Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered the potential merits of including cephalopods in the core protections of the Animal Welfare Act 2026.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra set out in its Animal Welfare Strategy that the department will develop the evidence base through research and continued stakeholder engagement. This work is ongoing and the Government will keep the legislative position under review, as is standard practice.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy published on 22 December 2025, what progress has been made in producing guidance on killing methods for (a) decapods and (b) cephalopods.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On decapod welfare at killing, Defra have engaged with industry, animal welfare scientists and non-governmental organisations about current industry practices and standards. Development of guidance will be sequenced alongside the broader set of policies set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

Regarding cephalopod molluscs, current knowledge on how to humanely kill them remains limited, and the evidence-base is being developed. The department will continue to monitor and assess evidence as it becomes available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October to Question 32077 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, what proportion of applications were successful in each year since 2022.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department does not hold this information. This is because, before April 2026, the ​automated grant management system meant customers could not submit applications unless they met eligibility criteria.

From 1 April, a new system has been in place. Up to 14 October, 4,382 customers (46%) ​submitted eligible applications. This has resulted in installers making 1,443 claims on customers' behalf so far. Nearly 750 claims have been approved to date. Processing these applications and claims takes time. We are working to move them through the new system and streamline the process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether applicants to the Electric vehicle chargepoint grant for residential landlords whose application was refused due to not being submitted using the online portal before 31 March 2026 can reapply for the extended scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Applicants in this situation are welcome to reapply on the extended scheme. Before doing so they should check the grant guidance as new evidencing requirements have been introduced.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications have been received for the Electric vehicle chargepoint grant for renters or flat owners to date, including how many have been (a) refused and (b) granted on appeal.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Renters and Flat Owners commenced in 2022, grants have been awarded to 26,504 households totalling £9.2 million. The Department does not hold data on the precise number of grant applications refused or granted on appeal. We are aware of issues affecting the application process and are working closely with the Government Grants Managed Service to resolve them and improve the experience for applicants.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to start the Credit Broking Review as set out in the Policy Statement on reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (published in May 2026).

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to reviewing the regulatory regime for credit broking to ensure it is proportionate, supports financial inclusion, and provides robust consumer protection. The Government will set out its next steps on the review in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September to Question 29170 on Schools: Inspections, whether headteachers will have the opportunity to provide submissions to inform the plans.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Through the Big Listen consultation, Ofsted heard concerns from stakeholders, including the education sector, about its complaints process and made changes in response. More recently, as part of its consultation on the refreshed framework, Ofsted commissioned Sinead McBrearty of Education Support to conduct an independent assessment of the changes’ impact on wellbeing. The assessment recommended strengthening the complaints process. As set out in the response to the hon. Member for St Albans’ previous question on this matter, Ofsted has reviewed its complaints arrangements for schools. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, announced a pilot of a new complaints service for Ofsted on 16 October. This pilot introduces another level of independence to Ofsted’s complaint arrangements, where schools can request a review of how Ofsted handled their complaint including, for the first time, the outcome of the complaint, and aspects linked to inspection findings. The review will be undertaken by an independent body, through a contract held by the department. Further details will be available in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying the principles of the (a) home and (b) motor insurance markets to tackling loyalty penalties in the (i) broadband and (ii) pay TV markets.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Broadband and pay TV customers should have clear, fair and transparent information to manage their contracts confidently and secure the best deals for their needs.

The Government has not formally assessed whether the loyalty penalties approach in home and motor insurance should also apply to broadband and pay TV, which operate under a different regulatory framework.

However, Ofcom requires providers to issue end-of-contract and annual best-tariff notifications, plus One Touch Switching (OTS), helping customers review their contracts and find better-value deals, with nearly 3.5 million customers having used OTS since its launch in September 2024. Ofcom continues to monitor pricing practices and consumer outcomes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of transferring the power to enforce airline breaches of UK Regulation 261 from the Civil Aviation Authority to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the United Kingdom’s specialist aviation regulator, is well placed to take enforcement action in relation to breaches of Regulation 261/2004. The Government is strengthening the CAA’s direct enforcement powers through the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill, which is currently in the Commons.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concurrent powers with the CAA, and the two regulators work together closely to ensure the appropriate regulator acts within the specific circumstances.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the use of enforcement powers by the Civil Aviation Authority in relation to cases of airline passengers being denied boarding due to overbooking.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is an independent regulator and is responsible for deciding how to use its enforcement powers. It considers intelligence about potential breaches, including cases involving denied boarding due to overbooking, and prioritises enforcement activity in line with its published prioritisation principles.

The Government is strengthening the CAA’s consumer enforcement powers through the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill, including by giving it powers to impose financial penalties.