Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to undertake further engagement with (a) disabled students, (b) suppliers of specialist assistive technology and (c) other stakeholders before implementing changes to Disabled Students' Allowance arising from the consultation.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The consultation was an opportunity for students with disabilities, stakeholders and suppliers to provide evidence to inform future policy. The responses are currently being analysed and no final decisions have been made.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, whether his Department plans to provide guidance on the expectations for reliability and planning for demand flexibility as compared with traditional infrastructure assets within Regional Energy Strategic Plans frameworks.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has noted and is considering the recommendations in the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place.

Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the associated governance arrangements sits with the National Energy System Operator (NESO), under Ofgem's policy framework and guidance. Following their consultation, NESO is currently finalising the RESP methodology. DESNZ Secretary of State and Ofgem are due to review and approve the methodology in due course.

RESPs are intended to support whole-system planning across electricity, gas, heat and hydrogen networks at the distribution level, and consider industrial energy demand, heat networks, storage and flexibility.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, what steps he is taking to help ensure that technologies which deliver whole system savings, such as thermal storage and industrial flexibility, are able to access those savings.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has noted and is considering the recommendations in the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place.

Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the associated governance arrangements sits with the National Energy System Operator (NESO), under Ofgem's policy framework and guidance. Following their consultation, NESO is currently finalising the RESP methodology. DESNZ Secretary of State and Ofgem are due to review and approve the methodology in due course.

RESPs are intended to support whole-system planning across electricity, gas, heat and hydrogen networks at the distribution level, and consider industrial energy demand, heat networks, storage and flexibility.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the ADE: Demand report entitled Powered by People, Powered by Place, whether his Department has plans to ensure that Regional Energy Strategic Plans support industrial sites to optioneer decarbonisation routes.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has noted and is considering the recommendations in the Association for Decentralised Energy's report, Powered by People, Powered by Place.

Responsibility for the development of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) and the associated governance arrangements sits with the National Energy System Operator (NESO), under Ofgem's policy framework and guidance. Following their consultation, NESO is currently finalising the RESP methodology. DESNZ Secretary of State and Ofgem are due to review and approve the methodology in due course.

RESPs are intended to support whole-system planning across electricity, gas, heat and hydrogen networks at the distribution level, and consider industrial energy demand, heat networks, storage and flexibility.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the online gaming industry on its impact on the economy.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

This Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector which brings economic, cultural and social benefits across the UK.

DCMS estimates the UK video games sector generated £4.4bn in GVA in 2024, a 5.1% increase from 2023 when adjusted for inflation.

We are aware that these figures may not fully capture the impact of video games, and DCMS has worked closely with the Office for National Statistics on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, which have now been updated to better reflect the games sector.

In terms of the consumer market, UK consumers spent £8.76 billion on video games in 2025, a 7.4% increase on the previous year. Digital console spending rose 9.2% to £2.49 billion, spending on mobile games grew 7.9% to £2.07 billion, and digital PC software reached £1.15 billion.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure future online safety regulation does not have unintended consequences for the online gaming industry.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Proportionality is a core principle of the Online Safety Act and is in-built into its duties. Ofcom must consider the size and risk level of different types of services when recommending steps providers can take to comply with their duties.

Ofcom has communicated with in-scope services about Act regulations, including working with them to ensure compliance is as easy as possible. Ofcom is providing support resources and tools to online services to make it easier for them to understand – and comply with – their responsibilities under the Act.

Found: Gordon (Liberal Democrat; Harrogate and Knaresborough) Afzal Khan (Labour; Manchester Rusholme) Alex Sobel