Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take to allow independent celebrants to conduct legally recognised weddings.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
On 16 July, the Government published the consultation âTying the Knot: Reforming weddings law in England and Walesâ. The Government has taken the initial view that independent officiants should be permitted to conduct legally binding weddings as part of a reformed weddings framework. The consultation seeks views on how this could operate in practice, including the regulation and training requirements that should apply to independent officiants.
The consultation closes on 24 September. The Government will then consider the findings of the consultation carefully before finalising our policy positions. Any finalised reforms would then be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to lower the legal fees involved in acquiring a Deed of Variation.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
A deed of variation allows beneficiaries to a deceased persons estate to alter what they are entitled to receive under the terms of a will, or under the rules of intestacy if there is no valid will. It must be agreed and signed by all affected beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries may enter into such agreements for a number of reasons such as, redirecting assets to those who are more vulnerable or in greater need, gifting additional assets to charity or for tax management purposes. A deed of variation will not be relevant for the vast majority of estates.
It is for beneficiaries to decide a deed of variation is appropriate for the administration of the estate in question, and whether they wish to obtain support from a professional in executing it. The cost of legal support in executing a deed of variation is a matter for the parties to agree. The Government has no plans to take any action on this issue.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the quality of, and customer experience on, rural train services, including those operated by CrossCountry.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the importance of rural rail services in connecting people, supporting economic growth and providing access to opportunities. It remains committed to improving rail services for passengers across the network through investment in rolling stock, improved operational performance, and better customer information and accessibility. As part of this commitment to rural communities, Okehampton Interchange in Devon has recently opened, and a new station at Charfield in South Gloucestershire is due to open within the next two years.
The quality of service currently provided by CrossCountry is not where we want it to be. The Department continues to hold the operator, which is currently in private ownership, to account through the National Rail Contract to improve the passenger experience and service quality performance, supported by additional train capacity. Officials are working with CrossCountry on a business case to introduce additional Voyager trains to the CrossCountry fleet.
Over the next few years, the entire CrossCountry train fleet, for both inter-city and regional routes, is being refurbished. This is a £75 million investment being funded by the Department to deliver a better on-board experience for CrossCountry passengers, including new seats and more luggage space.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport,â¯what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the detail of data on mobile coverage is improved to the same level as that available for fixed broadband coverage.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Fixed broadband and mobile connectivity are two distinct technologies and are reported on using different methodologies, making direct, like for like, comparisons challenging.
However, ensuring accurate and transparent reporting of mobile connectivity remains a priority for government. The Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for telecommunications, spectrum management and postal services, designated on 27 April 2026, highlights the importance of continuing to improve the reporting of mobile coverage.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport,â¯what recent assessment her Department has made of Ofcomâs data on mobile coverage compared with fixed broadband coverage.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Fixed broadband and mobile connectivity are two distinct technologies and are reported on using different methodologies, making direct, like for like, comparisons challenging.
However, ensuring accurate and transparent reporting of mobile connectivity remains a priority for government. The Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for telecommunications, spectrum management and postal services, designated on 27 April 2026, highlights the importance of continuing to improve the reporting of mobile coverage.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport,â¯what steps her Department is taking to strengthen mobile coverage in developing rural areas.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Governmentâs ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030, this includes rural areas. The Government continues to work closely with the industry to ensure this is delivered, including through the identification and removal of barriers to deployment.
Alongside the commercial rollout of mobile networks, the Government is delivering the Shared Rural Network, which is bringing new 4G coverage to rural and hard to reach communities across the UK through the upgrade of existing infrastructure and the delivery of new sites.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that housing targets are supported by investment in NHS infrastructure and services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We understand the challenges that significant housing growth can place on National Health Service infrastructure. Whilst we have big ambitions to further boost house building, we recognise it must be sensitive to local needs, including health care provision.
That is why over the course of our 10-Year Health Plan, we aim to establish a neighbourhood health centre (NHC) in every community, transforming healthcare access by bringing historically hospital-based services into communities.
We have committed to deliver 250 NHCs by 2035, with approximately 120 centres operational by 2030 delivered through a blend of upgrade schemes and new builds. In March, we announced Wave 1 of NHC upgrade schemes, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home and backed by approximately £50 million.
The Department of Health and Social Care is also working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to determine how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure.