Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he plans to increase testing and import controls for products at risk of asbestos contamination.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Office for Product Safety and Standards oversees and coordinates the UK’s product safety framework which covers products sold in-store and online, and activity at the border. Businesses placing products on the UK market must ensure they’re safe and free from asbestos and OPSS has published business guidance on controls they need to have in place, including testing.

To date 69 recalls of products have been recalled as a result of action by OPSS and local authorities, including at the border. OPSS are continuing their market surveillance activities and will take action if businesses are not meeting their legal obligations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full-time equivalent Border Force officers were assigned to customs functions at airports in each year from 2020 to 2026.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The security of the UK border is Border Force's number one priority. Border Force operates a flexible resourcing model, regularly assessing deployments against operational requirements and emerging border security threats. Officers are deployed dynamically to ensure that critical customs, immigration and security functions are delivered effectively.

Border Force does not publish information on the number of officers assigned to specific operational functions or locations. Releasing such information could reveal operational practices and capabilities, increasing the risk of those seeking to evade customs controls and potentially undermining border security.

Border Force continues to deliver strong enforcement outcomes against illicit goods and organised crime. In the year ending March 2025, Border Force seized record volumes of drugs, demonstrating the effectiveness of our operational approach and targeted deployment of resources.

We keep our resourcing under constant review and will continue to deploy staff where they are needed most to protect the public and maintain the security of the UK border.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to remove regulatory barriers to the rollout of broadband infrastructure in rural areas to accelerate connectivity for the hardest-to-reach communities.

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

The Government is committed to delivering gigabit coverage to at least 99% of UK premises by 2032 and are delivering connectivity to hard-to-reach communities and rural areas not included in supplier plans through Project Gigabit.

We are working to identify and remove barriers to deployment, including improving access to multi-dwelling units, as well as exploring whether reforms to planning legislation can support deployment for fixed and mobile connectivity.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with Ofqual on steps to identify potential marking errors before GCSE, AS and A level results are issued to students.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Ofqual, as the independent regulator of qualifications in England, is responsible for maintaining standards and public confidence in GCSE, AS and A level qualifications. Ofqual requires awarding organisations to have robust arrangements in place for examiner recruitment and training, standardisation, moderation, marking, grading and quality assurance, including processes to identify and address potential errors before results are issued.

Throughout each assessment cycle, Ofqual monitors awarding organisations' readiness and delivery, including their management of key risks such as marking and grading.

If students believe there were errors, they can access established post-results services, including reviews of marking and appeals. Ofqual regulates these arrangements, sets the requirements that awarding organisations must meet when delivering them and keeps them under review.

To support transparency, Ofqual publishes an annual Delivery Report on the awarding of qualifications. This sets out how examinations and assessments were delivered, including information on marking, grading, incidents, reviews of marking and the action taken to protect students where issues arise.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Ofqual on steps to improve transparency for students about the level of uncertainty associated with GCSE, AS and A level grades.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Ofqual, as the independent regulator of qualifications in England, is responsible for maintaining standards and public confidence in GCSE, AS and A level qualifications. Ofqual requires awarding organisations to have robust arrangements in place for examiner recruitment and training, standardisation, moderation, marking, grading and quality assurance, including processes to identify and address potential errors before results are issued.

Throughout each assessment cycle, Ofqual monitors awarding organisations' readiness and delivery, including their management of key risks such as marking and grading.

If students believe there were errors, they can access established post-results services, including reviews of marking and appeals. Ofqual regulates these arrangements, sets the requirements that awarding organisations must meet when delivering them and keeps them under review.

To support transparency, Ofqual publishes an annual Delivery Report on the awarding of qualifications. This sets out how examinations and assessments were delivered, including information on marking, grading, incidents, reviews of marking and the action taken to protect students where issues arise.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Ofqual on the merits of reinstating the system in place before 2016 for reviews of marking of GCSE, AS and A level examinations.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Ofqual, as the independent regulator of qualifications in England, is responsible for maintaining standards and public confidence in GCSE, AS and A level qualifications. Ofqual requires awarding organisations to have robust arrangements in place for examiner recruitment and training, standardisation, moderation, marking, grading and quality assurance, including processes to identify and address potential errors before results are issued.

Throughout each assessment cycle, Ofqual monitors awarding organisations' readiness and delivery, including their management of key risks such as marking and grading.

If students believe there were errors, they can access established post-results services, including reviews of marking and appeals. Ofqual regulates these arrangements, sets the requirements that awarding organisations must meet when delivering them and keeps them under review.

To support transparency, Ofqual publishes an annual Delivery Report on the awarding of qualifications. This sets out how examinations and assessments were delivered, including information on marking, grading, incidents, reviews of marking and the action taken to protect students where issues arise.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2026 to Question 110439 on Defence: Finance, and with reference to the Defence Investment Plan published on 30 June 2026, what the Ministry of Defence Total Departmental Expenditure Limit settlement will be as a percentage of GDP in each financial year from 2026-27 to 2029-30.

