Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Turkish counterpart on the detention of opposition mayors in Turkiye, including Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help improve the situation in that country for opposition parties.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 30 April 2025 in response to Question 47082.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the adequacy of current levels of available crisis support funding delivered through Welsh Local Authorities to assist off-grid households with the cost of purchasing heating oil.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.

HMT officials and Ministers meet regularly with their counterparts in the Welsh Government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she made of the potential impact of the recent rise in the cost of domestic heating oil on levels of fuel poverty in Wales.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.

This funding has been allocated based on census data, and the Welsh Government will receive £3.8 million.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support off-grid households in Wales with the changing costs of domestic heating oil.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.

This funding has been allocated based on census data, and the Welsh Government will receive £3.8 million.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic properties which use (a) oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas for heating purposes by parliamentary constituency.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department does not produce bespoke estimates of the number of domestic properties using oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating by parliamentary constituency. Information on the heating fuels used by households is published by the Office for National Statistics and the devolved administrations.

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 ensure that the interests of viewers in Wales, including those in rural communities who rely on terrestrial television, are represented in Government discussions on the future of television distribution.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is leading a project to assess the future of TV distribution beyond 2034 and is committed to maintaining access for audiences in all parts of the UK. The project is engaging with devolved governments and audience groups representing the interests of Welsh audiences such as the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, the Rural Services Network, and S4C. Before any decision is made close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact Welsh audiences, including those in rural communities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised through the domestic VAT charge on heating oil and liquid petroleum gas since the outbreak conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran on 28 February 2026.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services, including VAT on heating oil and liquid petroleum gas.

This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.

VAT is chargeable at the reduced rate of 5% on domestic fuel and power.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including household Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) data in the methodology used to allocate support funding to each UK nation for heating oil and LPG‑heated properties announced on 16 March 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support to those households struggling with the rising price of heating oil.

In England, Crisis Payments can be provided by local authorities to support the purchase of any form of fuel that is used for domestic heating, cooking or lighting.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is for the relevant devolved government to deliver support as they see fit.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to require the BBC, as part of the next BBC Charter, to continue to distribute its services through platforms that do not require a fixed broadband connection to receive them.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The BBC Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country, including the broadcast technologies the BBC should use to deliver its services. The Government is now considering responses to the public consultation, and these will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter. Decisions will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.

The White Paper will also be informed by the Government’s project to assess the future of TV distribution. Once the Government’s approach to the future of TV distribution has been decided in consultation with the public, we will need to consider how the BBC’s obligations might need to change, and how the BBC can make sure that no one is left behind in any transition to online viewing by centering digital inclusion in its services and activities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the role of free to air terrestrial television in supporting the reach and universality of the BBC as part of the ongoing BBC Charter Review.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The BBC Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country, including the broadcast technologies the BBC should use to deliver its services. The Government is now considering responses to the public consultation, and these will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter. Decisions will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.

The White Paper will also be informed by the Government’s project to assess the future of TV distribution. Once the Government’s approach to the future of TV distribution has been decided in consultation with the public, we will need to consider how the BBC’s obligations might need to change, and how the BBC can make sure that no one is left behind in any transition to online viewing by centering digital inclusion in its services and activities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations were had with the (a) fuel distribution industry and the (b) Welsh government on the development of the support package for households in Wales using heating oil and Liquid Petroleum gas as heating methods announced on 16 March 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support for those households struggling with the rising price of heating oil.

Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have coordinated closely with industry since the conflict in the Middle East began, and continue to do so.

I have discussed this support with all devolved government Finance Ministers. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is for the relevant devolved government to deliver support as they see fit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of further income tax power devolution to Wales following her announcement on 17 March 2026 to pursue devolution of income tax powers in England.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor announced on 17^th March that she will set out a roadmap at Budget for giving English regional leaders a share of some national taxes. This will include looking at income tax, alongside other taxes. It is not about new taxes or higher tax rates.

The Welsh Senedd already has significant income tax powers. This was the product of a lengthy process of debate and development, including the Silk Commission’s first report, the Wales Act 2014, and the Wales Act 2017. Consideration of any further income tax devolution would be a matter for discussion between the Welsh and UK Governments and be subject to consensus in Wales and the agreement of both the UK Parliament and the Senedd.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of i) truck stops and ii) Motorway service areas have received any non self-certified security accreditation.

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

The Government does not operate a mandated or voluntary lorry parking security accreditation system. Trucks stops and Motorway Service Areas set their own security standards unless they voluntarily join a private accreditation scheme. Therefore, the Department for Transport does not hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the role of the UK’s digital terrestrial television network in supporting national resilience and emergency communications.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government understands the importance of everyone being able to access information in times of national emergency. Both television and radio play a vital role in providing such access for a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.

The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications in a range of scenarios.

The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks. It is important that audiences continue to receive consistent levels of service regardless of how they receive their television, and ensuring that this can happen will be a priority for the project.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, i) how much funding in total was granted to applicants to the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme ii) how much of this funding came directly from matched funding from the Department for Transport and iii) whether the department plans to re-open the scheme for further applications.

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

The total amount of government funding contractually committed to improvement projects for the HGV Parking Matched Funding Grant Scheme, as of 19 March 2026, is £13,599,303.45.

