Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to simplify the renewal process for Blue Badge holders.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme. They are responsible for determining and implementing the administrative, assessment, and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation.

Whilst it remains a matter for each individual local authority to decide on and to produce application form(s) for their area, to assist local authorities in deciding whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, the DfT has produced a model application form with accompanying guidance notes for applicants on how to complete the form.

The Department also recommends that authorities provide the guidance notes as a separate document to the application form so that they can be retained by the applicant for future reference after their application has been submitted.

In addition, the Department works closely with its Blue Badge Digital Service supplier to identify possible improvements to the online application and renewal process as part of its continuous improvement programme.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) the USA and (b) South Korea on alternative methods to replace animal experiments in medical research.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Many animal testing regulations are backed by international agreements and the Government works to ensure regulatory alignment where appropriate. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) represent the UK at the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, on accelerating acceptance of data from non-animal methods for drug safety decision making. Officials engage with international partners such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and attend international meetings to share best practice and consider approaches that reduce reliance on animal testing.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing vehicle tax reductions for people in receipt of attendance allowance.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) applies to vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

For individuals who develop a disability after the State Pension age, Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non means-tested benefit which provides targeted help with the extra costs of disability and helps them maintain their independence. While the intention is for AA to cover the need for care or supervision an individual requires as a result of their disability, individuals may choose to use their AA to fund mobility aids.

However, AA does not have a specific mobility component, and therefore does not include an exemption from or reduction in VED. The government has no current plans to review or amend this longstanding policy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what financial support his Department provides for the protection of (a) rainforests and (b) Indigenous People and Local Communities in a context of aid cuts.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It remains the Government's ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026, of which £1.5 billion should be for forests. In the context of aid cuts, we will sharpen the focus of our Official Development Assistance investments onto three priorities where we can drive real change: humanitarian, health, and climate and nature.

At COP26 in Glasgow, the UK mobilised the $1.7 billion Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Forest Tenure Pledge and committed £163 million to advance IPLC tenure rights. We continue to prioritise supporting IPLCs, recognising their vital role in tackling the climate and nature crises. We do this through flagship Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office programmes, including on forest governance and land tenure in the Amazon, and as co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support is available to local authorities to improve community (a) libraries, (b) banking hubs and (c) other digital access points for residents lacking reliable home internet access.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

This government is also taking direct steps to support libraries, banks and digital inclusion.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced in February 2025 a further £5.5 million of the Libraries Improvement Fund for 2025-26

The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 170 are already open.

Finally, the Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps in February 2025, which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year on digital inclusion.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with civil society organisations on the proscription of Palestine Action.

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

Every proscription decision is made through careful consideration by the Home Secretary and follows advice from the cross-government Proscription Review Group, which involves technical assessments and deep engagement with subject matter experts including policy officials and law enforcement.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licences have been granted for experiments using (a) dogs,(b) cats and (c) primates since 4 July 2025.

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

Since 4 July 2025 to the present day, no new project licences have been granted that authorise the use of dogs, cats or primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that public heritage bodies reflect and respect (a) cultural and (b) national differences when (i) promoting and (ii) interpreting historic sites in Cornwall.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

This government recognises the importance of respecting and recognising cultural and national differences and ensuring that the heritage that reflects this is celebrated.

Historic England, as the government's advisor, partners closely with Cornwall Council. They are part of Bord Ertach Kernow, helping shape and deliver Cornwall's Historic Environment Strategy, and part-funded the Distinctiveness Study highlighting Cornish culture's role in local heritage. They are also actively involved in groups promoting Cornish language use and cultural engagement.

Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has invested over £134 million in 848 Cornish projects, including the £2.4 million Tamar Landscape Partnership. These projects celebrate Cornwall's unique culture and history, and the Heritage Fund specifically supports the use and translation of Cornish language in project materials.

