussed updates to all diabetes guidance to take account of changes in insulin availability, but has no current plans for further updates to its guidelines on type 1 diabetes or eating disorders.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will provide multi-year funding settlements for children's hospices in (a) Kent and (b) England after this financial year. \p Stephen Kinnock: We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.

We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant. Two children’s hospices based in Kent, Demelza Hospice and Ellenor Hospice, are receiving £1,750,000 and £189,000 respectively.

I am currently having discussions with NHS England and Department officials about the funding arrangements for children and young people’s hospices throughout England beyond 2025/26. We hope to be able to provide further communication on this later this autumn.

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the headcount of staff members was at (a) his Department and (b) NHS England in each month between February and September 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The table below shows the number of employees in the Department and workers in NHS England at the end of each month between February and August 2025. September figures are not yet available as the month has not yet ended.

NHS England Executives made a deliberate decision not to restrict recruitment to clinical training posts until a review of post-graduate clinical education and training has been completed. While recruitment to clinical training posts has caused an overall increase in NHS England’s headcount, its wider workforce has reduced in size, as shown in the table below, due to the recruitment controls enacted.

Month

Department Headcount

NHS England Headcount

GP Educators (Included in NHS England Headcount)

Wider Workforce (Included in NHS England Headcount)

February 2025

3,682

18,965

1,137

17,828

March 2025

3,697

19,021

1,144

17,877

April 2025

3,700

19,015

1,193

17,822

May 2025

3,703

19,307

1,501

17,806

June 2025

3,700

19,282

1,540

17,742

July 2025

3,700

19,032

1,557

17,475

August 2025

3,664

19,193

1,784

17,409

Source : Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England

Note: The GP Educators workforce provides clinical supervision and training to general practitioners.
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of Mandatory Provident Fund saving being withheld from Hong Kong BNO visa holders. \p Seema Malhotra: We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the BN(O) route are having difficulties accessing their Mandatory Provident Fund from Hong Kong.  Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority has declared that they will not accept the BN(O) passport or its associated visa as evidence in support of an application for early withdrawal of the Fund because they claim it does not prove permanent departure from Hong Kong. We have called on the Hong Kong authorities to work with trustees to find an immediate solution.  Ministers have raised the issue directly with Hong Kong's Chief Secretary and Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury respectively this year, and we will continue to do so.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the attack on a Christian prayer house in Koto Tangah District, Indonesia, in July 2025; and what steps she is taking to help ensure the (a) protection of Christian communities and (b) promotion of religious freedom in that country. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and we continue to engage with Indonesian counterparts on the restriction of those freedoms, including the reported attacks on a Christian prayer house in Koto Tangah District. We welcome the Indonesian Minister for Human Rights' response to the incident, in which he emphasised the importance of religious diversity in Indonesia.

