Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reduced competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure on consumers.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK telecoms Market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities, designated on 27 April 2026, highlights that competition in the fixed telecoms market supports investment, innovation and consumer choice. As a result, the UK benefits from relatively low consumer pricing, and prices have declined in recent years when adjusted for inflation. In addition, Ofcom reported in February 2026 that out of six countries analysed (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US), the UK had the third-lowest standalone fixed broadband prices in 2025. Wider comparative data on international pricing and market dynamics is limited.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator, plays a key role in supporting competition, including by imposing proportionate remedies on Openreach where necessary. The UK’s pro-competition approach has driven fibre roll-out, with over a hundred alternative networks entering the market in recent years. According to Ofcom as of January 2026, 77% of residential premises have access to more than one network.
The Government and Ofcom also ensure that strong consumer protections are in place so that the benefits of competition are delivered fairly. Earlier this year, the Government published the Telecoms Consumer Charter, a set of voluntary commitments agreed with major operators to strengthen transparency, empower consumers and improve support for those struggling to pay, building on Ofcom’s existing requirements to ensure people receive clear, fair and easily understandable information.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how terrorist murders of British nationals committed in foreign countries are investigated; and whether responsibility for such investigations lies with (a) British police forces and (b) local law enforcement authorities.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Crimes against British nationals overseas are investigated by the law enforcement authorities of the country where the crime occurs, just as crimes against foreign nationals in the UK are investigated by UK police. UK police may provide assistance or pursue related lines of enquiry where there is a UK connection or at the request of the overseas police force, but primary responsibility rests with the country where the crime happened.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what rights individuals have to be informed if they (a) are and (b) have been the target of a terrorist organisation; and under what circumstances her Department discloses intelligence relating to such threats.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government takes the safety and security of individuals in the United Kingdom very seriously.
There is no general or statutory right for individuals to be informed that they are, or have been, the target of a terrorist organisation. Decisions on whether to provide information or advice are made on a case-by-case basis, informed by the nature of the threat and operational considerations.
Where appropriate, and where it is assessed that an individual may be at heightened risk, the police and other relevant authorities may provide protective security advice and other support.
We must balance the protection of individuals with the need to safeguard sensitive intelligence and ongoing operations.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government will be represented at the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect small bird keepers in relation to avian flu regulations.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Steps being taken by the Government to protect small bird keepers from disproportionate impacts of avian influenza regulations, include:
To support small bird keepers in achieving good biosecurity, APHA circulates advice and guidance targeted at small keepers, through email and social media, including a weekly biosecurity tip.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review how shared care arrangements are reflected in the child maintenance and benefits systems for separated parents; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of support available to parents who share custody of their children on an equal or near-equal basis but are not designated as the main carer for the purposes of benefit eligibility.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government recognises that shared care arrangements can play an important role in supporting children to maintain relationships with both parents after separation.
In the child maintenance system, shared care is reflected in the maintenance calculation. Where a child stays overnight with the paying parent for at least one night a week on average, the amount of maintenance due is reduced to reflect the care provided.
If the Child Maintenance Service is satisfied that both parents have equal day-to-day care for the child, in addition to sharing overnight care, there is no requirement for either parent to pay child maintenance.
Across the social security system more broadly, entitlement to benefits is generally based on the identification of who has main responsibility for the child, reflecting the need for a clear and administrable basis for determining entitlement. This approach applies consistently across benefits such as Child Benefit and Universal Credit.
As part of wider work on Child Maintenance reforms, we are working to modernise the Child Maintenance calculation to ensure that it is fair, better reflects the cost of raising children today and encourages willing and able compliance.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken to issue Remediable Service Statements to members of the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme following the McCloud judgment.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham to the answer of 20 March 2026 to Question 112455.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support dairy farmers.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government paid more than £2.6 billion to British farmers, including those in the dairy sector in 2024-25, the most funding in a single financial year since we left the EU. This included funding toward Environmental Land Management schemes, improving animal health and welfare on farm and grants to drive innovation in agriculture and food production across England.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of a five-day response window for community consultation on proposals for large-scale asylum accommodation; and whether guidance will be revised to ensure adequate time is provided for local residents and stakeholders to respond.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office remain committed to ensuring that any impact on local communities is kept to a minimum. Consultation with local authority officials forms a vital part of procurement of asylum accommodation. The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process, which not only ensures that local authorities are aware of all ongoing procurement activity of Dispersed Accommodation in their respective areas but also allows them to share local expertise and intelligence at the earliest opportunity to inform procurement. However, to protect the safety and security of those being housed in Dispersal Accommodation (DA), we do not consult with local residents or publish details of DA address in the public domain.
Our accommodation providers ensure that consultation with local authorities is carried out in accordance with the requirements and standards set out in the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts. We work closely with statutory partners throughout the process to ensure effective coordination and oversight.
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what oversight her Department has of consultation processes undertaken by private asylum accommodation providers when proposing new accommodation sites; and what minimum standards are required to ensure engagement with local communities.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office remain committed to ensuring that any impact on local communities is kept to a minimum. Consultation with local authority officials forms a vital part of procurement of asylum accommodation. The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process, which not only ensures that local authorities are aware of all ongoing procurement activity of Dispersed Accommodation in their respective areas but also allows them to share local expertise and intelligence at the earliest opportunity to inform procurement. However, to protect the safety and security of those being housed in Dispersal Accommodation (DA), we do not consult with local residents or publish details of DA address in the public domain.
Our accommodation providers ensure that consultation with local authorities is carried out in accordance with the requirements and standards set out in the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts. We work closely with statutory partners throughout the process to ensure effective coordination and oversight.