Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a review of access policies in relation to the Home Office Atlas immigration database in the context of the recent guilty verdict in the Peter Wai case.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office has a robust Identity and access management policy that sets out how all staff should access Home Office systems, assets and data, specifically outlining how only appropriately authorised and ‘identified’ individuals should have the ability to gain entry via mechanisms such as password management, access control and account management.

We keep our security arrangements under constant review, which is why we have undertaken a programme of work to strengthen them further, with a number of additional measures being adopted to tighten controls.

It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific details of our security arrangements as to do so could undermine their effectiveness.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his Department’s policy to accelerate the implementation of the Leasehold Reform Act 2024.

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

Balancing speed with care, the government continues to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations are currently underway into potential foreign interference activities linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters.

The verdicts in the recent trial represent the first convictions under the National Security Act related to China and send a strong message that the full force of the law will be applied to anyone who carries out hostile acts in the UK on behalf of any foreign state.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) data protection and (b) privacy safeguards are in place to ensure the security of (i) home addresses and (ii) other personal information belonging to individuals considered vulnerable to targeting by (A) hostile foreign state actors and (B) transnational repression activities.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters. However, we continually assess potential threats to individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK and are front footed in identifying and investigating such threats. Wherever threat is identified, we use all appropriate measures, including through our world class police and intelligence services, to mitigate risk to individuals.

Any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, undermining democracy and the rule of law, will never be tolerated and will be thoroughly investigated.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports that nine suspects arrested under the National Security Act 2023 in relation to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office trial were released because law enforcement agencies lacked sufficient translation capabilities to translate evidential material.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

While it would not be appropriate to comment on decisions on whether or not to charge individuals in specific cases. Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools and translation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidential requirements.

CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development and deployment of enhanced technical solutions and by increasing the number of suitably cleared translators.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources have been allocated to (a) Cantonese and (b) Mandarin translation and linguistic capabilities for investigations conducted under the National Security Act 2023.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools and translation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidential requirements.

CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development and deployment of enhanced technical solutions and by increasing the number of suitably cleared translators.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with allies to support deterrence and security in the Taiwan Strait.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Over one third of global maritime trade passes through the South China Sea. Consequently, all countries have a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The UK's position is consistent: that any cross-Strait issues must be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to support local authorities in maintaining children’s play areas.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Responsibility for funding, managing and maintaining urban parks and playgrounds lies mainly with local authorities. We have supported local authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement, which is our most significant step yet to make English local government more sustainable. The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities. We are delivering fairer funding, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade.

In addition to this, we are supporting 66 local authorities through the £18 million Playgrounds Fund, a targeted programme to improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. This will support local authorities to buy new or refurbish up to 200 playgrounds across England over the next two years, prioritising areas with high child deprivation and poor access to safe, local play space.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to reduce instances of youth homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 124201 on 14 April 2026.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Statement: FCDO summons Chinese Ambassador, published on 9 May 2026, whether the People's Republic of China's Ambassador to the UK was formally summoned and demarched by her personally or by her Department's officials.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On the Foreign Secretary's instruction, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office senior officials summoned the Chinese Ambassador on 8 May, as is standard practice. Officials made clear that any attempts by foreign states to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK are unacceptable. It was made clear that the UK Government will continue to use the full range of tools available to protect our security and hold China to account for actions which undermine our safety and democratic values.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support traditional English markets.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises the important economic and social contribution that markets make to our high streets and town centres. Local authorities are empowered to make decisions on running, supporting and investing in local markets in their areas.

However, we want to ensure that markets can thrive where they are established. From 1 April 2026, we introduced permanently lower business rates multipliers for qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000, including markets.

Communities can also choose to invest in markets through the Government’s Pride in Place programme, which will provide £20 million over 10 years to 284 of the most deprived places in the UK, empowering local people to make decisions about what is important to them, including markets.

