Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are being taken to address delays to the Aircrew Helmet programme, and how he will make sure his department's approach to the procurement aligns with the objectives of the Defence Investment Plan to promote to British manufacturing, sovereign capability and SME participation.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The procurement strategy for the Aircrew Helmet Programme will align with the objectives of the Defence Investment Plan in promoting British manufacturing, sovereign capability, and SME participation, whilst also ensuring that the required safety and capability requirements are met, and that the procurement ultimately delivers value for money to the UK taxpayer.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of a) new build and b) repaired old military homes, have been constructed using timber since the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy in December 2025, and whether his Department is considering strengthening the duty to 'have consideration' to the use of timber for construction as part of the overall strategy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy in November 2025, the Department has not purchased any new build Service Family Accommodation (SFA) of timber frame construction. In relation to the repair or refurbishment of SFA, the Department is in the early stages of the renovation programme and most of the existing military housing stock is predominately solid wall or brick and block construction.
Decisions on the materials used in future Defence housing developments and major refurbishments will continue to be taken on a case-by-case basis, balancing factors including safety, performance, sustainability, value for money and operational requirements.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to help tackle climate change.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Education Estates Strategy sets out plans for an education estate that supports opportunity for all, with an education estate that is safe, suitable, sustainable and appropriately sufficiently sized. It is backed by a ten-year plan to deliver a decade of renewal to transform schools and colleges.
The department expects all settings to have a climate action plan to ensure that the education estate becomes more climate resilient.
We will support all settings to develop climate action plans and appoint a sustainability lead through the Sustainability Support Programme until at least 2030. More than 10,000 education settings are already accessing this free support.
The Sustainability Support for Education online service signposts settings to relevant actions and trusted guidance and tools.
Climate Ambassadors, working with Ashden’s ‘Let’s Go Zero’ campaign, provide on the ground support and facilitate peer learning.
All settings have the flexibility to develop a plan that reflects their specific context, priorities and needs.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of using timber materials in a) constructing and b) maintaining school buildings.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises that timber offers a solution as a renewable, low-carbon resource. It offers potential to reduce emissions and create jobs, as set out in the Timber in Construction Roadmap: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timber-in-construction-roadmap-2025/timber-in-construction-roadmap-2025.
The department has piloted a number of projects which explore the use of timber in school construction, including three prototypes using UK timber.
Our construction specification requires that new buildings meet an embodied carbon requirement, and that designs use natural materials to create a healthy learning environment. These specifications encourage the use of timber and other natural materials to meet the needs of our low carbon future.
Timber is a commonly used material in maintaining school buildings. School responsible bodies must ensure that the correct materials are used for any works to maintain fire, safety and other critical requirements.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of using timber to a) build new and b) repair old military homes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Housing Strategy published on 3 November 2025, sets out a vision for the future transformation of military homes through a record £9 billion investment over a decade. The Department is in the early stages of the renovation programme.
As we look to apply modern methods of construction to sustain and renew the Service Family Accommodation estate, timber may be considered, where it is determined to be the most cost effective and sustainable solution. This approach will be underpinned by thorough planning and stringent quality control to ensure it effectively supports military capability.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting lists for NHS-funded weight loss programmes.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The National Health Service provides a range of weight management services, and we recognise that waiting times for some programmes can be long. NHS England is taking steps to improve access.
Access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is being doubled over the next three years, enabling an additional 125,000 people to begin behavioural weight‑loss support without referral delays.
The recent rollout of tirzepatide prescribing in primary care, supported by national guidance and behavioural support, provides another route to access obesity medicines, outside of specialist weight management services, where waiting times can be long. Due to the significant number of people who are potentially eligible for these medicines, the NHS is prioritising access to those with the highest clinical need first.
NHS England continues to work with local systems to improve capacity and test new models of care for obesity prescribing that may help manage demand and reduce waiting lists.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Department are taking to help tackle abusive purchasing practices in the fashion industry.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Office for Responsible Business Conduct promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism for complaints of non-observance by UK businesses. The government also launched a review, through the Trade Strategy, of the UK's approach to responsible business conduct, which is focussed on tackling human rights, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains, including those in the fashion industry. We will update the House once the review is complete.
We have already announced measures to tackle late payments through additional reporting requirements for large firms and launched a new Fair Payment Code which aims to boost cash flow for small businesses, crucial for their survival, by tackling late payments and lengthy payment terms that can lead to financial strain and failure.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the scope of the independent Groceries Code Adjudicator to include the functions of the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is undertaking the fourth statutory review into the effectiveness of the GCA, and covers the period from 31 March 2022 – 1 April 2025. The review sought input on the GCA’s effectiveness in enforcing the Code, its role alongside the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator and potential unfair practices outside its current remit. The Government is currently analysing responses and other publicly available evidence covering the review period. The review report will be published as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to expand the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator to tackle unfair trading practices in supply chains.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is undertaking the fourth statutory review into the effectiveness of the GCA, and covers the period from 31 March 2022 - 1 April 2025. The review sought input on the GCA's effectiveness in enforcing the Code, its role alongside the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator and potential unfair practices outside its current remit. The Government is currently analysing responses and other publicly available evidence covering the review period. The review report will be published as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of fashion watchdog.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Office for Responsible Business Conduct promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and provides a non-judicial grievance mechanism for complaints of non-observance by UK businesses. The government also launched a review, through the Trade Strategy, of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focusing on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains, including those in the fashion industry.
While concerns have been raised about unfair practices, there are currently no plans to introduce a Fashion Watchdog. However, other measures are being considered as part of the responsible business conduct review. We will update the House once the review is complete.