Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the potential risks posed by the deployment of autonomous or agentic artificial intelligence systems in critical national infrastructure, including (a) the ability of such systems to take actions without direct human approval, (b) the potential for unintended or unauthorised actions to disrupt essential services, and (c) the adequacy of existing safeguards, monitoring and human oversight arrangements.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Recent incidents of AI models carrying out unsanctioned actions are a serious reminder of the risks AI capabilities pose. The Government recognises the scale and severity of AI risks to critical national infrastructure (CNI); our response incorporates cross-Government AI risk management, world-leading research, and over £100 million of investment in new monitoring and response bodies. The 2026 Budget committed £40 million to a National Agentic Security Unit to detect and respond to misaligned agentic activity with monitoring mechanisms.
We regularly assess the risks, including through the cross-Government AI Risk Register, which assesses the full spectrum of AI risks that could impact the UK, including within CNI sectors. The AI Security Institute (AISI) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) regularly share relevant research and guidance online, as well as with relevant stakeholders within Government. Due to national security concerns, I cannot provide more detailed information.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority regarding the risks posed by autonomous artificial intelligence agents accessing customer bank accounts and undertaking financial transactions; and what assessment has been made of the adequacy of existing safeguards to protect consumers and financial institutions.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is collaborating closely with regulators to monitor and respond to risks posed by AI to consumers, firms and financial stability. This remains a priority as the technology develops and more autonomous agentic use cases emerge, including the use of agents for financial transactions.
Existing frameworks – including the Consumer Duty, the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, operational resilience requirements and firms' wider obligations relating to governance and controls – continue to apply and provide an important foundation for managing the risks associated with autonomous agents.
The Government continues to collaborate with regulators to share intelligence, align approaches and consider where further work is needed. This includes working with industry and frontier AI labs to develop a trusted framework for agentic finance, with clear approaches to agent identity, delegated authority, accountability and execution.
The Government is also considering how the payments regulatory framework should respond to emerging innovations, including autonomous agentic payments. As part of its consultation on modernising the Payment Services Regulations, the Government sought views on whether existing requirements, including those relating to customer authentication, consent and liability for unauthorised transactions, remain appropriate as AI agents increasingly act on behalf of customers. The consultation closed on 6 October 2026 and the Government is reviewing the responses received.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of backlogs in police Digital Forensics Units on delays to criminal proceedings; what the average waiting time is for digital forensic evidence to be processed; and how many criminal cases are currently affected by such delays.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not hold the information requested, but we recognise that digital forensic backlogs remain a significant challenge. Increasing numbers of seized devices, growing data volumes, rapid technological change and workforce pressures can contribute to delays in digital examinations. Police reform will enable the creation of national governance in the National Police Service, which will provide a national service to policing and ultimately benefit victims and the criminal justice. We have appointed a dedicated Director of Forensic Services to lead this transformation.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional steps his Department is taking to reduce child poverty in Birmingham, following the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have extended Free School Meals eligibility to all pupils in households receiving Universal Credit, delivered the first sustained above-inflation increase in the standard allowance of Universal Credit, benefiting around 4 million households, and delivered a £1 billion package to reform crisis support.
We are also investing £39 billion in social and affordable housing, and our £15 billion Warm Homes Plan will lift one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030. To strengthen local services, we are investing £500 million to roll out Best Start Family Hubs, with a commitment to create up to 1,000 hubs across the country by the end of 2028 and investing £500 million in the UK-wide Better Futures Fund, breaking down barriers to opportunity for up to 200,000 vulnerable children and young people.
We are committed to long-term, lasting change beyond this Parliament, ensuring child poverty remains a priority, and we will continue to work across Government and with our stakeholders and partners to ensure we deliver.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Birmingham City Council on the ongoing bin workers' dispute; and what steps she is taking to help support the resumption of regular waste collection services for residents.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
During the acute phase of the waste dispute last year, the Government took decisive action in lock step with the Council to ensure waste in the city was safely and sustainably managed. The result was to establish a regular, reliable waste collection service despite industrial action.