English Heritage Trust actively incorporates the Cornish language at its sites in Cornwall, following Council guidance for signage, interpretation, and educational resources, thereby supporting the language's preservation and awareness.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of current digital infrastructure in supporting online (a) healthcare, (b) education and (c) banking services in rural villages.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Digital infrastructure underpins all aspects of modern life, including access to GP, educational and banking services.

Through Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, we are continuing to deliver improvements in broadband and mobile connectivity to areas with limited coverage, including in rural villages.

The Government remains committed to ensuring at least 99% of UK premises receive gigabit coverage by 2032. Over 88% of UK premises can already access gigabit capable broadband.

4G coverage from at least one mobile operator has now reached over 95% of the UK landmass as a result of the Shared Rural Network, while 4G is also available inside almost 100% of UK premises from one operator. Our ambition is to go further and for all populated areas to benefit from higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to include Cornish language on trunk road signage at major entry points into Cornwall.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has no current plans to authorise the use of Cornish language signs on trunk roads at entry points into Cornwall or on traffic signs within Cornwall.

Even if local authorities believe they have an exceptional need to translate English traffic signs into other languages, there is no provision for this in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help increase the use of the Cornish language on (a) transport routes and (b) signage within Cornwall.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has no current plans to authorise the use of Cornish language signs on trunk roads at entry points into Cornwall or on traffic signs within Cornwall.

Even if local authorities believe they have an exceptional need to translate English traffic signs into other languages, there is no provision for this in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD).

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Malaysian counterpart on (a) protecting tropical forests and (b)(i) safeguarding and (ii) recognising the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary met Malaysian PM Anwar on 11 July and discussed Malaysia's climate commitments.

Tackling deforestation and safeguarding the role of local smallholder communities was the focal point of the Minister for Climate's visit in April 2025 when she and Malaysian Minister for Plantations launched the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue Forum promoting deforestation-free crop production.

In March 2025, I launched the UK International Climate Fund (ICF) programme 'Seed to Tree'. I engaged with the indigenous community on establishing seed banks, plant nurseries and translocating saplings for wider forest restoration efforts in Malaysia to combat climate change.

The UK is working with Malaysia and the Netherlands under a UK ICF programme where smallholders (comprising indigenous and local community groups) from across Malaysia are trained to be market-ready producers of sustainable palm oil and deforestation free crops.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the (a) travel distances and (b) levels of public transport in (i) site planning and (ii) service design for neighbourhood health centres in rural areas; and what his timeline is for the rollout of those centres.

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

The Government aims to establish a Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community by 2035. Neighbourhood Health Centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services.

Nationwide coverage will take time, but we will start in the areas of greatest need where healthy life expectancy is lowest, including rural towns and communities with higher deprivation levels, using public capital to update and refurbish existing, under-used buildings.

We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, services will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, and deprived inner cities, to reflect local needs.

On 21 July 2025, I wrote to Members of Parliament highlighting that the Department and NHS England have written to integrated care boards and local authorities to invite applications to participate in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, to establish a Neighbourhood Health Centre delivery pipeline.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (England) Regulations 2025 on (a) small-scale and (b) hill farmers in South East Cornwall constituency.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of the Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (England) Regulations 2025 on small scale and hill farmers in South East Cornwall.

The mandating of sheep carcase classification and price reporting will create a more transparent, productive and efficient sheep market across the UK. It will encourage producers to improve productivity and to rear sheep to better meet market specifications and consumer demand, bringing the sector in line with the beef and pig sectors. Carcases will be assessed against a consistent grading and pricing system rewarding producers for the quality of lambs being sent for slaughter.

