Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that the proposed EU customs duty of €3 for parcels from outside the EU does not apply to businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are aware of changes to the EU’s rules of low-value imports and the announcement in December of its intention to introduce customs duty on these goods from 1 July 2026.

At the Budget in November 2025, the Chancellor also announced the removal of the UK's relief from customs duty on goods below £135 from March 2029 at the latest. There is currently a consultation on these changes that closes on 6^th March 2026.

We expect and are committed to ensuring that the current facilitations available for parcels under the Windsor Framework will continue to operate. This means that goods eligible to move under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme can continue to do so. These schemes are designed to protect goods moving within the UK internal market from incurring duty.

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement will also continue to apply.

The Government continues to engage with industry and the EU to ensure any applicable arrangements are implemented correctly and to minimise any negative impacts on Northern Ireland consumers and businesses.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proposed EU customs duty of €3 for parcels from outside the EU will apply to parcels sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are aware of changes to the EU’s rules of low-value imports and the announcement in December of its intention to introduce customs duty on these goods from 1 July 2026.

At the Budget in November 2025, the Chancellor also announced the removal of the UK's relief from customs duty on goods below £135 from March 2029 at the latest. There is currently a consultation on these changes that closes on 6^th March 2026.

We expect and are committed to ensuring that the current facilitations available for parcels under the Windsor Framework will continue to operate. This means that goods eligible to move under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme can continue to do so. These schemes are designed to protect goods moving within the UK internal market from incurring duty.

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement will also continue to apply.

The Government continues to engage with industry and the EU to ensure any applicable arrangements are implemented correctly and to minimise any negative impacts on Northern Ireland consumers and businesses.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proposed EU customs duty of €3 for parcels from outside the EU will apply to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are aware of changes to the EU’s rules of low-value imports and the announcement in December of its intention to introduce customs duty on these goods from 1 July 2026.

At the Budget in November 2025, the Chancellor also announced the removal of the UK's relief from customs duty on goods below £135 from March 2029 at the latest. There is currently a consultation on these changes that closes on 6^th March 2026.

We expect and are committed to ensuring that the current facilitations available for parcels under the Windsor Framework will continue to operate. This means that goods eligible to move under the UK Carrier Scheme and the UK Internal Market Scheme can continue to do so. These schemes are designed to protect goods moving within the UK internal market from incurring duty.

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement will also continue to apply.

The Government continues to engage with industry and the EU to ensure any applicable arrangements are implemented correctly and to minimise any negative impacts on Northern Ireland consumers and businesses.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to improve waiting times for gynaecological appointments in England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Women’s health is a priority for the Government, including tackling gynaecology waiting lists. We are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks of referral to consultant-led care by March 2029.

Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out several actions to improve gynaecology waiting times. This includes innovative models of care that offer care closer-to-home and in-the-community; piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding, and; increasing the relative funding available to incentivise providers to take on more gynaecology procedures. These reforms will mean shorter waits and more convenient gynaecological care for patients.

Wider elective reforms, including widening opportunities for direct advice to referrers from specialists, introducing more straight to test pathways, taking action to reduce missed appointments and ramping up remote monitoring and patient-initiated follow up, will also improve gynaecology waiting times. These changes will provide flexibility and convenience for patients, whilst freeing up appointments for those who need them.

We are also introducing an “online hospital” called NHS Online, and women’s health issues, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will be among the conditions available to be referred to this hospital from 2027. This will give patients the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, providing additional appointments to cut waiting times.

The Department does not hold data on the current average waiting time for urgent gynaecology appointments. For urgent suspected cancer referrals, the Faster Diagnosis Standard requires that 75% of patients are informed within 28 days whether they have cancer. For suspected gynaecological cancers, national performance as of November 2025 against the Faster Diagnosis Standard in England is 68.6%.

The National Cancer Plan, which will be published this year, aims to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in England, including gynaecological cancers. The plan will set out how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, and speed up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what additional resources, if any, they will allocate to gynaecology services in England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Women’s health is a priority for the Government, including tackling gynaecology waiting lists. We are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks of referral to consultant-led care by March 2029.

Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out several actions to improve gynaecology waiting times. This includes innovative models of care that offer care closer-to-home and in-the-community; piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding, and; increasing the relative funding available to incentivise providers to take on more gynaecology procedures. These reforms will mean shorter waits and more convenient gynaecological care for patients.