The month after the attack, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, met the Minister in question to discuss religious freedoms, and also met Civil Society Organisations supporting religious tolerance in Indonesia. We will continue to work with the Indonesian Government and Civil Society partners on these issues.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with UK-based Nepali community leaders on recent violence in that country. \p Seema Malhotra: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office expressed the UK Government's continued support for democracy and fundamental freedoms in Nepal in response to recent incidents of violence and restrictions on peaceful protest in Nepal. Our Ambassador in Kathmandu also reiterated the UK's commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law, and the protection of free speech and peaceful assembly. The UK continues to encourage all parties in Nepal to uphold these values and to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve tensions peacefully. Our Strengthening Foundations of Federalism in Nepal programme (2019-2025) promotes inclusive decision-making processes and capacity of local governments and state-citizen engagement. We remain committed to working with Nepal to promote democratic governance, uphold civil liberties, and support inclusive development.
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Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her officials have had with their Saudi counterparts on the continued detention of (a) Waleed Abu al-Khair and (b) Mohammed al-Bejadi. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government continues to monitor individual cases of concern in Saudi Arabia, including the cases of Waleed Abu Al-Khair and Mohammed Al-Bejadi. We regularly raise human rights with the Saudi authorities, including at ministerial level.
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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on (a) Christian churches in that country and (b) the arrest of (i) priests and (ii) laypersons from that community; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure the promotion of religious freedom in that country. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and we continue to engage with Chinese counterparts on the restriction of those freedoms, including the arbitrary arrest of Christians for practicing their faith.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of UK Aid is entering Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is doing all we can to alleviate suffering. All allocations of our Humanitarian Programme are available publicly on Development Tracker. We have published further information on Core Relief Items through the programmes annual review with the next to be published by November 2025. Quantifying how much UK-aid has entered into Gaza is difficult, due to the complex operating environment and limited real-time data, as well as Israel's restrictions on humanitarian workers and monitors. But despite Israel's restrictions on access we know UK Aid is having an impact - our funding to UK-Med has treated nearly 600,000 people in Gaza.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 73317 on Diplomatic Service: Pay, whether Lord Mandelson is still being paid as a civil servant following his withdrawal as Head of Mission. \p Seema Malhotra: Lord Mandelson's withdrawal is undergoing normal HR processes.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she had with her Algerian counterpart on (a) religious freedoms and (b) the religious freedoms of the Ahmadiyya community in that country. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. Our Embassy in Algiers raises FoRB with the Algerian authorities, doing so most recently when our Ambassador met the Minister of Religious Affairs on 10 February. Our Embassy remains in regular contact with minority religious groups on how best to support FoRB. We will continue to raise the issue and advocate for freedom of expression for religious minority communities in Algeria.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on whether any areas of Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency exceeded the nitrogen dioxide annual mean limit in 2023. \p Emma Hardy: No exceedances of the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide were reported in 2023 in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency from data held by the Department.
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Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle harm to pollinators in the West Midlands. \p Mary Creagh: Pollinators are an essential part of our environment and play a crucial role in food production. Following the conclusion of our National Pollinator Strategy in 2024, we will be designing and delivering a refreshed Pollinator Action Plan, that sits underneath our broader Environmental Improvement Plan. This will set out key actions for pollinators across every area in England, including the West Midlands.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents involving dangerous dogs have been reported in Lincolnshire in each of the last 10 years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra does not hold this data. This information may be collected by the NHS, individual police forces or local authorities.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the updated cross-government contingency plan for outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza; and whether that plan includes arrangements for (a) local authority resourcing and (b) mutual aid. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals explains how UK Governments and departments work together in responding to exotic animal disease outbreaks. It is updated every year, with the next update due later this autumn. The plan also outlines the arrangements of support and resources made available for Local Authorities at times of disease outbreak. This support also includes the provision of Mutual Aid agreements. This could involve the facilitation and co–ordination of arrangements with Local Resilience Forums, with additional support provided where the local response has been or may be overwhelmed.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the UK’s trading partners on certification and surveillance requirements to enable the use of avian influenza vaccination in poultry while maintaining export access. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The joint industry and cross-government highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Vaccine Taskforce has published a report proposing a number of next steps to close critical knowledge gaps before publishing a final recommendation. These actions include exploring a targeted turkey vaccination trial, proactive engagement with trading partners, and working to build surveillance and laboratory capacity. Defra and the Devolved Governments, working with industry, will give careful consideration to these in determining next steps.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department plans to use to determine whether to pilot targeted vaccination of poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The joint industry and cross-government highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Vaccine Taskforce has published a report proposing a number of next steps to close critical knowledge gaps before publishing a final recommendation. These actions include exploring a targeted turkey vaccination trial, proactive engagement with trading partners, and working to build surveillance and laboratory capacity. Defra and the Devolved Governments, working with industry, will give careful consideration to these in determining next steps.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of national and regional carcass disposal capacity available for use during an avian influenza outbreak in 2025–26. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has contracts in place to manage carcass transport and disposal during disease outbreaks such as avian influenza. The Agency works with contractors across Great Britain which currently have sufficient  disposal capacity based on current planning assumptions.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve communications with registered and unregistered bird keepers when avian influenza control zones are established. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra continues to support bird keepers to manage and prepare for avian influenza outbreaks.