Later this year, we will also bring forward a High Streets Strategy, backed by £301 million of support, to help turn the tide on the high streets most in need.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his department intends to introduce further regulation of a) e-bicycles and b) e-scooters.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The rules concerning the use of e-bikes are set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983.

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which will include e-scooters, when Parliamentary time allows. We will be consulting on detailed e-scooter regulations over the next year.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 will give local leaders new powers to regulate shared on-street cycle rental schemes. Minimum standard licence requirements will be set out by the Secretary of State in regulations, with safety being a core consideration.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to improve the safety of publicly accessible a) e-bicycles and b) e-scooters.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The rules concerning the use of e-bikes are set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983.

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which will include e-scooters, when Parliamentary time allows. We will be consulting on detailed e-scooter regulations over the next year.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 will give local leaders new powers to regulate shared on-street cycle rental schemes. Minimum standard licence requirements will be set out by the Secretary of State in regulations, with safety being a core consideration.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to (a) review and (b) revoke the privileges and immunities currently afforded to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May in response to Questions 724 and 725.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to repeal the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May in response to Questions 724 and 725.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 29 April 2026 on Syria, HCWS1552, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Syrian Government, the Syrian Democratic Forces and international partners on preserving evidence relating to Daesh crimes against Yazidis and other religious minorities following the closure of al-Hol camp.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 February in response to Question HL13863. In my meeting with President Al Sharaa and Foreign Minister Al Shaibani on 31 March, I pressed UK concerns on human rights and securing justice for all Syrians. The Attorney General also offered UK support on transitional justice and accountability for crimes committed during Syria's civil war and the actions of the brutal Assad regime.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she had with her US counterparts on the potential impact of arms sales to Taiwan on that country's security and autonomy prior to the recent US-China summit.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

UK ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their US counterparts on a regular basis.

The UK continues to believe that the Taiwan issue should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is important for regional and global prosperity.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister has recently raised Taiwan’s security with the President of the United States.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

UK ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their US counterparts on a regular basis.

The UK continues to believe that the Taiwan issue should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is important for regional and global prosperity.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of recent progress in meeting the UK’s formal obligations under the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) for the South Atlantic Overseas Territories; what the planned timetable is for publication of the consolidated ACAP implementation plans; and what steps she is taking to help ensure annual reviews of the National Plans of Action for trawl and longline fisheries are completed.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra works with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Governments of the South Atlantic Overseas Territories (SAOT) to report annually on progress towards meeting UK obligations under ACAP. The SAOT ACAP implementation plans are included in the current UK ACAP work programme for review. Revised implementation plans will need to align ACAP priorities and those of the SAOTs. The timetable for publication of ACAP implementation plans will be determined by the SAOTs. Reviews of National Plans of Action for trawl and longline fisheries are the responsibility of the relevant SAOT, but Defra and JNCC are ready to assist with these as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to increase sign language fluency in English state schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department supports British Sign Language (BSL) as an important part of our inclusive education strategy. While BSL is not currently part of the national curriculum, schools are free to teach it if they wish, and many already do to meet the needs and interests of their pupils.​

The government, working with the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), has also developed the content and assessment arrangements for a new BSL GCSE and is actively encouraging exam boards to develop qualification specifications. We have written to the exam boards to encourage them to seize the opportunity to offer this high-quality qualification to ensure young people can study BSL at GCSE. The development of a BSL GCSE is an important step toward fostering greater recognition of BSL as a language. It will give young people the chance to develop fluency in BSL and to explore its rich history as a language, helping to break down barriers between deaf and hearing communities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to ensure the safety of children with allergies in English state schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to improving allergy safety in schools.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act introduces a new duty requiring all schools in England to put allergy safety measures into place. Schools will be required to have allergy safety policies, review them at least annually and publish them on their website. A regulation-making power will permit my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to place specific allergy safety duties, including requiring schools to stock adrenaline devices, to secure allergy awareness training, the recording and reporting of incidents and the content of allergy safety policies.

