theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled Children embrace the future with humanoid school project, published on 14 April 2025, how much (a) time and (b) money the Government has spent developing this project. \p Feryal Clark: The humanoid robots school outreach project was part of the Government Office for Science's work to build scientific and technical literacy across the Government and the UK. It was part of a wider project developing advice for government assessing recent developments in humanoid robotics and the potential implications which took place between May 2024 and March 2025. The outreach elements including in depth evaluation - delivered in partnership with the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres – with a total contribution of under £12,000.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken under the Shared Rural Network programme to map investment in the hardest-to-reach areas. \p Chris Bryant: Ofcom reporting indicates areas of poor mobile coverage across the UK. The Government has worked closely with the mobile network operators to identify locations where upgrading or building new masts can improve connectivity in rural areas where there is no or limited coverage, including utilising the Emergency Service Network (ESN) where feasible. The location of masts is also determined according to how quickly they can be delivered and the public benefit they provide.
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to ensure the equitable geographic distribution of health research funding. \p Feryal Clark: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds health research across the UK, primarily through their Medical Research Council (MRC). The UKRI place toolkit underpins MRC’s vision to encourage and support excellent and impactful research, wherever it is found in the UK. MRC recognises the importance of place for strengthening capacity across the UK, for the long-term benefit of UK science. MRC draws on and fosters talent, research communities and capacity from across the UK to address major health challenges and the recently published MRC Place Framework sets out MRC’s principles for place and how it is used to guide decision making.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to hold operators to account on their progress since the UK Network Operator industry roundtable discussion on 12 September 2024. \p Chris Bryant: The Electronic Communications Code provides rights and obligations intended to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks, subject to conditions and restrictions set out in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003. Ofcom, the independent regulator, has powers to take enforcement action against any breaches of the 2003 Regulations.

Nonetheless, I am aware of community concerns with the deployment of new broadband infrastructure. Following my meeting with the industry, the Telecommunications Poles Working Group Best Practice Recommendations have been published, which includes an industry commitment to always consider the interests of communities.
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Steve Race:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the US National Institutes of Health's new initiative to expand human-based science while reducing animal use in research; and whether this could be replicated in the UK. \p Feryal Clark: The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods in basic, applied, translational and regulatory research and testing later this year. As part of this, we continually monitor international developments such as those at the US National Institutes of Health, and are in discussion with our overseas colleagues as to how we can work together on this matter.
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Andrew Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of further regulation of domestic CCTV usage where cameras overlook neighbouring properties. \p Chris Bryant: If domestic CCTV captures someone else's property or communal space, the UK’s data protection legislation applies, as the images and voices of other people will be captured and this is classified as personal information.

The Information Commissioner's Office has published guidance on both the householder’s responsibilities under the legislation, and what people can do if they are concerned about a neighbour’s intrusive use of CCTV equipment. The government has no plans for further regulation.
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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with (a) scientists, (b) industry and (c) civil society to phase out testing on animals. \p Feryal Clark: The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. Work to support this transition must be science-led and in lock step with partners and the government has been consulting scientists, industry and civil society as this process unfolds.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year and has engaged with scientists, industry and civil society to draft this strategy.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for a fully trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy. \p Dame Nia Griffith: Conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. As outlined in the King’s Speech, this Government is committed to bringing forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. We continue to work cross-government on this important issue with a view to publishing our draft Bill later this session.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government has enacted the socioeconomic duty under section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 in England. \p Dame Nia Griffith: We refer the Hon member to the answer given to question 48266 on 25 April 2025.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure employers proactively protect employees from workplace sexual harassment. \p Dame Nia Griffith: Equality is at the heart of this Government’s missions, which is why our Employment Rights Bill is introducing robust measures to safeguard working people, including protections from sexual harassment.

We are supporting the effective implementation of the new duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees, which came into force on 26 October 2024. We are also working to strengthen this duty through the Employment Rights Bill to require employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees. The Bill additionally introduces an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties, including third-party sexual harassment.

We will also introduce a power to enable regulations to specify steps that are to be regarded as “reasonable”, to determine whether an employer has taken all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. The Government will only set out steps in regulations where these are proportionate and there is a clear evidence base supporting their efficacy in preventing workplace sexual harassment. We have recently launched a call for evidence on equality law, which will help build on our existing research into the most effective steps to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025, whether her Department plans to amend its policy on the use of women only spaces in its buildings by transgender women. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need, but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is developing its updated statutory Code of Practice to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which departments are contributing to ensuring that the distinct needs of young people are reflected in the development of the cross-governmental homelessness strategy. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people.

We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

We have also established an Expert Group to bring together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts. The role of this expert group is to provide knowledge, analysis and challenge to help Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed. We will continue to meet with a range of stakeholders, including mayors and MPs, to make sure the strategy is informed by a range of expertise.

As well as work on the Inter-Ministerial Group and Expert Group we are also working closely with the sector to deliver a number of lived experience forums to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are reflected in the homelessness strategy.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of flood recovery funding over the last 12 months. \p Alex Norris: Flood recovery is a devolved responsibility. The Flood Recovery Framework provides swift, responsive financial support packages to communities, households and businesses suffering the impacts of severe flooding with schemes from MHCLG, DBT and Defra in England. A post activation review of the flood recovery framework following storm Babet Oct 2023 and Storm Henk January 2024 has taken place and is accessible here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in her Department. \p Alex Norris: We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all government departments to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, The ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA), will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.”

Since 2023, the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government has increased the proportion of its staff on apprenticeships from 2% to 5.1%. We are currently exploring how additional entry level programmes in digital, data and AI, including the TechTrack Level 4 Business Analyst apprenticeship, can be used to build the department’s capability in this vital area.
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Lorraine Beavers:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a reviewing homelessness funding across departments. \p Rushanara Ali: The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy. As part of the current Spending Review, the government is reviewing all spending across government, including funding for tackling homelessness.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what engagement her Department has had with local authorities on compliance with their Covenant Legal Duty. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon Member to my letter of 4 April 2025 to the Defence Committee on this subject. I will also share a copy of the letter with his office.

As lead department for the Covenant, the Ministry of Defence also engages regularly with local authorities on implementation and delivery of the Covenant.
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Lorraine Beavers:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.59 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, what proportion of the additional funding for homelessness in 2025/26 has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date for (i) temporary accommodation and (ii) homelessness prevention. \p Rushanara Ali: Funding allocations for homelessness and rough sleeping in 2025/26 were published on 18 December 2024 here.

In line with grant funding conditions, local authorities will report their spending at the end of financial year.
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Mr Jonathan Brash:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps with the youth homelessness sector to add a youth-specific section to the Homelessness Code of Guidance as part of the cross-government homelessness strategy. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20895 on 19 December 2024.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to evaluate the impact of Phase One of her Plan for Neighbourhoods; and whether she plans for Phase Two to include neighbourhoods beyond the initial 75 identified. \p Alex Norris: The new £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods will deliver up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, a long-term commitment to building the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards. We will publish a monitoring and evaluation strategy in due course.

The current 75 places that are part of the programme were all selected via a selection methodology that has been published on gov.uk here. Expanding the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme would be a decision for the upcoming Spending Review. The Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister have been clear that the Spending Review will need to support the delivery of the government’s plan for a decade of national renewal and raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom.
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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including longer-term funding settlements for homelessness services in the (a) Comprehensive Spending Review and (b) Homelessness Strategy. \p Rushanara Ali: Future funding for homelessness services is subject to the outcome of phase 2 of the Spending Review.

Councils can also draw from the wider local government finance settlement to help meet homelessness costs. We know that the sector has long called for long-term certainty on its budgets. That is why the government is committed to providing a multi-year funding settlement starting in 2026-27.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to prevent leaseholders from absorbing the cost of increases in insurance premiums for buildings undergoing remediation works for flammable cladding. \p Alex Norris: Leaseholders are usually responsible for paying for buildings insurance, according to the terms of their lease. Buildings insurance premiums for all buildings have risen considerably since the Grenfell tragedy; some leaseholders in buildings with fire safety defects are facing extremely high premiums. A Financial Conduct Authority report stated that premiums have risen by 94% for buildings without flammable cladding between 2016 and 2021, and by 187% for buildings with identified flammable cladding.

My officials are working with the insurance industry, as announced in the Remediation Acceleration Plan, to consider whether, for the duration of remediation programmes, government might support industry to reduce fire related liabilities, in order to reduce the high insurance bills some leaseholders are facing.

