Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, What assessment she has made of the potential impact of bicycle theft and violent robbery on the level of cycling and active travel.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Fear of having a bike stolen can be a serious deterrent to those who might want to take up cycling.

Active Travel England is providing funding for local authorities to introduce secure cycle parking. In addition, the British Transport Police are tackling cycle theft at rail stations by both uniformed patrols and use of plain clothes officers at hotspot locations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support her Department provides to local authorities to improve secure cycle parking and crime prevention infrastructure.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On 10 December 2025, my Department announced that local authorities will receive £626 million for active travel between 2026/27 and 2029/30. This funding can be used to support any form of active travel scheme, including secure cycle parking.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many unminuted meetings a) the Prime Minister and b) other ministers have had with organisations with government contracts since July 2024.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Government departments publish details of all official meetings their ministers hold with external individuals and organisations every quarter.

As per Cabinet Office guidance, meetings held with external organisations regarding contracted services already being provided to departments are not routinely declared.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether receiving Personal Independence Payment for a temporary period will impact access to the proposed extended settlement period.

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

Personal Independence Payments constitute public funds for the purposes of the Immigration Rules. It has not yet been determined what will constitute public funds or the purposes of adjustments to the qualifying period for settlement under the earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448).

No final decisions have been taken. The proposals have been the subject of a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received and will give careful consideration to these assessments in shaping the final model, including its application to vulnerable groups.

We have committed to undertaking economic and equality impact assessments in respect of the final model, which we will publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has undertaken an assessment of how the ‘earned settlement model’ will affect its commitments to ending child poverty and rough sleeping.

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

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on children and vulnerable groups. We also asked whether vulnerable groups should be exempt from any of the proposed changes.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether UK officials have made representations to the Israeli authorities regarding legal proceedings, land status, or reported risks of confiscation relating to the Tent of Nations farm near Bethlehem.

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

The UK remains concerned about the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm . We are aware of the issues surrounding the land and of recent developments affecting the site. The UK regularly monitors the situation in the West Bank. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem engages routinely with communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders on this matter. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. We continue to urge Israel to halt these practices and protect Palestinian communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank; and whether UK officials are monitoring developments affecting that site.

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

The UK remains concerned about the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm . We are aware of the issues surrounding the land and of recent developments affecting the site. The UK regularly monitors the situation in the West Bank. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem engages routinely with communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders on this matter. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. We continue to urge Israel to halt these practices and protect Palestinian communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor and respond to threats to Palestinian agricultural land and livelihoods in the Bethlehem area, including cases involving long-standing private land claims.

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

The UK remains concerned about the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm . We are aware of the issues surrounding the land and of recent developments affecting the site. The UK regularly monitors the situation in the West Bank. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem engages routinely with communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders on this matter. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. We continue to urge Israel to halt these practices and protect Palestinian communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether UK diplomatic staff in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have engaged with the Nassar family or visited the Tent of Nations site in the past 12 months; and whether there are plans for further engagement.

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

The UK remains concerned about the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm . We are aware of the issues surrounding the land and of recent developments affecting the site. The UK regularly monitors the situation in the West Bank. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem engages routinely with communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders on this matter. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. We continue to urge Israel to halt these practices and protect Palestinian communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of settlement activity and land designation policies on privately owned Palestinian land in the Bethlehem governorate.

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

The UK remains concerned about the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm . We are aware of the issues surrounding the land and of recent developments affecting the site. The UK regularly monitors the situation in the West Bank. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem engages routinely with communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders on this matter. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. We continue to urge Israel to halt these practices and protect Palestinian communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support her Department provides to nonviolent civil society and community resilience initiatives in the occupied West Bank.

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

The UK remains concerned about the situation facing the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations farm . We are aware of the issues surrounding the land and of recent developments affecting the site. The UK regularly monitors the situation in the West Bank. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem engages routinely with communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders on this matter. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. We continue to urge Israel to halt these practices and protect Palestinian communities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting the annual level of student maintenance support at a level equivalent to a year's salary paid at the National Living Wage for a 36 hour week.

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

The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. However, it is essential we keep our higher education system financially sustainable.

To help students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds progress and excel in higher education, we are future proofing our maintenance offer by increasing loans for living costs in line with forecast inflation every academic year. This approach ensures that students from the lowest income families receive the largest year-on-year cash increases in support and provides long term certainty on the financial support students will receive while studying.

The department will also provide extra support for care leavers, who will automatically become eligible to receive the maximum rate of loan from the 2026/27 academic year.

Additionally, we are reintroducing targeted, means-tested maintenance grants, providing disadvantaged students with up to £1,000 extra per year on top of existing loans for living costs from the 2028/29 academic year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward a voteable motion on the use of UK military bases in connection with operations related to the escalation in the Middle East.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Defence Ministers will continue to proactively engage with colleagues on the ongoing situation in the House, as well as written questions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to secure an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 17 March, and her answers to the questions raised in response, which dealt with the current situation in Lebanon at length. We will provide further such updates to the House in due course as the situation develops.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of legality of displacement orders in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs under international humanitarian law.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 17 March, and her answers to the questions raised in response, which dealt with the current situation in Lebanon at length. We will provide further such updates to the House in due course as the situation develops.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that donors and the UN-led humanitarian response meet the specific and diverse needs of women and girls in Lebanon.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 17 March, and her answers to the questions raised in response, which dealt with the current situation in Lebanon at length. We will provide further such updates to the House in due course as the situation develops.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure internally displaced people with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable groups can access essential medicines and health services in Lebanon.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 17 March, and her answers to the questions raised in response, which dealt with the current situation in Lebanon at length. We will provide further such updates to the House in due course as the situation develops.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international partners on the protection of Palestinian refugees and displaced communities in Lebanon.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 17 March, and her answers to the questions raised in response, which dealt with the current situation in Lebanon at length. We will provide further such updates to the House in due course as the situation develops.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure safe humanitarian access for aid organisations in Lebanon.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 17 March, and her answers to the questions raised in response, which dealt with the current situation in Lebanon at length. We will provide further such updates to the House in due course as the situation develops.

Use of restraint of children in the asylum system removal process

Planned reductions to BBC staff

Impact of war in the Middle East on the cost of living

Bermuda and oil industry tax

Health and Social Care

Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners

Palestinian Nakba commemoration march

Nature restoration and flood risk

Decoupling the price of gas from electricity

Statutory rights for trade union future-proofing jobs representatives

Strike action by UCU at Scottish universities

Higher education pension cuts

Redundancies of skilled rail workers at Balfour Beatty

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

Found: Labour; Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) Joani Reid (Independent; East Kilbride and Strathaven) Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Crime visited Brixton on 26 February, accompanied by Cllr Claire Holland, Cllr Mahamad Hashi, Bell Ribeiro-Addy