Found: to HO for AI-2=SUM(B100:C100)Transfer to HO for Digital Inclusion-6.516=SUM(B101:C101)Transfer to MHCLG

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the Barrow Transformation Fund will be funded by her Department.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government has committed £200 million over 10 years to support regeneration in Barrow-in-Furness (the ‘Barrow Transformation Fund’). 25% of this funding is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the remaining 75% is provided by the Ministry of Defence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether local authorities have any flexibility to use capital funding allocated either through the Local Authority Bus Grant or the Transport for City Regions fund as revenue funding for related bus operations.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of local authorities having funding to support bus operations. However, improving the infrastructure that underpins these services is essential to delivering better and more affordable services. This can only be achieved through the effective use of capital grants. Investment in infrastructure is intended to improve the attractiveness, affordability, and reliability of bus travel, helping to reduce long-term reliance on Government support.

For this reason, capital funding is intended for long-term investment and is not designed to meet ongoing operational costs, which should be covered through revenue funding. Capital and revenue funding may be used alongside one another to support delivery, but the Government expects both to be used as allocated and in line with the terms and conditions agreed with each Local Authority.

However, there is an exception for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities that receive an Integrated Settlements from Government. For these authorities, transport funding is no longer provided directly by the Department for Transport but is instead managed by MHCLG as part of the wider settlement. In agreement with HM Treasury, MHCLG has converted 10% of this funding from capital to resource, as revenue funding can be spent either on revenue or on capital. This gives these areas greater flexibility to meet local priorities. This applies to Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, North East, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the UK Health Security Agency and (b) devolved governments on preparedness for infectious disease cases linked to international travel.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which acts as the lead Government department for emerging infectious disease outbreaks. UKHSA has well-tested capabilities to detect, manage, and contain cases and outbreaks of infectious diseases. UKHSA works closely with laboratories, the World Health Organisation, and public health surveillance agencies across the world to identify imported cases, and delivers an effective contact tracing, case management, and contingency planning response by working with partners across the Government and local systems. In relation to international travel, UKHSA offers border health support for United Kingdom ports of entry, maintains horizon scanning capabilities for emerging threats, and offers expert public health advice to inform travel advice.

The Department of Health and Social Care and UKHSA work closely with the devolved administration and their public health agencies in planning and response for infectious disease threats under the Common Framework for Public Health Protection and Health Security.

Both the Department of Health and Social Care and UKHSA have worked closely together in response to the recent outbreak of hantavirus, as well as working in close partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the UK Overseas Territories, the Department for Transport, the Home Office, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the Barrow Transformation Fund will be provided by his Department.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Recognising Barrow's role as a strategic national asset, the Government's commitment to the submarine building programme underpins the 10-year 'Plan for Barrow' backed by the £200 million Barrow Transformation Fund.

The Ministry of Defence is contributing 75% (£150 million) of this fund over the 10-year period. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will contribute the remaining 25% (£50 million).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure Scottish families and businesses, including those in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, are included in reforms to improve ultrafast broadband access proposed in the UK Government’s latest consultation.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats was published on 15th December and closed on 16th February 2026. The proposals are based on leasehold law and are applicable in England and Wales. Whilst the proposals in the consultation do not extend to Scotland, we continue to engage with the Devolved Nations on issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including deployments to blocks of flats.

It was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 that the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill would include provisions to create a new right for leaseholders in flats to request improvements, such as gigabit-capable broadband. We are currently analysing responses to the consultation and are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the final policy proposals. We will provide an update on the outcome in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has, in collaboration with its counterpart in the Scottish Government, made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to allow broadband providers to access communal areas in multi-dwelling units to upgrade flats and apartments across Scotland.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats was published on 15th December and closed on 16th February 2026. The proposals are based on leasehold law and are applicable in England and Wales. Whilst the proposals in the consultation do not extend to Scotland, we continue to engage with the Devolved Nations on issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including deployments to blocks of flats.

It was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 that the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill would include provisions to create a new right for leaseholders in flats to request improvements, such as gigabit-capable broadband. We are currently analysing responses to the consultation and are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the final policy proposals. We will provide an update on the outcome in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of whether those living in in leasehold flats and apartments in Scotland will be able to benefit from the improved access to ultrafast broadband proposed in her Department’s recent consultation.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats was published on 15th December and closed on 16th February 2026. The proposals are based on leasehold law and are applicable in England and Wales. Whilst the proposals in the consultation do not extend to Scotland, we continue to engage with the Devolved Nations on issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including deployments to blocks of flats.

It was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 that the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill would include provisions to create a new right for leaseholders in flats to request improvements, such as gigabit-capable broadband. We are currently analysing responses to the consultation and are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the final policy proposals. We will provide an update on the outcome in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what legislative options her Department is considering to improve broadband builders’ access to upgrade rental flats and apartments.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats was published on 15th December and closed on 16th February 2026. The proposals are based on leasehold law and are applicable in England and Wales. Whilst the proposals in the consultation do not extend to Scotland, we continue to engage with the Devolved Nations on issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including deployments to blocks of flats.

It was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 that the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill would include provisions to create a new right for leaseholders in flats to request improvements, such as gigabit-capable broadband. We are currently analysing responses to the consultation and are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the final policy proposals. We will provide an update on the outcome in due course.

Found: House of Commons Library briefing ‘The right to buy’ (30 March 1999). 2 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: housing Work in progress Scheduled: Winter 2026/27 Departments: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Found: Throughout this incident, we have worked closely with government departments including FCDO, DHSC, MHCLG

Found: Throughout this incident, we have worked closely with government departments including FCDO, DHSC, MHCLG

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