Defra uses several channels of communication with bird keepers. A dedicated avian influenza page on GOV.UK is regularly updated with the latest information. We also issue national, local and trade press releases to ensure the latest information is communicated through the media.

All poultry or other captive bird keepers in England (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines) are legally required to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) via the Kept Bird Register. This enables the Government to communicate directly and promptly with bird keepers about biosecurity measures to help protect their birds and reduce the risk of disease spread.

Following confirmation of an avian influenza outbreak, all registered bird keepers within disease control zones receive text messages or email alerts about the measures in the zones. In addition, anyone can subscribe to APHA’s free animal disease alerts service  to receive updates on risk levels, latest guidance and new cases across Great Britain, regardless of whether they keep birds.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, he will list the programmes his Department (a) provides and (b) supports to tackle (i) isolation, (ii) social exclusion and (iii) mental health well-being for rural young people. \p Dame Angela Eagle: In 2025-26, Defra is providing £1.712 million to support local actions that address the needs of rural communities, some of which is used to support actions to tackle rural isolation, social exclusion and the mental health and well-being needs of young people in rural areas.

Since May 2024, Defra has funded the Farmer Welfare Grant, providing £500k to support projects that improve the mental health and wellbeing of farmers in England. One recipient of the grant, the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN), is using its funds to deliver support to young farmers. Their support includes Installing an LRSN volunteer link worker into every Young Farmers Club in Lincolnshire; Formal Mental health and wellbeing awareness raising sessions delivered to 16 Young Farmers Clubs, Impact Group, and Riseholme College; and Recruitment and integration of two Emotional Wellbeing Workers into the Young Farmers Clubs and Riseholme Agricultural college.

The Government is committed to increasing access to nature for all, especially young people, and recognises the importance for young people’s health and wellbeing. In 2024, Defra invested £4.45 million in a second phase of the Generation Green programme, enabling over 25,000 disadvantaged children and young people to experience the natural environment.

Defra also leads a cross-Government Children and Nature Working Group to share best practices on improving outcomes for young people through nature. The £16 million Access for All programme has funded inclusive facilities like pedal and play areas for young people.

Green Social Prescribing and wider nature-based activities have been shown to improve mental health in both adults and young people. Natural England works at a national and local level to embed Green Social Prescribing into NHS health services.

Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework is a strategic tool which provides local authorities with principles, standards, guidance, and data to improve the lives of people and communities through nature, including access to nature, improving health and wellbeing, and building climate resilience. This includes providing comprehensive geospatial data on the quality of green and blue space, index of multiple deprivation and health, enabling local authorities to target action where its most needed.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to help protect populations of the (a) House Sparrow and (b) Song Thrush in the South East. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to restoring and protecting nature. In England, we have four legally binding targets for biodiversity: to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030; to reverse declines by at least 10% by 2042, when compared with 2030; to reduce the risk of national species extinction by 2042; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042. The actions to reach these targets will support our priority native bird species such as house sparrow and song thrush.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) will work together to drive action including to create or restore habitats that will enable wildlife to recover and thrive. In early 2024 we introduced mandatory biodiversity net gain, to ensure development has a measurably positive impact (a 10% net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development. Responsible authorities are also required to consider national environmental objectives when preparing their LNRS, including the target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. LNRS will map specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement that will support many species, including the house sparrow and song thrush.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether land that is (a) owned by the National Trust and (b) a Site of Specific Scientific Interest requires Secretary of State approval before implementing proactive fire prevention methods. \p Mary Creagh: Consent from the Secretary of State is not required unless the SSSI concerned is also a common, in which case some actions like fencing may require Secretary of State consent as per the Commons Act 2006. The National Trust is an owner/occupier with the same legal rights and responsibilities as other owner/occupiers.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of requiring Secretary of State sign-off for the cutting of firebreaks in Sites of Specific Scientific Interest during crisis situations on managing ongoing fires. \p Mary Creagh: Consent for operations such as firebreaks on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) will need to be obtained from Natural England. However, when responding to an emergency, it is a “reasonable excuse” under the relevant section (section 28P(4)(b)) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981) for a SSSI owner or occupier to undertake operations without seeking section 28E consent. Natural England must be informed of the details of the emergency itself and the operations undertaken as soon as practical after they have been carried out.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41254 on Ministers: Aviation, how much his Department has spend on carbon offsetting under the RM6251 Energy Supply Framework since July 2024; and how many tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent have been offset. \p Chris Ward: All travel using the GBNI aircraft is offset. This reflects the policy of successive administrations. The total carbon dioxide offset for FY24/25 was 4,582 tCO2e, costing £47,148.78.

