Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and California deepen ties on clean energy to boost investment, published on 16 February 2026, if he will set out each individual agreement, treaty or Memorandum of Understanding signed between his Department and a foreign (a) national government or (b) local, regional, federal or state arms of government since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department works closely with counterpart ministries to develop and maintain a range of ongoing partnerships that help advance our Clean Power 2030 Mission and wider priorities including the Growth Mission.
We have signed a range of non-legally binding partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) since July 2024. These are not routinely published or notified to Parliament, in line with HMG policy on non- legally binding instruments.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the Government's definition of anti-Muslim hostility with the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
As with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which the government adopted in 2016, a clear definition of anti-Muslim hostility is an important step towards combatting the unacceptable hostility that Muslims face.
Where higher education providers adopt this definition, they must do so in a way that is compatible with their duties to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if any i) Government Department, ii) arms-length body, iii) public body, or iv) educational institution will be instructed to adopt the new definition of anti-Muslim hostility.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Government has adopted a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility. We encourage organisations across sectors to adopt the definition and use it in ways they consider to be useful and lawful.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what memoranda of understanding were signed by Ministers in his Department with i) national governments and ii) representatives of national governments in 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Departmental Ministers engage with a range of national governments and representatives to support delivery of the department’s objectives.
The Department works closely with counterpart ministries to develop and maintain a range of ongoing partnerships that help advance our Clean Power 2030 Mission and wider priorities including the Growth Mission.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions is aware of the Supreme Court’s judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers (2025) and its implications for the interpretation of the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act 2010.
We are currently awaiting updated cross-government guidance, including from the Government Equalities Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to support consistent implementation of the judgment across departments and public bodies. As is standard practice following a significant legal ruling of this kind, the Department is reviewing its existing policies and guidance to ensure full alignment once this updated central advice is issued.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department regularly reviews its policies and guidance to ensure they remain legally compliant and consistent with evolving case law. This includes reviewing its Gender Identity and Intersex policy package following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025]. The Department also engages with its arms-length bodies to ensure their internal policies align with statutory obligations and relevant judicial rulings.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) his Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by his Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) her Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by her Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is aware of the Supreme Court’s judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers (2025) and its implications for the interpretation of the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act 2010.
The Department awaits the publication of the updated statutory cross-government guidance from the Office for Equality and Opportunity and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to support consistent implementation of the judgment across departments and public bodies. The Department regularly reviews its policies and guidance to ensure they remain legally compliant and consistent with evolving case law. Once the statutory guidance is published, the Department will move quickly to consider future policy.
The Department’s arm’s‑length bodies are being kept informed of this process and will be expected to make any necessary updates in line with the forthcoming cross‑government guidance. All bodies sponsored by the Department are required to comply with the Equality Act 2010 and to take account of relevant case law, and we will continue to support them to do so.
Asked by: Claire Coutinho (Conservative - East Surrey)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) her Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by her Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.