Schools will be required to have regard to statutory guidance. Draft statutory guidance was published for consultation on 6 March. The consultation closed on 15 May, so the new guidance can be published in the summer and come into effect from September 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to mandate the provision of milk in English state schools.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

We know milk is excellent for children’s growth and development. Regulation 9 of the School Food Standards states that lower fat milk or lactose reduced milk must be available to children who want it for drinking at least once a day during school hours.

The department is updating the School Food Standards to ensure they reflect the latest scientific evidence on children’s diets and provide a modern, evidence‑based framework to support healthier eating in schools. As part of our proposals, this daily requirement is retained, with semi‑skimmed milk, skimmed milk or lactose-free milk continuing to be available for drinking at least once a day during school hours.

Under Section 512ZB (3) of the Education Act 1996, it is also a legislative requirement that milk is provided free of charge to pupils under the current free school meal criteria

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to ensure nutritionally balanced meals in English state schools.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The School Food Standards set the mandatory nutritional framework for food and drink provided in state‑funded schools in England. They are designed to ensure children receive the energy and nutrients they need during the school day, while giving schools flexibility to design menus that work for their pupils and local circumstances.

Since the School Food Standards were introduced in 2014, the dietary recommendations on free sugar, fibre and sweeteners have changed and the proportion of children living with obesity is high. The department is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever, so we are consulting on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school, including at breakfast and lunch, better reflects current nutritional guidance and support children’s health, wellbeing and learning. The consultation is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-food-standards-updating-the-legislative-framework.

Strong standards must be backed by strong compliance. That’s why we are proposing greater transparency, including a lead school food governor and published menus.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to improve access to early years childcare support.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Through our Best Start in Life strategy we are focused on reforming the childcare system to increase affordability, accessibility and improve the quality of early education and care that families receive.

In 2026/27, we expect to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled-out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents. 30 hours per week of government funded childcare will save families using their full entitlement up to £8,000 per eligible child per year. We are increasing Early Years Pupil Premium rate by 15% to £1.15 per hour in 2026/27, equivalent to up to £655 per eligible child per year. This gives additional funding to providers to invest in evidence-informed approaches to supporting children from low-income families.

The department has regular contact with all local authorities in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. To date, no local authorities have reported any sufficiency issues.

We have announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access the quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans further to regulate home schooling.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The new Children Not in School measures of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, when implemented, will require local authorities to maintain registers of children who are not in school, including home-educated children, require parents of eligible children to give information for these registers, introduce the first ever duty on local authorities to provide support for home educating families, and introduce a consent requirement for the most vulnerable children. As with all new policy, we will keep the implementation of these measures and any evidence of a need for further regulation under review.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he has taken work with the Scottish Government in support of the North Sea oil industry.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Oil and gas will be part of our energy mix for decades to come. The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government to support the North Sea energy sector, focusing on safeguarding the skills of the workforce and driving investment in the region to secure the industry's long-term future.

The government will launch the North Sea Jobs Service later this year - a national employment programme offering tailored end-to-end support for the current workforce seeking new opportunities in growing industries across the government’s industrial strategy sectors, including clean energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing.

We have provided clarity on the permanent windfall tax mechanism which will replace the Energy Profits Levy when it ends, as well as introducing ‘Transitional Energy Certificates’ which will give holders exclusivity over a specific area of the seabed adjacent to existing licenced blocks. We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that the North Sea’s crucial role in the UK’s energy landscape is supported for the future.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to expand cooperation on delivering global energy security with the United Arab Emirates.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In April we formally agreed to a framework for enhanced cooperation between the UK and UAE, which covers foreign affairs, defence, energy, trade and investment, artificial intelligence, judicial cooperation, and illicit finance. This framework will provide a strong basis for growing our cooperation across these areas, including on energy security.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to support a) residential and b) nursing care homes.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are making additional funding available for adult social care to support the sector in making improvements. Local authorities can use this additional funding for a range of investments including increasing the fee rates they pay to providers of adult social care via residential and nursing care homes. The total additional funding available for adult social care in 2026/27 compared to 2025/26 is over £1.6 billion, rising to over £4.6 billion in 2028/29.