The offset for FY25/26 will be calculated at the end of the financial year, reflecting GBNI usage.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 73943 on Social media, how much his Department has spent on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024, broken down by influencer. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Commercial sensitivities exist around aspects of this spend which could prejudice commercial interests. All spend in these areas are subject to the standard value for money assessments.
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James Wild:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the former Deputy Prime Minister has received a Ministerial severance payment. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: On 21 July 2025, this Government announced reforms to Ministerial severance pay to ensure severance payments are proportionate and fair. These changes came into effect from 13 October. Before this, decisions as to whether a Minister accepted a severance payment were for the outgoing minister, in line with the practice of previous administrations.

Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the relevant department’s annual report and accounts.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be established. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Ethics and Integrity commission was established on 13 October 2025. Further information is in my Written Ministerial Statement, 'Government of Service', published the same day.
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on UK participation in civilian radiation experiments conducted by the US during the Cold War. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: There is no evidence of any UK participation in unethical US radiation experiments on humans.

Officials located ministerial correspondence dating from 1996 that summarise the details of UK conducted voluntary civilian experiments involving the use of low-level radioactive material at Harwell, Porton Down and AWE Aldermaston, dating back to the 1950s. These experiments were conducted appropriately and with due regard to the health and safety of the individuals involved who received a radiation dose significantly less than average national UK background radiation exposure. No reported illnesses or fatalities have resulted from these studies.

I will place a copy of that document in the Library of the House.
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether results of (a) blood tests, (b) urine tests and (c) chest x-rays taken from UK troops serving at nuclear weapons tests were shared with (i) the US, (ii) Canada, (iii) Australia and (iv) New Zealand. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: This Government has reset the relationship with nuclear test veterans and the organisations that support them. We remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them. The Ministry of Defence is looking comprehensively at what information the Department holds regarding nuclear test veterans' medical records. I will update this House when we are in a position to share findings.

On the hon. Member's specific question about information shared with the US, Canada, and New Zealand, we have not been able to find any evidence of this. General aspects of radiological and health protection management were shared with Australia during the tests. The 1985 Australian Royal Commission was provided with information on the management of radiological and health protection.
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Mrs Sharon Hodgson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department has considered establishing one of the always on munitions factories in the North East; and when he expects to announce the locations of those factories. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review committed to build at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently developing a plan to deliver this commitment alongside our wider Defence Industrial Strategy, delivering long-term investment to boost UK growth and generating skilled UK jobs and export opportunities. The MOD is carefully considering arrangements for those factories including potential locations, and more detail will be set out in due course. It is currently considered to be premature to discuss specific proposals or sites until the necessary preparatory work has concluded.

I can reassure the hon. Member that I am aware of lobbying by MPs from the North East looking to increase defence investment in the region and as this Government delivers defence being an engine for growth I believe there are opportunities for the region in the future. I would be happy meeting her and regional colleagues to discuss further.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department had discussions with Lord Mandelson on procurement contracts between 10 February and 11 September 2025. \p Luke Pollard: As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capabilities, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the level of Israeli compliance with international humanitarian law in the context of the war in Gaza; and if he will suspend the provision of training to Israeli Defence Force personnel in the UK during the conduct of this review. \p Al Carns: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the lead Government Department for assessing international partners’ compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with the FCDO to ensure we are consistent with their approach.