Wider elective reforms, including widening opportunities for direct advice to referrers from specialists, introducing more straight to test pathways, taking action to reduce missed appointments and ramping up remote monitoring and patient-initiated follow up, will also improve gynaecology waiting times. These changes will provide flexibility and convenience for patients, whilst freeing up appointments for those who need them.

We are also introducing an “online hospital” called NHS Online, and women’s health issues, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will be among the conditions available to be referred to this hospital from 2027. This will give patients the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, providing additional appointments to cut waiting times.

The Department does not hold data on the current average waiting time for urgent gynaecology appointments. For urgent suspected cancer referrals, the Faster Diagnosis Standard requires that 75% of patients are informed within 28 days whether they have cancer. For suspected gynaecological cancers, national performance as of November 2025 against the Faster Diagnosis Standard in England is 68.6%.

The National Cancer Plan, which will be published this year, aims to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in England, including gynaecological cancers. The plan will set out how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, and speed up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the current average waiting time is for urgent gynaecological appointments in England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Women’s health is a priority for the Government, including tackling gynaecology waiting lists. We are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks of referral to consultant-led care by March 2029.

Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out several actions to improve gynaecology waiting times. This includes innovative models of care that offer care closer-to-home and in-the-community; piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding, and; increasing the relative funding available to incentivise providers to take on more gynaecology procedures. These reforms will mean shorter waits and more convenient gynaecological care for patients.

Wider elective reforms, including widening opportunities for direct advice to referrers from specialists, introducing more straight to test pathways, taking action to reduce missed appointments and ramping up remote monitoring and patient-initiated follow up, will also improve gynaecology waiting times. These changes will provide flexibility and convenience for patients, whilst freeing up appointments for those who need them.

We are also introducing an “online hospital” called NHS Online, and women’s health issues, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will be among the conditions available to be referred to this hospital from 2027. This will give patients the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, providing additional appointments to cut waiting times.

The Department does not hold data on the current average waiting time for urgent gynaecology appointments. For urgent suspected cancer referrals, the Faster Diagnosis Standard requires that 75% of patients are informed within 28 days whether they have cancer. For suspected gynaecological cancers, national performance as of November 2025 against the Faster Diagnosis Standard in England is 68.6%.

The National Cancer Plan, which will be published this year, aims to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in England, including gynaecological cancers. The plan will set out how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, and speed up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate and ensure provision, transport and access to mobile units for temporary dwellings for residents in Gaza, in particular ensuring delivery across the border with Israel.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Arab states about the reconstruction of Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what capital funding they have allocated to support housing reconstruction in Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to facilitate and encourage the delivery across the borders with Israel and Egypt of accommodation shelters for people in Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what provision they are making to provide temporary accommodation structures or housing shelters to people in Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what capital funding they are providing to support people in Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.

The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what initiatives are (1) in place, and (2) planned, to provide advice for families of pre-school aged children about healthy eating and nutrition.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Last October, the first Best Start in Life campaign was launched, tackling the confusion and pressure facing parents in the early years by providing trusted, expert information to give every child the best start in life. The joint Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education campaign provides National Health Service backed advice and guidance on a wide range of topics, including infant feeding, and weaning and directs parents to the Best Start in Life website for support on how to feed their baby.

Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, local authorities are expected to connect a range of services through Family Hubs, including nutrition and weight management services. Staff in the family hub should be able to raise the topic of weight management with families and should be aware of what services are available and be able to connect families to them.

The Healthy Start Scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. In April 2026 the value of the weekly payments will increase by 10%. Pregnant women and children aged over one and under four years old will each receive £4.65 per week, up from £4.25, and children under one years old will each receive £9.30 per week, up from £8.50.

The funding for Healthy Start can be used to buy, or be put towards the cost of, fresh, frozen, or tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, milk, and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries are also eligible for free Healthy Start Vitamins.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on using the capital from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK’s support for Ukraine remains iron clad. We will continue to work with G7 and EU partners to ensure that Ukraine gets the funding it needs, ensuring any options developed by the Government are in line with international law.

UK Government policy is that Russia's sovereign assets will remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war and pays compensation to Ukraine.