Bob Blackman

It already does include services - and always has done.

I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International Education Strategy 2026. Amongst other things, DBT’s International Education team has organised four education trade missions to India since 2020. One of the outcomes of this activity has been the signing of the UK-India MoU on the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQs) in 2022, which is seeing a step change in UK-India university partnerships. As part of the International Education Strategy, we engage with the alumni network, led by the British Council, as a further means to promote trade and investment opportunities.

I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International Education Strategy 2026. Amongst other things, DBT’s International Education team has organised four education trade missions to India since 2020. One of the outcomes of this activity has been the signing of the UK-India MoU on the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQs) in 2022, which is seeing a step change in UK-India university partnerships. As part of the International Education Strategy, we engage with the alumni network, led by the British Council, as a further means to promote trade and investment opportunities.

I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International Education Strategy 2026. Amongst other things, DBT’s International Education team has organised four education trade missions to India since 2020. One of the outcomes of this activity has been the signing of the UK-India MoU on the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQs) in 2022, which is seeing a step change in UK-India university partnerships. As part of the International Education Strategy, we engage with the alumni network, led by the British Council, as a further means to promote trade and investment opportunities.

The Government is unable to assess sector-specific trends regarding the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) because they are private contractual arrangements, and data on their use is not collected.

While NDAs can legally require one or more parties to maintain the confidentiality of certain information, such as trade secrets, there are a range of legal limitations on their use. For instance, NDAs cannot stop someone from making a whistleblowing disclosure, known as making a ‘protected disclosure’ or making a disclosure required by law.

I can confirm that I have not seen any statements (redacted or otherwise) made by the Drax former company Secretary Brett Gladden.

The project “Palestinian Bedouin at risk of forced displacement: IHL vulnerabilities, ICC possibilities” (GB-GOV-13-OODA-AHRC-C4WCAGQ-R6SBCMZ-AYRNVWK) was funded under the AHRC/DFID Collaborative Humanitarian Protection Programme, which aimed to strengthen understanding of humanitarian protection risks and identify effective ways to reduce harm to vulnerable populations. The project produced a range of outputs, including peer‑reviewed research publications, policy papers, and wider dissemination materials, alongside field research across affected communities. It also supported wider policy, parliamentary and multilateral engagement, informed by research findings.

Value for money was an explicit assessment criterion, with all proposals subject to rigorous peer review by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the then Department for International Development, including detailed assessment of resource justification. All projects were required to submit an Official Development Assistance (ODA) compliance statement as part of the application process, in line with standard requirements.

The UK is committed to attracting international postgraduate research (PGR) students as part of our ambition to attract the best research talent across the research pipeline. International PGRs make significant contributions to the UK’s research strength and scientific output. In 2024/25, 42% of the UK’s 120,000 postgraduate research students were non‑UK; 58% in Engineering and Technology; and 79% in research‑intensive universities, where scientific output is highest (HESA). International PGRs contribute to the over two hundred thousand research articles from the UK each year, placing the UK globally in first position on Field Weighted Citation Impact among comparator countries since 2007 (GOV.UK).

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are considering funding into alternatives for animal testing as part of the Spending Review and cannot commit funding amounts in advance of this process.

The Government already invests £10m annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to accelerate the development and adoption of 3Rs approaches. The NC3Rs is currently undergoing a five year funding review that will determine future allocation of resources. A significant amount of research funding in the UK also goes to underpinning technologies that have the potential to deliver the 3Rs.

This Government is committed to building on the UK’s world-class strengths in the semiconductor sector to accelerate growth and unlock real-world benefits for citizens.

Last month, we announced new support for semiconductor scale-ups to advance high-potential innovations. We are backing UK semiconductor firms producing vital technology to scale up and drive economic growth.

We will also collaborate with the international community, including the EU and the G7, to ensure the UK remains a key global player.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not issue regulations and guidance on the use of strobe flashing lighting, however event organisers and venue operators have duties under existing health and safety legislation to protect the public from risks associated with it.

Under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, dutyholders must conduct thorough risk assessments and ensure members of the public are not exposed to health risks.

To support compliance, comprehensive industry guidance is available in The Purple Guide (formerly the Health and Safety Executive’s Event Safety Guide), which outlines best practices for flicker rates, equipment positioning, and necessary audience warnings. Further guidance is available from the NHS, local authorities, and the Epilepsy Society.

It is standard good practice for venues and ticketing platforms to provide advance warning of strobe effects.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is undertaking an evaluation of the Gambling Act Review on behalf of DCMS. The findings will be published on gov.uk later this year.

The Gambling Act Review Advisory Group provides objective, external advice to NatCen on how best to take the Gambling Act Review evaluation forward. It has no role in policy development, and does not have access to collected data. It is an advisory group providing technical methodological input to NatCen on the design of the evaluation and its implementation, to ensure it meets the highest possible standards. There are therefore no plans to assess its work as part of the evaluation findings.

The Gambling Act Review evaluation is looking at the real-world impact of measures that have been implemented. Measures such as financial risk assessments have not been implemented and therefore are not included.