The MOD’s provision of training to foreign armed forces is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis and seeks to ensure any training provided by the UK is in accordance with IHL. All training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.

Given the Government of Israel’s decision to escalate its offensive in Gaza City, the MOD decided to pause future Israeli participation on UK training and education courses.

We are keeping this decision under review and are mindful of the potential prospects for a ceasefire and long-term resolution to the conflict.
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost was of the sums agreed by his Department with Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd in connection with cases relating to the use of Lariam by armed forces personnel; and how many such claims have been settled. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Damages have been settled in all 434 claims brought by Hilary Meredith Solicitors against the Ministry of Defence relating to the use of Lariam. The claimants' legal costs have still to be resolved.
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason his Department's settlement of Lariam claims involved a non-disclosure agreement with solicitors acting for veteran claimants. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Hilary Meredith Solicitors and the Ministry of Defence agreed to the inclusion of a confidentiality clause in the court order covering the damages settlement. It is a common feature of out of court settlements to keep confidential the amount of damages paid to claimants as well as the amount of legal costs paid to their solicitors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that missing medical records on the use of Lariam by armed forces personnel are (a) located and (b) provided to those personnel. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any issues concerning missing medical records on the use of Lariam (mefloquine) by Armed Forces personnel. The Department can additionally confirm there are no outstanding requests for any medical records where a person believes they have been prescribed Lariam (mefloquine).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_126

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the incoming Chief of the Air Staff on the acceleration of E-Scan Radar procurement. \p Luke Pollard: There have not yet been any discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence and the incoming Chief of the Air Staff on the acceleration of procurement of the Eurofighter Common Radar System Mk2 Radar.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_127

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to accelerate the procurement of E-Scan Radar for the Royal Air Force. \p Luke Pollard: The UK, our partner Nations and Eurofighter industries are working jointly to deliver the Phase 4 Enhancement programme which will enable delivery of European Common Radar System Mk2 into service on RAF Typhoon by the end of the decade. Opportunities are being explored to accelerate development and testing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_128

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department expects to spend on E-Scan radar procurement in each financial year of the current Parliament. \p Luke Pollard: There is an approved budget of £2.35 billion to deliver the Eurofighter Common Radar System Mk2 within Eurofighter Phase 4 Enhancements to be fitted to RAF Typhoon aircraft. A number of contracts for development have been committed, with production and integration contracts to follow, which will deliver the capability into service by the end of the decade.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_129

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether dismounted infantry companies in 3 (UK) Division are now planned to transition from Warrior vehicles to ARES rather than to Boxer. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 21 July 2025 to Question 68120 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty). The statement remains extant and explains that the Army intends to equip the Regular Infantry Units within 3 (UK) Division with ARES in the infantry troop carrying role.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_130

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing unmanned surface vehicle technologies. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommends that an immediate priority should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces.

The Royal Navy (RN) is already transitioning to uncrewed autonomous surface systems, particularly in the area of mine countermeasures, and the SDR announced the Atlantic Bastion transformation programme which should see the introduction of uncrewed surface vessels to support a wide variety of RN tasks. The RN continues to conduct research, trials, and capability development activity to assess potential operational utility and integration pathways for autonomous and remotely operated systems.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_131

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure universal mobile data coverage for for residents in Finchampstead, Wokingham. \p Kanishka Narayan: In their Connected Nations Spring update, published 8 May 2025, Ofcom reports that 4G geographic coverage is already available across 99% of the Wokingham constituency from all four mobile operators. 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone 5G) is available outside 91% of premises in the constituency from at least one mobile operator, but this falls to 10% from all four operators.