The scheme held three application windows. The table below sets out awards and spending to date per window as of 19 March 2026. Projects that were cancelled by operators after notification of an award are not included in these figures.

There are no plans for further windows of the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Scheme.

Funding for further lorry parking improvements is planned for the third road investment strategy (RIS3) as part of the Customer and Community Designated Funds, subject to confirmation of the National Highways RIS3 settlement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her department has to ensure that the road safety strategy includes provisions to support lorry driver welfare.

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

On 7 January 2026 the Department for Transport published the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035.

The Government expects the employers or engagers of anyone driving or riding for work to ensure that they are as safe as possible on the roads. Working with industry we will pilot a National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them, including considering the use of HGVs. The Charter will aim to help employers to reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users by promoting good practice, and to improve compliance with current legislation and guidance.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the actions under the Agenda for Change uplift and a fairer deal for nurses statement for NHS England published on on 12 February 2026 will lead to additional funding for the Welsh Government through the Barnett Formula.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Department for Health and Social Care received funding to deliver the actions under the Agenda for Change uplift and a fairer deal for nurses statement at Spending Review 2025, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way, as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends to incorporate the Innate Health Assessment of dog breeds in future statutory licensing conditions for dog breeders.

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

The Innate Health Assessment tool has been created by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare to tackle suffering caused by extreme physical body shapes in dogs. This voluntary tool can be used by breeders, dog owners or prospective dog owners to check any dog’s innate health characteristics and their suitability to breed and/or acquire, regardless of breed or type.

The Government published its Animal Welfare Strategy on 22 December 2025, outlining plans to take coordinated action to improve the welfare of pets. This includes the commitment to end the low welfare breeding of dogs and to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform.

Defra recognises the importance of genetic health in dogs and supports education of owners and breeders to promote responsible breeding.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has considered the potential merits of extending the range of offences that can be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme is an exceptional power. It includes all indictable-only offences (e.g. murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery) and certain triable-either way offences sentenced in the Crown Court (e.g. threats to kill, stalking, most child sex offences).

Parliament intended this to be an exceptional power, and any expansion of the scheme must be carefully considered. While we understand calls for expansion, it is important for both victims and offenders that there is finality in sentencing. The general rule is that a person should expect to serve the sentence a judge has imposed upon them.

The Law Commission is undertaking a review of criminal appeals and it held a public consultation inviting views on a range of reforms to the ULS scheme, including offences in scope. The consultation closed on 27 June 2025 and the Law Commission is expected to publish its report in 2026.

The Government will carefully and holistically consider the Law Commission review’s final recommendations on the wider reforms to the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme in due course.

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 adequacy of safeguards implemented by the telecoms sector to ensure that risks arising from the migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network to Voice over Internet Protocol are mitigated for people, including rural communities.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks from the industry-led migration of the copper based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for everyone across the UK, including rural communities. In 2024/25, there were over 2,600 major incidents on the PSTN, each affecting 500 or more customers.

In November 2024, the Government secured additional safeguards from the telecoms industry. These include the provision of free battery back-ups for vulnerable and landline dependent customers to ensure access to emergency services for at least one hour in a power outage. Many communication providers have gone further, providing battery back-ups of 4-7 hours.

In March 2026, the Government and industry agreed a new Fixed Telecoms Charter to extend these safeguards to all future fixed telecoms modernisation programmes.

Israeli death penalty law and military courts

Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners

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

Food Bill

Recognition of Gaelic Games in Britain

UN General Assembly Resolution A/80/L.48 on declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as a crime against humanity

World Parkinson’s Day 2026

Second annual SEND Youth Parliament

Mehran Raoof

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance

Canolfan Noddfa Caernarfon (Noddfa Community Centre in Caernarfon)

Palestinian Nakba commemoration march

Dafad Goch Soap Box Racing Aberdyfi 2026

US sanctions against judges of the International Criminal Court

Conflict in Lebanon

Fipronil and Imidacloprid Pesticides

Energy price cap

Visa concessions for sheep shearers (No. 2)

Royal Mail's performance

Decoupling the price of gas from electricity

Changes to State Pension age affecting 1950s-born women

LGBTQ+ veterans

Sign Language Week

Restructuring at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Baby loss kits

Government contract with Palantir Technologies

Heating oil prices

Use of catapults against wildlife

International Women's Day 2026 and women’s inclusion in placemaking

Royal Mail delivery standards

Oil prices and the cost of living

Congratulations to Hollie Davidson

Creative industries and the use of AI

Energy prices for households and businesses

Found: North) Simon Hoare (Conservative; North Dorset) Gerald Jones (Labour; Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare) Ben Lake

Found: • Ben Lake (Q78) raised the legacy of disused metal mines, and asked whether the potential hazards arising

Submit Evidence (by 4 May 2026)

The rate of child poverty in Wales has changed very little over the past two decades, with around a third of Welsh children living in poverty during that time. Currently, 31% of children in Wales live in relative income poverty after housing costs. However, that figure also varies significantly depending on a family's circumstances, with larger families, lone parent families and families with at least one disabled adult or child experiencing higher rates of child poverty.