Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support is available to British citizens travelling from countries outside of the Middle East on visas that expire before they are able to return to the UK as a result of journeys that have been cancelled due to the situation in Iran.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As part of the FCDO's crisis response, we have been working with the relevant authorities in various countries to request flexibility for people who might overstay their visas due to disrupted travel plans as a result of the crisis in the Middle East. Any British nationals affected in this way should in the first instance speak to their airlines, travel agents or insurance companies about their situation and flight options. FCDO staff are also available 24/7 via our contact centre in the event that consular assistance is required.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
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 potential merits of her Department taking an equity stake in artificial intelligence companies as part of its Sovereign AI Strategy.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Sovereign AI is a new government VC fund backed by £500 million to invest in strategically significant UK AI companies, anchoring them here to drive national advantage.
Direct equity investment, integrated with a package of government-only support levers will be central to this mission.
This ensures Britain has a stake in the technologies shaping our future, protecting people from future economic shocks while powering UK growth.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on the availability of housing-with-care for older people.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108467 on 3 February 2026.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on levels of supply of housing-with-care for older people.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108467 on 3 February 2026.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to encourage frontier artificial intelligence laboratories to establish significant operations in the United Kingdom, including through public co-investment and support for UK capital markets.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK is an excellent place for frontier artificial intelligence companies to expand operations, with a world leading R&D ecosystem which is home to four of the world’s top ten research institutions. These companies are already choosing to build in this country. For example, in February 2026 OpenAI announced that it is significantly expanding its presence in London, establishing the city as its largest research hub outside of the United States. Google DeepMind is also opening its first automated research lab in the UK this year.
The Government has also delivered an ambitious programme of reforms to make it easier for firms to list and raise capital on UK markets, this includes overhauling the Prospectus Regime and Listing Rules.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the strategic risks to the United Kingdom arising from frontier artificial intelligence capability being concentrated in a small number of overseas jurisdictions.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Artificial intelligence (AI), including frontier AI, presents both risks and opportunities for the UK. The concentration of AI capability development in a small number of overseas jurisdictions raises challenges, in terms of balancing delivery of the capabilities we want with the assurance and freedom of action we need. The Government manages these strategic implications through close cooperation with trusted allies, engagement with industry, and sustained investment in domestic capability and skills.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem regarding the designation of Great British Energy as a supplier of last resort, to strengthen market stability and protect consumers from future supplier failures.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential role of Great British Energy, including through a retail arm, in delivering a social tariff or national energy guarantee to support households facing high energy costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy (GBE) as the government’s publicly owned energy development company is designed to deliver strategic, long-term investment in the UK’s energy infrastructure. GBE is a key part of the Government’s mission to deliver clean power by 2030 to protect billpayers from volatile international fossil fuel markets by increasing domestic energy production and bring down energy bills for good.
Whilst GBE has been set up to participate in the production, distribution, storage and supply of clean energy there are currently no plans for it to have a retail arm.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the suitability of the penalties available under the Hunting Act 2004; and whether the planned consultation on trail hunting will include consideration of Part 2 of that Act.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting, in line with its manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban. All responses to the consultation will be considered carefully.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the planned consultation on hunting with dogs will accept submissions on potential amendments to Schedule 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting, in line with its manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban. All responses to the consultation will be considered carefully.