The Department’s publication, Adult social care priorities for local authorities: 2026 to 2027, sets out priority outcomes and expectations for local authorities to help drive their delivery of the Government’s priorities for adult social care, including for local authorities to set fee rates at a sustainable level. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-priorities-for-local-authorities

We are also introducing a new Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care, implementing the first universal career structure for adult social care, and providing £10 million this year for staff to complete training and qualifications. These changes will help attract staff to the sector, including to work in residential and nursing care homes, and will provide staff with proper recognition and opportunities to build their careers.

We are also supporting the Care Quality Commission to be a trusted partner, regulator and driver of standards across England for social care, underpinned by provider inspections and local authority assessments.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure the safety of residents in a) residential and b) nursing care homes.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Any form of abuse or neglect is unacceptable, and the safety of residents in residential and nursing care homes is of the utmost importance.

Statutory guidance under the Care Act 2014 makes clear that local authorities must ensure the adult social care services they commission are safe, effective and of high quality. A local authority must make enquiries when it has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult with care and support needs is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and is unable to protect themselves.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It registers, monitors and assesses services to make sure that they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. The CQC has a range of enforcement powers that they can use where it finds that care services do not have suitable arrangements to keep people safe.

All registered providers have a duty to safeguard people using their service from abuse and improper treatment. As part of their assessments in care homes, the CQC checks whether services have effective systems, processes and practices to protect people from abuse and neglect.

In addition, the Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a new duty from April 2023 for the CQC to assess local authorities’ delivery of its adult social care duties under Part 1 of the Care Act as part of the Health and Care Act. These assessments also review how well local authorities meet their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that there are effective systems and oversight of key safeguarding risks in the area.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to prevent small to medium sized businesses ceasing to trade.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government is committed to supporting all small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive support package in a generation. The plan features the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance for start-ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets, as well as boosting Digital and AI Adoption.

The Business Growth Service makes it easier for SMEs to access the right support at any stage of their growth journey, while Grow London Local provides expert advice for businesses across Greater London, including Romford.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to encourage the growth of small and medium sized enterprises.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government is committed to supporting all small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive support package in a generation. The plan features the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance for start-ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets, as well as boosting Digital and AI Adoption.

The Business Growth Service makes it easier for SMEs to access the right support at any stage of their growth journey, while Grow London Local provides expert advice for businesses across Greater London, including Romford.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she has taken to support growth in the North Sea oil industry.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the economic importance of the North Sea. Oil and gas production has played, and will continue to play, a role in the UK’s energy mix as we move to a lower carbon economy.

Our North Sea Future Plan, published alongside the Budget, provides certainty on the future regulatory regime for oil and gas and sets out the action we are taking to support ongoing investment and continued opportunities in oil and gas to ensure a fair orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea.

We are introducing new ‘Transitional Energy Certificates’ (TECs) to ensure existing fields can be managed for their full lifespan. In April we set out further details on the criteria for the granting of a TEC.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on juxtaposed ports and Kent traffic flows should flexible and proportionate implementation of the EU Entry-Exit System not be applied during the May half-term holiday period.

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

The implementation of the EU’s Entry-Exit System at the juxtaposed portals is the responsibility of the French government and the UK government has worked closely with the border authorities to understand their rollout plans and resourcing.

The Department for Transport is also working closely with the UK juxtaposed portals (Port of Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar St Pancras) and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) to prepare for full implementation of the EU Entry Exit System. As in the case during any peak travel period, the KMRF has assessed expected travel volumes and the necessary traffic management resources have been made available.

Somme 110

Exemptions permitting the carrying of ceremonial knives

Devon Day 2026

110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Support for the Red Arrows

Arthritis Awareness Month 2026

90th anniversary of the Spitfire

81st anniversary of VE Day