In addition to this, my Department has consulted on how to best ensure that landlords, freeholders and property managing agents do not receive excessive and opaque buildings insurance commissions at leaseholders’ expense as part of implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act. We will publish our response to this consultation in due course.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether a business case was prepared for her visit to Ethiopia; and whether she plans to make other foreign visits. \p Alex Norris: All ministerial visits are assessed against the government’s domestic and international priorities in the normal way.

As set out on gov.uk, the Deputy Prime Minister’s role includes acting in support of the government’s international agenda, including through overseas travel.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 2 September 2024 on Building Safety, HCWS62, what the evidential basis is for the proposition that the European standard (BS EN 13501) is more rigorous and robust than the British fire door testing standard (BS 476-22). \p Alex Norris: The withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards (BS 476) from Approved Document B in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501) aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within the guidance. This change makes it easier and clearer to ensure products meet required standards and enabling simpler performance comparison.

The suitability of BS 476 and the transition to the EN standard was also scrutinised during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The EN suite of standards is constantly reviewed, periodically updated, and does not rely on withdrawn standards and is therefore seen as more suitable in the long term. The consultation response published alongside the Written Statement on 2 September 2024 shows a majority of respondents were in support of moving to the European Standard.

The Building Safety Regulator will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review in England.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to the Electoral Registration Offices on the mechanisms by which qualified EU nationals should be verified for their eligibility to join the local electoral roll; what guidance her Department provides to ensure that non-qualified individuals are not signed up to the electoral roll; and what assessment she is made of the merits of automatic electoral registration in this context. \p Rushanara Ali: Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. As part of the voter registration process, applicants must declare their nationality. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality. The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records.

The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.

The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of data and online Government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49917 on Aviation, how much was spent by (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants. \p Alex Norris: Pursuant to the answer of Question 49917 on aviation the following was spent on air travel since 4th July 2024:

Domestic Travel:

Civil Servants £33,025.78

Ministers £1,878.72

Other - UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues £4210.29

Total £39,114.79

International Travel:

Civil Servants £45,662.30

Ministers £17,321.87

Other - UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues £5,529.14

Total £68,513.31
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 45642 on European Islamic Centre, in what capacity the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has engaged with the European Islamic Centre since being appointed. \p Alex Norris: The department does not engage with the European Islamic Centre. Members of Parliament routinely undertake engagements in their own constituencies, separate to any other roles held.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Questions 46950 on Night-time Economy: Finance, what assessment her Department has of the potential impact of the Creative Foundations Fund on contemporary culture. \p Chris Bryant: DCMS meets regularly with all parts of the music industry, including the nightclub sector. In developing the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund, we engaged with the sector to ensure that the expanded fund caters for all grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music. Through Arts Council England we continue to engage with the industry through targeted webinars and events to promote the Fund to the club sector and encourage applications.

The government’s work to review the licensing framework has brought together representatives from government, industry, police and local government, including key stakeholders from the nightclub sector. This Taskforce will make recommendations that will deliver effective change in the licensing framework that fosters vibrant hospitality, night-time economy, and creative and cultural industries.

The Creative Foundations Fund, delivered by Arts Council England, will invest £85 million to support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. This will ensure buildings and infrastructure are fit for future generations to benefit from, and will increase access to culture for all and drive cultural, community and economic growth. Historic England considers there to be currently in the region of 45 listed nightclubs in England.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Meta on generative artificial intelligence models. \p Chris Bryant: Ministers from DCMS and DSIT have convened a series of roundtables with the tech sector and the cultural and creative industries regarding our consultation on Copyright and AI. All ministerial meetings are published quarterly.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to provide funding for (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis facilities in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.

In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with 3 tennis courts at Rothamsted Park renovated directly as a result of investment from the Park Tennis Court Programme.

Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme funding is delivered through the Football Foundation in England and further detail on funded projects will be published on gov.uk in due course. Tennis/padel projects are not currently funded through the programme but at least 40% of funded projects will support non-football sports where similar pitch types/playing surfaces can be shared (such as rugby, cricket and basketball), ensuring more people can participate and get active across a variety of sports.