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

The Ministry of Defence Total Departmental Expenditure Limit (TDEL) settlement, as set out in the Defence Investment Plan published on 30 June 2026, is estimated to equate to the following percentages of GDP:

These figures are based on current OBR GDP forecasts and will be subject to revision as GDP forecasts are updated.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department a) has procured Chinese made vehicles since January 2025 and b) has any mitigation measures in place when using Chinese made cars on MoD premises.

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

We procure vehicles from a range of manufacturers, including Chinese marques. Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicles, regardless of country of manufacture, and we are working across MOD to ensure risks are appropriately managed in accordance with the needs of different communities. We do not give details of restrictions and controls as to do so could benefit potential adversaries.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any reports were made (a) within her Department, or (b) to the appropriate authorities, of suspected (i) surveillance of anyone in her Department, or (ii) interference from outside her Department, related to the decision on the redevelopment of the Royal Mint Court site into a new Chinese Embassy.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government does not routinely comment on matters of national security.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department has considered the potential merits of creating a railcard for military spouses and family members.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This railcard already exists. The HM Forces Railcard, administered by the Ministry of Defence, is available to serving members of the Armed Forces, as well as eligible spouses, civil partners and dependent children, each of whom may hold their own Railcard and receive rail discounts while travelling independently. Additionally, the Veterans Railcard allows the holder to obtain discounts for one named adult companion and up to four children when they are travelling with the veteran.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has met with representatives of The Football Association to discuss safeguarding and behavioural standards in grassroots football; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. Sport England and UK Sport (DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies for sport) provide support to the sport and physical activity sector around safeguarding, including funding the Ann Craft Trust and the NSPCC who provide safeguarding standards and guidance.

The Football Association (The FA), is responsible for the rules governing football, the regulation of the sport and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. For this reason, the department does not hold data on the number safeguarding incidents in grassroots football and has not made an assessment of trends..

My department engages regularly with the FA on a variety of topics, including safeguarding. Whilst we recognise that significant work is taking place in sport on this issue, more must be done to continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the sector.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has assessed the impact of competition rules in grassroots football that award points to teams when fixtures are not fulfilled due to safeguarding concerns; and whether she has had discussions with relevant governing bodies on ensuring such rules do not discourage clubs from prioritising player welfare.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. Sport England and UK Sport (DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies for sport) provide support to the sport and physical activity sector around safeguarding, including funding the Ann Craft Trust and the NSPCC who provide safeguarding standards and guidance.

The Football Association (The FA), is responsible for the rules governing football, the regulation of the sport and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. For this reason, the department does not hold data on the number safeguarding incidents in grassroots football and has not made an assessment of trends..

My department engages regularly with the FA on a variety of topics, including safeguarding. Whilst we recognise that significant work is taking place in sport on this issue, more must be done to continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the sector.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of safeguarding standards and behavioural enforcement in grassroots youth football; and what steps she is taking to ensure that children participating in grassroots sport are protected from abuse, intimidation and unsafe environments.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. Sport England and UK Sport (DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies for sport) provide support to the sport and physical activity sector around safeguarding, including funding the Ann Craft Trust and the NSPCC who provide safeguarding standards and guidance.

The Football Association (The FA), is responsible for the rules governing football, the regulation of the sport and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. For this reason, the department does not hold data on the number safeguarding incidents in grassroots football and has not made an assessment of trends..

My department engages regularly with the FA on a variety of topics, including safeguarding. Whilst we recognise that significant work is taking place in sport on this issue, more must be done to continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the sector.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of governance and disciplinary processes operated by The Football Association in addressing repeated misconduct and safeguarding concerns in grassroots football.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. Sport England and UK Sport (DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies for sport) provide support to the sport and physical activity sector around safeguarding, including funding the Ann Craft Trust and the NSPCC who provide safeguarding standards and guidance.

The Football Association (The FA), is responsible for the rules governing football, the regulation of the sport and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. For this reason, the department does not hold data on the number safeguarding incidents in grassroots football and has not made an assessment of trends..

My department engages regularly with the FA on a variety of topics, including safeguarding. Whilst we recognise that significant work is taking place in sport on this issue, more must be done to continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the sector.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what data her Department holds on the number of reported safeguarding and misconduct incidents in grassroots youth football in the last three years; and what assessment she has made of trends in such incidents.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. Sport England and UK Sport (DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies for sport) provide support to the sport and physical activity sector around safeguarding, including funding the Ann Craft Trust and the NSPCC who provide safeguarding standards and guidance.

The Football Association (The FA), is responsible for the rules governing football, the regulation of the sport and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. For this reason, the department does not hold data on the number safeguarding incidents in grassroots football and has not made an assessment of trends..

My department engages regularly with the FA on a variety of topics, including safeguarding. Whilst we recognise that significant work is taking place in sport on this issue, more must be done to continue to strengthen safeguarding systems across the sector.

Found: Select Committee Changes or Nominations Resolved, Alicia Kearns to be discharged and Sir Alec Shelbrooke