NatCen is separately working as an evaluation partner alongside the pilot of financial risk assessment, advising on methodology and data clarity and transparency. The Commission has also committed to ongoing review, evaluation and adaptation over time if Financial Risk Assessments are introduced.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is undertaking an evaluation of the Gambling Act Review on behalf of DCMS. The findings will be published on gov.uk later this year.

The Gambling Act Review Advisory Group provides objective, external advice to NatCen on how best to take the Gambling Act Review evaluation forward. It has no role in policy development, and does not have access to collected data. It is an advisory group providing technical methodological input to NatCen on the design of the evaluation and its implementation, to ensure it meets the highest possible standards. There are therefore no plans to assess its work as part of the evaluation findings.

The Gambling Act Review evaluation is looking at the real-world impact of measures that have been implemented. Measures such as financial risk assessments have not been implemented and therefore are not included.

NatCen is separately working as an evaluation partner alongside the pilot of financial risk assessment, advising on methodology and data clarity and transparency. The Commission has also committed to ongoing review, evaluation and adaptation over time if Financial Risk Assessments are introduced.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit as many people as possible.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

We know that families with children with disabilities, including those affected by sodium valproate harm and where the children may be caring for other family members, are crying out for change.

The department’s upcoming full Schools White Paper will build on the work we have already done to create a system that is rooted in inclusion, where children receive high-quality support early on and can thrive at their local school. This work includes the new standards on inclusion introduced by Ofsted in their new education inspection framework last November, and we are pleased to note that the needs of pupils with disabilities and those who are young carers are fully recognised in the inspection toolkit for the new framework.

Schools are also required to identify and record all pupils who are young carers on the school census regardless of the reason they may be providing care for family members.

The department has announced the biggest overhaul to children’s social care (CSC) in a generation, including increased investment and landmark legislation through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. From April 2025, we are making £500 million available to local authorities to roll out Family Help and Child Protection nationally to transform services and transition towards earlier intervention. This is a landmark moment and will nearly double direct investment in preventative services to over half a billion pounds in 2025/26.

The department’s CSC Improvement and Intervention Programme aims to improve services for children and families by offering support to areas with early signs of decline and intervening decisively when the required level of service is not being provided, for example for councils judged inadequate by Ofsted. This approach tackles the real issues, with a focus on sustainable and cost-effective improvement. Local authorities are supported and challenged through expert improvement advisors, leadership work from the Local Government Association, building regional networks, and our ‘Sector Led Improvement Partner’ programme.

The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s Voice of Students report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority. That is why last month, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, brought together Vice Chancellors and community leaders to hear testimonials from Jewish students and to discuss next steps to ensure safer, more inclusive campuses for all.

The department remains committed to working with universities, sector partners and stakeholder groups to continue our efforts to tackle antisemitism on our campuses.

The Government is committed to increasing our water supply while protecting the environment and public health. We are taking a twin track approach to improving water supply resilience. This involves urgent action to reduce water company leaks and use drinking water and rainwater more efficiently, alongside new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.

In the Water White Paper, the government set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards, which will be brought forward through the Clean Water Bill announced in the King’s Speech. These standards will ensure companies secure the long-term resilience of their water supply and sewerage systems.

Alongside the development of forward-looking asset health metrics to ensure critical infrastructure gets the funding that it needs, these standards will safeguard customer services in the context of a changing climate as well as population growth and other pressures.

In February, Government committed to looking at ways to help drive the uptake of water reuse and rainwater management for large non-household water users including data centres within the Water White Paper. Non-household businesses are encouraged to enquire about water efficiency audits through their water retailer to suggest and implement areas for improvement, including fixing leaks across the property.

The Government encourages developers to consider use of non-potable water, to embed water efficiency or water recycling and reuse in their design and contact their proposed water and wastewater supplier early in the planning process to understand and plan for any potential water restrictions.

We have committed to ensuring that the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) continues to coordinate and assure major infrastructure delivery, supporting faster delivery and avoiding duplication before being incorporated into the new regulator.

We also support RAPID’s consultation on expanding its remit to include wastewater and other strategic projects. This aims to strengthen regulatory coordination, accelerate delivery, and enhance infrastructure resilience across regions.

Defra is also supporting the delivery of water infrastructure through the Water Delivery Taskforce, chaired by Minister Hardy to ensure that water companies deliver the infrastructure required to support economic growth and long-term resilience.

Additionally, Defra has established the Senior Sponsorship Group which brings together senior decision-makers, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Ofwat, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), and water companies to identify and resolve barriers to major water infrastructure projects.

Government is committed to a twin track approach to improving water resilience. This involves urgent action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside investing in new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers. £104 billion of private sector investment has been secured for the 2025-2030 period. This will fund essential infrastructure. For water supplies, this will progress delivery of nine new reservoirs and large-scale water transfer schemes by 2050.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers. When preparing their Water Resources Management Plans, they must consider all options, including demand management and new water resources infrastructure, including reservoirs and transfers.

The Environment Agency’s National Framework for Water Resources estimates a shortfall of nearly 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 between available supply and expected demand. Government has a statutory target to reduce water use in England per head by 20% by 2038, and is committed to a twin track approach to improving water resilience. This involves urgent action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside investing in new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically and to set out how they plan to continue to supply water to their customers for the next 25 years through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Defra works with regulators to closely monitor WRMP delivery through annual reviews.