Future funding for grassroots facilities beyond 2025/26 is subject to the ongoing Spending Review.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support her department will offer to the creative industries in the next year. \p Chris Bryant: At the Creative Industries Growth Summit in January, DCMS Secretary of State announced £40 million of funding for the creative industries over the financial year 2025/26 – supporting start-up video game studios, British music and film exports, and creative businesses outside of London.

The Creative Industries is a key growth-driving sector and one of eight selected to be included in the Government's new Industrial Strategy. Support beyond the financial year 25/26 will be set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, to be published later this year.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she considered the potential merits of ensuring that the advisory panel for the Arts Council England review included (a) musicians, (b) dancers, (c) composers, (d) singers and (e) educationalists. \p Chris Bryant: Advisory Panel members were selected for their wealth of knowledge and experience across the sectors that Arts Council England serves. They each bring a unique perspective from across the country to support the review.

The review’s engagement with sectors is not confined to the Advisory Panel's membership. Stakeholders from different sectors across the country are being consulted as part of the review.
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Josh MacAlister:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to invest in tennis facilities following the end of the Park Tennis Project. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel tennis in Britain. It receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone.

All future funding of sports facilities beyond 2025/26 will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to provide funding to the (a) voluntary, (b) community and (c) social enterprise sector in (i) the North East and (ii) Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government has taken a range of steps to provide funding to the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in the North East.

The Government recently committed up to an additional £2.8 million for the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, which is designed to widen participation in volunteering and tackle loneliness. The Government has also committed up to an additional £1 million for the Social Enterprise Boost Fund, a fund which provides business support and grant funding to social entrepreneurs. These place-based programmes will continue delivering funding to the VCSE sector in the North East, specifically Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, County Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland, as well as other areas in England until March 2026.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a fund to support (a) voluntary, (b) community and (c) social enterprise sector organisations to offset increases to National Insurance Contributions. \p Stephanie Peacock: This government recognises the vital role that charitable organisations and community groups play in providing crucial support to families and individuals across the country. These organisations, as well as the wider Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, are integral to the Government’s vision for national renewal and delivery of the five national missions.

DCMS Ministers have met with representatives from the VCSE sector and are aware of their concerns about the National Insurance contributions (NICs) changes. We recognise the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning that more than half of businesses (including charities) with NICs liabilities will either gain or see no change this year.

We continue to promote availability of funding for smaller charities in several ways, including delivery of a number of grant schemes, such as the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’. Support for charities is also available through social investment which provides access to grants, repayable finance and a blend of the two. In particular, this government is continuing to look at how dormant assets can be used to support the availability of finance to facilitate VCSEs becoming more entrepreneurial and financially resilient. An estimated £350 million will flow into the Dormant Assets Scheme between 2024-28, with details on how this money will be distributed to be provided in due course.
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Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of betting duty harmonisation on the promotion of online gaming products by bookmakers. \p Stephanie Peacock: The consultation on the tax treatment of remote gambling is a matter for HM Treasury. I would encourage all interested stakeholders to respond to this consultation, which runs until 21 July. If any legislative changes are made to gambling duty following the consultation, they will be accompanied by a tax information and impact note from HM Treasury, as is standard practice.

The Government recognises the significant contribution horseracing makes to our regional economies and our country’s cultural life. DCMS will continue to meet with racing stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for the sport.

The issue of illegal gambling is a concern for this government and we are working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed. The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced in Parliament on 25 February 2025, will grant the Gambling Commission with new powers to more quickly and effectively take down illegal gambling websites.
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Seamus Logan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Gambling Commission report entitled Young People and Gambling 2024: Official statistics, published on 7 November 2024, what steps her Department is taking to reduce rates of gambling harms on children and young people. \p Stephanie Peacock: To improve and expand the services available to understand, tackle and treat gambling-related harm, the Government has introduced a statutory levy on gambling operators to fund research, prevention and treatment. This will include dedicated investment to raise awareness of the risks associated with gambling and facilitating a cultural shift to break down barriers to help-seeking behaviour such as stigma. 30% of the new statutory gambling levy funding will be allocated to prevention activity, including education and early intervention, to help raise awareness of harmful gambling. Furthermore, since 2020, children and young people have been taught about the risks relating to gambling as part of the statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum in England. Education is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

We continue to monitor the best available evidence to inform how we reduce gambling harm amongst children and young people.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Table Office will meet the staff of Conservative Members of Parliament to discuss their work. \p Nick Smith: While hon. Members alone have the right to table questions, the Table Office routinely deals with Members’ staff, acting with the authority of their Member, about the tabling and drafting of questions, as part of the Office’s responsibility to ensure that questions adhere to the rules of order and practices of the House.