The regulations will be applicable to abattoirs with a throughput of at least 2,000 sheep per week. Abattoirs processing 1,000 to 1999 sheep per week are able to opt into the mandatory scheme. The weekly throughput of 2,000 sheep per week will exempt smaller abattoirs from the scheme so that we do not place additional regulatory and administrative burdens on them.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to introduce legislation to ban the importation of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods originating in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. UK Government guidance equips individuals and businesses to make their own informed choices regarding such commercial activities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve bilingual provision in (a) Cornish and (b) English in agricultural (i) guidance and (ii) communications for farmers in Cornwall.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Cornish is not currently a legally recognised formal language under UK law. Any translations or bilingual materials would be a matter of voluntary policy or local practice. Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the spread of (a) bee pests and (b) diseases linked to the importation of non-native honey bee strains.

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

Apis mellifera also known as the Western honey bee is native to Europe. All consignments of honey bees (Apis mellifera) imported into the UK must be accompanied by health certificates confirming that the area the bees originated from is free of certain pests and diseases. The health certificate must be issued no more than 24 hours prior to dispatch and the certifying officer must also confirm that a pre-export inspection took place.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a coastal strategy which includes the Cornish language.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to promoting economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities. It has introduced a new, targeted approach to support regional growth, tackle deprivation, and restore pride to communities. These new programmes are just one component of the government’s strategy, which also includes the publishing of the Industrial Strategy; and the expansion of devolution.

MHCLG Area Teams will continue to work with local stakeholders to understand challenges and opportunities from across all communities, reflecting these into the relevant government departments and policy teams.

On 19 May, Defra launched the “Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund” that will invest £360 million over the next 12 years to help support the UK fishing industry and revitalise coastal communities. Defra will be engaging with stakeholders to understand how to target this funding where it matters most.

MHCLG will continue to work with Cornwall Council and its partners to encourage the further development of Cornish culture and heritage. This will follow up work including the funding of £500,000 for Cornish language and culture as part of Cornwall’s Devolution Deal in 2023.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) native and (b) varroa-tolerant bee breeding programmes in England.

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

Developing varroa-tolerant bees through selective breeding is likely to be very difficult as it requires geographic isolation or artificial insemination to preserve the resistance traits being selected for, as well as large numbers of colonies to ensure that the resulting strains maintain good genetic diversity. There is advice for beekeepers about how to manage Varroa and queen rearing on BeeBase, the website managed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the inclusion of women and girls in the development of global climate resilience (a) policies and (b) programmes.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

To ensure gender equality and inclusion characteristics are a key part of UK International Climate Finance (ICF) funded programmes including on resilience, in May 2025 we published Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Guidance for ICF delivery partners. The guidance provides a common framework to integrate gender equality, disability and social inclusion into ICF programme design and delivery and outlines minimum standards and ambitions on GEDSI. The guidance supports our ambition to ensure all new ICF programmes are designed to be 'GEDSI empowering', delivering positive and equitable outcomes for all people.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to take steps to support the use of the Cornish language on official documents.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK Government recognises Cornish as a minority language under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

There are no statutory requirements for the Home Office to provide official documents in Cornish. Responsibility for promoting and supporting the Cornish language sits with Cornwall Council, with UK-wide policy oversight led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on levels of (a) child malnutrition and (b) access to baby formula in Gaza.

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

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, and the suffering of so many children there is heartbreaking. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on 15 July that one in ten children screened in UNRWA medical facilities is malnourished. We highlighted the critical situation for Gaza's children at a session of the UN Security Council which we co-called on 16 July, and at the International Development Committee on 16 July. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar about the humanitarian situation in Gaza on 21 July. The UK continues to demand that a full and unhindered resumption of aid into Gaza takes place immediately. Israel must immediately allow the UN and aid partners to safely deliver aid at scale and in line with humanitarian principles.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on UK military involvement in the event of an escalation in conflict between Iran and Israel.

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

We will not comment on discussions in relation to matters of national security. But as we have made clear, we were not involved in US strikes on Iran, just as we were not involved in Israel's operations.

Found: Shrewsbury) Ellie Chowns (Green Party; North Herefordshire) Barry Gardiner (Labour; Brent West) Anna Gelderd

Found: present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd

Found: Committee Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd