Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the potential impact of Single or Double British Summer Time on pubs during major international sporting tournaments.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government believes the current daylight-saving arrangements represent the optimal use of the available daylight across the UK. Since the government does not intend to make changes to the existing system, we have not conducted an assessment of the potential impact of Single or Double British Summer Time on pubs during major sporting tournaments.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with (a) FIFA and (b) the Football Association on the selection criteria for hosting future FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As the rights holder for FIFA World Cup tournaments, FIFA publishes the criteria and associated timeline for prospective future host nations to meet in order to be deemed viable. The Football Association works closely with the UK Government and UK Sport when considering whether to bid for future major football events.
This occurred recently, with the UK-wide bid submitted to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035. Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035 on home turf would be a monumental moment in our sporting history, driving growth and leaving a lasting legacy. The UK Government, alongside the four Home Nation Football Associations and Devolved Governments, are supporting FIFA as they evaluate the bid - prior to their decision on hosts in April 2026.
For the FIFA Men’s World Cup tournaments, FIFA has determined the host nations for the next three tournaments, until 2034. The government has not been part of discussions regarding future selection criteria at this time.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Network Rail’s progress on delivering the train control systems framework announced on 10 April 2024.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail awarded its Train Control Systems Framework in April 2024 covering major signalling activities for the period 2024-2034.
Development contracts for digital signalling have been awarded are in delivery, with completion forecast in Financial Year 2027/28.
The ORR undertakes assurance of Network Rail’s signalling renewals delivery as part of its regulatory monitoring role.
Annual assessments of Network Rail | Office of Rail and Road