The ongoing waste dispute is damaging for the residents and reputation of the great city of Birmingham. It is disappointing that a resolution has not yet been achieved, but this matter remains a local issue and is between Birmingham City Council, as the employer, and Unite, representing employees. The Government is not a party to this dispute, but we continue to urge both parties to work together to bring about a sustainable solution to end the strike, in the interests of the people of Birmingham.
We take the progress made across Birmingham City Council very seriously. A successful and prospering Birmingham is a priority for this government, and the department regularly engages with the Council in line with standard practice for statutory interventions. This is alongside receiving regular updates on progress from Commissioners, including on the waste dispute.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that residents of exempt accommodation and HMOs receive sufficient support and local infrastructure to enable them to integrate into their communities.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government implementing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, which will introduce licensing and national support standards across England to ensure supported housing residents receive support tailored to their individual needs. I will publish a consultation on the draft licensing regulations later this year.
Alongside this, the department has issued guidance and provided new burdens funding to support local authorities in developing supported housing strategies, which will assess the supply and demand for different types of supported housing in their areas.
While these reforms are being implemented, my officials continue to work closely with Birmingham City Council to address concerns about supported exempt accommodation.
Local authorities already have a range of powers to tackle poor-quality accommodation. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing schemes play an important role in ensuring properties are safe, well maintained and properly managed, and councils have robust enforcement powers where landlords fail to comply.
Local planning authorities also have a wide range of enforcement powers, backed by strong penalties for non-compliance with planning regulations. However, it is for individual authorities to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate in the circumstances of each case.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that HMOs and exempt accommodation are distributed evenly at both the local and national level to help support community cohesion.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government implementing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, which will introduce licensing and national support standards across England to ensure supported housing residents receive support tailored to their individual needs. I will publish a consultation on the draft licensing regulations later this year.
Alongside this, the department has issued guidance and provided new burdens funding to support local authorities in developing supported housing strategies, which will assess the supply and demand for different types of supported housing in their areas.
While these reforms are being implemented, my officials continue to work closely with Birmingham City Council to address concerns about supported exempt accommodation.
Local authorities already have a range of powers to tackle poor-quality accommodation. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing schemes play an important role in ensuring properties are safe, well maintained and properly managed, and councils have robust enforcement powers where landlords fail to comply.
Local planning authorities also have a wide range of enforcement powers, backed by strong penalties for non-compliance with planning regulations. However, it is for individual authorities to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate in the circumstances of each case.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that HMOs and exempt accommodation are appropriately licensed and comply with local planning regulations in Birmingham.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This government implementing the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, which will introduce licensing and national support standards across England to ensure supported housing residents receive support tailored to their individual needs. I will publish a consultation on the draft licensing regulations later this year.
Alongside this, the department has issued guidance and provided new burdens funding to support local authorities in developing supported housing strategies, which will assess the supply and demand for different types of supported housing in their areas.
While these reforms are being implemented, my officials continue to work closely with Birmingham City Council to address concerns about supported exempt accommodation.
Local authorities already have a range of powers to tackle poor-quality accommodation. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing schemes play an important role in ensuring properties are safe, well maintained and properly managed, and councils have robust enforcement powers where landlords fail to comply.
Local planning authorities also have a wide range of enforcement powers, backed by strong penalties for non-compliance with planning regulations. However, it is for individual authorities to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate in the circumstances of each case.
Asked by: Al Carns (Labour - Birmingham Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department is making with West Midlands Railway to restore the number of passenger train services to six trains per hour on the Cross-City line between Kings Norton, Bournville and Selly Oak.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is working with West Midlands Trains, Network Rail and regional partners on options to increase Cross-City line frequencies while maintaining wider network performance and reliability. In parallel, longer-term interventions through the Midlands Rail Hub are being considered. The Department will assess these proposals against operational, capacity and value for money considerations before making any decisions on future service levels.