Our ambition is for all populated areas, including the Wokingham constituency, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. While mobile network operator's rollout of 5G is a commercial decision, we continue to work closely with network operators to remove barriers to network deployment to achieve our ambition, to support investment into mobile networks and, drive competition in the market.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_132

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure universal mobile data coverage for passengers on the railway network. \p Kanishka Narayan: Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. In the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy (June 2025), the Government committed to work with Ofcom and other regulators to assess the telecommunications needs of the transport sector by December 2026. My officials are undertaking this assessment alongside the Department for Transport and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

The Department for Transport also recently secured funding to introduce low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains, which will significantly improve both the availability and internet data connection speeds for Wi-Fi connected passengers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_133

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 in tackling harmful content on social media platforms. \p Kanishka Narayan: Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must protect all users from illegal content, and children from age-inappropriate content. The Act’s illegal content duties have been in force since March 2025, and the child safety duties since July 2025.

Ofcom, the independent regulator, conducts regular surveys to track the experiences of users on regulated services. The next outputs of this work are due to be published in Autumn 2025. DSIT is also working with Ofcom to develop a longer-term monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the Act’s impact.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_134

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if her Department will take steps to review its guidance for (a) local authorities and (b) telecommunication operators entitled Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, published in March 2022. \p Kanishka Narayan: The department published the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England to provide guidance to local authorities and network operators on siting, design and community engagement for wireless infrastructure installations.

The department regularly engages with local authorities and network operators in relation to telecommunications infrastructure deployments and encourages operators to follow the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development.

This autumn we will publish a call for evidence to assess the merits of planning reform for the telecoms sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_135

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what research and innovation funding streams are available to support companies developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the UK. \p Kanishka Narayan: Innovate UK supports businesses innovating in hydrogen and fuel cells through several initiatives, including DRIVE35, a £2.5 billion programme supporting businesses conducting R&D in manufacturing zero emission vehicles. The Department for Transport delivers R&D funding to develop clean maritime technologies including hydrogen and fuel cell technologies through its UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). Other funding streams include Innovation Loans and Investor Partnerships, which can help commercialise highly innovative late-stage R&D projects. Information on all Innovate UK competitions can be found at https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_136

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if his Department will take steps to require online platforms to verify contact details for companies on their platforms. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act ensures online services remove illegal content, including fraudulent content. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for setting out in codes of practice the steps services can take to comply with their safety duties.

The DMCC Act 2024 also clarifies that online marketplaces must exercise professional diligence in relation to consumer transactions promoted or made on their platforms. This provision applies from 6 April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_137

Lola McEvoy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle online (a) grooming and (b) predatory behaviour on metaverse-type platforms; and what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on the use of enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 to hold platforms with significant child user bases accountable. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act (OSA) gives online user-to-user platforms duties to take steps to tackle online grooming and other child sexual abuse and exploitation on their services. These duties extend to user-to-user platforms that use virtual reality technology.

Ofcom is the regulator for the regime. It sets out the steps in codes of practice that different providers can take to fulfil their duties. Ofcom is already enforcing the Act and has investigations into over 60 services for suspected non-compliance with the illegal and child safety duties, including for preventing the sharing of CSAM.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_138

John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that delays to broadband rollout are minimised when a Building Digital UK contract is terminated. \p Kanishka Narayan: Project Gigabit is designed to adapt in the event a contracted supplier can no longer complete its planned delivery, utilising a mix of contracts and interventions to enable us to continue to bring fast, reliable broadband to hard-to-reach premises across the UK. This process is intended to mitigate the potential impact of contract terminations on rural communities and to ensure that delays to the rollout of Project Gigabit are minimised.

In May 2025, Building Digital UK (BDUK) and Full Fibre mutually agreed to terminate the Project Gigabit contract for the Peak District, which included some premises in the Derbyshire Dales constituency.

BDUK is now engaging with suppliers to review alternative options for extending coverage in this region. The coverage that can be provided, and the timescale for its delivery, will depend on what suppliers are able to offer within the public funding that can be made available, and we are keen to ensure this happens as quickly as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-14 conversation_139

Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will set out whether all grades of prison officers are required to be politically neutral. \p Jake Richards: All employees are bound by the Civil Service Code and must serve the Government impartially. The HMPPS Outside Activities Policy requires all employees, including all grades of Prison Officer, to remain politically neutral at all times and they must seek permission to take part in political activities if needed. Employees must not carry out any political activity while on duty, in uniform or on official premises.