Most issues concerning the drafting of questions are resolved quickly, but where it is not possible to do so with a member of staff, the Table Office will ask to deal directly with the Member concerned. This reflects the fact that responsibility for tabling questions resides with the hon. Member personally and ensures that the Table Office’s resources are used in an effective manner.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of written parliamentary questions submitted to the Table Office have been carded in this session. \p Nick Smith: The total proportion of written parliamentary questions carded in this Session of Parliament because they do not comply with the rules of order is just over 19%. Most card queries are resolved quickly by a conversation with the tabling Member. The Table Office offers training to hon. Members and their staff on the rules of order and the drafting of orderly WPQs.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44585 on Winston Churchill: Artworks, which Members’ offices removed the portrait of Churchill; and whether the decision was requested by the hon. Member. \p Nick Smith: Artworks are removed from offices during dissolution and the General Election to mitigate risk to the collection during this busy period and to ensure availability of suitable works to meet Member requests for office hangs upon their election.

Between June and October 2024, the Heritage Collections team moved over 1100 artworks to facilitate dissolution works and election changes. This included seven portraits of Churchill: four from offices of Members, or their staff, who were not returned at the election; two from Members who were returned at the election; and one for conservation. Those removals were not, therefore, requested by the Members who had previously been allocated those offices. One of those works has subsequently been requested for another Member’s office; the other five remain available for Members to request.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason some of the toilets at Block T-3 in the Parliamentary estate have been sealed since January 2025. \p Nick Smith: The toilets in T-block are closed due to the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), following guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers published in 2023 and surveys carried out by structural engineers in 2024.

A further programme of investigation, longer-term mitigation and limited replacement (where possible and practical) continues to be developed by Strategic Estates. This requires thorough and potentially disruptive surveys that are carried out around the business of the House (for example, during recess). The investigations and surveys will provide a comprehensive assessment of the issues and works required to reopen the toilets, and if it is feasible or practical to do so.

The next phase of the programme is currently expected to begin by Summer recess, starting with surveys and investigations; the surveys could continue until the end of Conference recess. The project is envisaged to run to the end of 2027, due to the complexity of the work involved.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 48042 on Great British Energy: Staff, if he will publish the declaration of interests of each of those appointments; and which of those appointments are regulated public appointments. \p Michael Shanks: All appointments were direct appointments, based on Great British Energy’s (GBE) set-up phase needs.

All appointees have declared their interests to the Department as part of the appointment process. The Department and GBE are both committed to transparent and accountable governance and will publish expectations to this end in GBE's framework document later this year.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Anti-Islamophobia Working Group provided a training and awareness session in his Department in November 2024. \p Michael Shanks: DESNZ is committed to supporting our colleagues in line with our DESNZ Values and the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance. The Anti-Islamophobia Working Group provided a one-hour training and awareness session in this Department in November 2024.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43313 on Energy: Land Use, what definition he uses for the most appropriate areas, in that context. \p Michael Shanks: On 15th May 2025 NESO published their methodology for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which includes details of how they will identify optimal locations, types and quantities of energy generation and storage infrastructure.

This can be found on the NESO website https://www.neso.energy/news/milestone-reached-first-blueprint-great-britains-future-energy-infrastructure .
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Peter Lamb:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of developing thorium-based molten salt reactors in the UK. \p Michael Shanks: Nuclear is a key part of the government's national mission to be a clean energy superpower. The government believes that Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ANTs) could play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.

DESNZ is aware of and monitors the progress of a wide range of advanced reactors in design development by companies around the world, including Thorium Molten Salt reactors.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on enforcing the new capital adequacy requirements on energy suppliers following the end of the transition period in April 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.
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Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has he made of the accuracy of the list of RTS Switch off Identified Properties for properties in Gwynedd which have storage heaters as their primary source of heating. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Department is not aware of a list of RTS properties that separately identifies premises with and without storage heaters.