Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that there is a single, simple and comprehensive scheme providing up-front support with the running costs of medical devices provided by the NHS.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Within NHS England, financial support is already provided for certain specialist National Health Services to offset increased energy costs faced by patients using medical equipment at home. This includes patients using home haemodialysis or home oxygen concentration. In line with the commitments in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to help ensure more health vulnerable households also receive assistance with costs associated with their care.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is leading the development of an ambitious new Warm Homes plan and Fuel Poverty Strategy to help make homes warmer, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. The Department of Health and Social Care is working hard to ensure that expanding support for patients who use NHS-provided electrical medical devices in their own home is included in the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on securing the integrity of the 2026 Senedd elections from interference by foreign state actors.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The UK Government takes any attempts to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including from foreign interference.

The Government addresses these challenges through coordinated efforts led by the Defending Democracy Taskforce and Joint Election Security and Preparedness (JESP) Unit which monitor and mitigate election security risks, including foreign interference. JESP maintains regular contact with representatives from Whitehall departments, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as well as the devolved governments. JESP continues to lead cross-government efforts in preparation and readiness for the 2026 elections, including those to the Senedd Cymru.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is her department's current estimated cost of completing the Northern Powerhouse rail project.

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

We are fully committed to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail and know the importance of getting this right. We want to learn the lessons from HS2 and so are taking the time to consider the details, which will include costs. We will set out our ambitions in the near future.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to guarantee working-age people with a terminal illness a State Pension-level of income.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We have no such policy. Supporting people nearing the end of their life is important to the Government. The main way the Department does this is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance.

The Department is committed to ensure that eligible claimants at the end of life have their claims processed as quickly as possible. Latest figures show that in Great Britain, new claims to PIP under the Special Rules are being cleared in 3 working days on average.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regulatory cap on intercity rail fares equivalent to that applied to regulated commuter fares.

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

In general, commuter fares such as season tickets and shorter-distance peak returns are regulated, alongside intercity off-peak returns. Those are the fares that DfT currently controls, as part of an overly complex system that was designed 30 years ago.

As we set up GBR, we’re untangling this complex system of fares and ticketing, and bringing it into the 21^st century. We know, for example, that the way in which people travel, including the types of routes on which they commute, has changed over time.

We are already taking important steps to address some of these challenges.

This includes reforming long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network, to move away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.

LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure a greater number of affordable tickets are available to passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the difference between regulated commuter fares and unregulated intercity fares on passengers; and whether she plans to review that distinction.

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

In general, commuter fares such as season tickets and shorter-distance peak returns are regulated, alongside intercity off-peak returns. These are the fares that DfT currently controls, as part of an overly complex system that was designed 30 years ago and which currently does not make sense.

We are already taking important steps to address some of these challenges. Through the LNER trial on some of the long-distance network, we are moving away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. We aim to make more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.

LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that intercity rail fares remain affordable for passengers in the context of unregulated peak-time pricing on long-distance services.

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

We are taking important steps to reform long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network. This includes moving away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this trial is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding

LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of intercity fares are in the unregulated category; and what the average percentage increase was in those fares over the last five years.

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

The ORR publish annual statistics measuring the change in prices charged by train operating companies to rail passengers, normally introduced in March of each year. According to ORR data regulated fares make up around 30 per cent of rail expenditure. On intercity routes this includes season tickets, where they are offered, and off-peak returns. Where there are no return fares, the off-peak single fare is regulated.

Between 2019/20 and 2024/25, nominal regional unregulated standard fares have risen by 24 per cent with regional unregulated first-class fares rising by 26 per cent. Over the same period nominal regional regulated standard fares have risen by 21 per cent.

Over the same period, nominal Long Distance unregulated standard fares have risen by 24 per cent with long distance unregulated first-class fares rising by 33 per cent. Over the same period nominal Long Distance regulated standard fares have risen by 24 per cent.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend fare regulation to intercity tickets, including peak-time and last-minute fares.

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

In general, commuter fares such as season tickets and shorter-distance peak returns are regulated, alongside intercity off-peak returns. Those are the fares that DfT currently controls, as part of an overly complex system that was designed 30 years ago.

As we set up GBR, we’re untangling this complex system of fares and ticketing, and bringing it into the 21^st century. We know, for example, that the way in which people travel, including the types of routes on which they commute, has changed over time.

We are already taking important steps to address some of these challenges.

This includes reforming long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network, to move away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.

LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure a greater number of affordable tickets are available to passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of dynamic pricing on intercity rail routes on fare predictability and passenger affordability; and if she will consider introducing statutory limits on such pricing.

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

We are taking important steps to reform long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network. This includes moving away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this trial is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding

LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of unregulated peak-time fares on intercity rail services on modal shift and environmental goals.

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

Over the past 30 years, privatisation has complicated fares leading to pricing cliff edges and to the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some ‘peak’ trains run nearly empty while some ‘off-peak’ trains are overcrowded. This is why we are overhauling it and are already making positive progress.

We are supporting London North Eastern Railway (LNER) with trialling a new fares structure which introduces more flexible products for passengers, making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.

LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate it is meeting its commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Northern Powerhouse Rail remains designated as an 'England and Wales' project.

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

The Northern Powerhouse Rail project is classified as an England and Wales project. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will introduce a social tariff for energy to help lift people at the end of life out of fuel poverty.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We recognise that for many households energy bills remain too high. That's why on 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom still plans to consult on PIA pricing reform.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.

Ofcom is finalising its Telecoms Access Review that will set PIA rental charges from 1 April 2026. It is for them to decide whether they need to consult further following their March 2025 consultation on their proposed TAR decisions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to ensure that rural communities are not disadvantaged by the PIA pricing model moving forward.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.

In July, we published our draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services that sets out the Government’s view on infrastructure sharing in the fixed telecoms sector, including asking Ofcom to demonstrate greater transparency in how they calculate and set PIA prices.

My officials regularly engage with Ofcom to ensure we have the right regulatory environment in place to promote competition and investment in fibre roll-out across the UK, including in rural areas.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is still considering reforms to PIA.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.

In July, we published our draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services that sets out the Government’s view on infrastructure sharing in the fixed telecoms sector, including asking Ofcom to demonstrate greater transparency in how they calculate and set PIA prices.

My officials regularly engage with Ofcom to ensure we have the right regulatory environment in place to promote competition and investment in fibre roll-out across the UK, including in rural areas.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of people in Wales that would be moved into higher rates of tax as a result of freezing of tax thresholds by 2030.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below:

https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of Welsh taxpayers who will be brought into (a) paying income tax, (b) the higher rate band and (c) the additional rate band as a result of the threshold freeze to 2030–31.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below:

https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511

The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.

Sinking of SS Tilawa

UK arms export licensing and conflict in Sudan

Convention on Cluster Munitions and preventing UK involvement in their production

Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief in the Autumn Budget 2025

Winter NHS corridor care

Scientific hearing on animal experiments

Mental health in farming

Royal Naval Association Torbay

Lando Norris wins Formula One World Driver's Championship

McLaren title win for British motorsport

Valporate report

Russian shadow fleet

Sheringham bus shelter

Tenth anniversary of Storm Desmond

Gaelic and Scots recognised as official languages

Sewage discharge in the Severn and Avon

Buying community energy locally

Bank closures, digital exclusion and cyber risks

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Simon Hoare; Gerald Jones; Llinos