Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of its proposals to replace expiry dates for biocidal active substance approvals with a mechanism to ‘call in’ these substances for review on (a) the safety of active substances on the market and (b) their impact on (i) health and (ii) the environment.

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

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) legislative reforms aim to provide greater flexibility to the regulator while maintaining the current high standards offered by chemicals regulatory regimes, including the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), to human health and the environment.

The proposal to remove fixed expiry dates and introduce a risk-based 'call-in' system for active substance reviews would permit HSE to focus evaluation work where it would have the greatest impact particularly on addressing initial assessments that are required as part of the GB Active Substance Review Programme. Active substances requiring initial evaluation will as yet have had no evaluation, consequently risks are much less well understood than active substances (biocidal approvals) that have already been thoroughly evaluated and deemed acceptable.

This proposed change of approach will enable HSE to continue to make efficient and effective regulatory decisions to address risks to people’s safety, health and the environment.

All decisions on these proposals are subject to an analysis of the consultation responses, which is currently underway, and all final decisions are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Health and Safety Executive will take steps to align with (a) EU mandatory hazard classifications (under EU Classification, Labelling & Packaging Regulation) and (b) EU decisions to (i) approve, (ii) not to approve, (iii) restrict and (iv) ban biocide active substances.

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

In Great Britain (GB) chemicals are regulated under a framework that was largely inherited from the EU system including the GB Classification, Labelling and Packing Regulation (GB CLP) and the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR).

GB CLP like EU CLP adopts the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals (‘the UN GHS’); a voluntary internationally agreed system, upon which the classification and labelling provisions of GB CLP are based. Divergence between mandatory hazard classifications for chemicals (GB mandatory classification and labelling (GB MCLs)) and EU mandatory hazard classifications has been minimal to-date.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted a public consultation between 23 June and 18 August 2025 on proposals for reforming both GB CLP and GB BPR. The GB BPR proposals included a proposal to adopt approvals from recognised jurisdictions. It is anticipated that the EU would be a recognised jurisdiction which would make it easier to adopt EU decisions where appropriate for GB. The analysis of the consultation responses is underway, and all final decisions including any decisions to align with the EU on GB CLP and GB BPR are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made an assessment of the legislative changes required to disestablish the Church of England.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Church of England is by law the Established Church in England. The relationship between the Church and State is a core part of our constitutional framework that has evolved over centuries. The Government has no plans to disestablish the Church of England and therefore no assessment has been made of the legislative changes that would be required.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held discussions with the European Commission on mitigating the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on UK steel exports.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are in active dialogue with the European Commission on this issue. The Secretary of State spoke about it with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 20 October.

We will continue to take a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs and remain prepared to defend the UK’s national interest where it is right to do so.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the UK's steelmaking capacity on the UK's (a) defence and (b) critical infrastructure.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities including specialist cast and forged steel components for a range of UK defence programmes such as submarines, surface vessels and artillery barrels.

An initial assessment of the impact of changes in UK Steelmaking capacity on the UK’s (a) defence and (b) critical infrastructure is deemed low. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK.

The amount and origins of steel procured for Defence programmes is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s annual Steel Public Procurement report which can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement

This Government is producing a steel strategy that will consider implications for Defence and Critical infrastructure and create the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and (b) representatives of the Welsh steel industry on the potential impact of proposed EU steel import quotas on (i) steel production and (ii) employment in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I met with the Minister for Industry to discuss the potential impact of proposed EU steel proposals and continue to work closely with cabinet colleagues as Government responds to protect our domestic steel industry. I remain in close contact with all Welsh steelmakers and have had numerous discussions with Tata Steel UK and steel unions to understand the potential impact on individual businesses. As Chair of the Port Talbot Transition Board, I also discussed this with members at the October meeting.

We recognise that global trading conditions remain challenging for the steel industry as global overcapacity, trade diversion and weak demand continue to put downward pressure on prices. To address these conditions, the Government intervened earlier this year to strengthen the current steel safeguard measures. This Government will continue to review stronger trade measures to protect steel producers in South Wales and across the UK.

We are actively engaging at all levels with the European Commission, and key Member States, with the aim of securing a positive outcome for the UK. We will always defend our critical steel industry, which is vital for the UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing steel import quotas to ensure that 60 per cent of steel used in the UK is made by domestic producers.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Steel is a top priority for this Government and we recognise the continuing challenges facing the UK steel industry – driven by global overcapacity and with a changing landscape on international trade.

This Government is developing a steel strategy to be published in 2025 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there. Moreover, we will will ensure there is a plan in place for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to secure UK-specific country quotas for steel exports under the European Commission’s proposed import quota system.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is actively assessing the potential impact of this proposal, and we are in active dialogue with the European Commission on the details of their proposal and next steps.

We will continue to take a cool-headed approach to any possible tariffs and remain prepared to defend the UK’s national interest where it is right to do so.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will review the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations which limiting local authorities ability to offer paid seats on non-compliant vehicles with more than 22 seats for school transport.

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

The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set minimum accessibility standards for physical features on buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. Introduced to help disabled people, including children and young people to travel safely and in reasonable comfort, the Regulations have applied to certain home-to-school (HTS) services for 25 years. In recognition of the shortfall of compliant vehicles and to enable essential services to keep operating, including HTS where spare capacity is sold, the Department has offered medium-term exemptions. These exemptions are due to expire on 31 July 2026.

In 2023 the previous Government began a review of PSVAR, including inviting feedback from local authority commissioners, providers and users of transport services, through a Call for Evidence, with a view to understanding the extent to which the Regulations remained appropriate and continued to serve disabled passengers. We continue to consider the Review findings and potential future action, and we will announce any next steps on PSVAR in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish (a) internal advice and (b) correspondence relating to the decision to not proceed with proposals to give businesses a cash grant for innovative steel projects.

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

We remain committed to providing up to £2.5bn for the steel sector, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund. The NWF has £5.8bn to invest across clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, including steel, and is engaging with firms on opportunities aligned with its investment principles.

In February 2025, the UK government launched a "Plan for Steel" consultation to seek views on issues such as electricity costs, trade challenges, domestic demand, and funding. The forthcoming Steel Strategy will set out our response to those issues.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support steel businesses with (a) innovative and (b) low-carbon projects.

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

This Government has committed up to £2.5bn to the UK steel industry, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund (NWF). The NWF has £5.8bn to invest across clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, including steel, and is engaging with firms on opportunities aligned with its investment principles. This is in addition to £500m grant funding towards Tata’s overall £1.25bn Port Talbot transformation project, which will see the Port Talbot site transition to lower carbon Electric Arc Furnace steel making.

We have also supported innovation through our £22million in funding of the Material Processing Institute’s PRISM programme since 2020, and have recently consulted on proposals to deliver a framework of voluntary policies to grow demand for low carbon industrial products, with an initial focus on the steel, cement, and concrete products used in construction.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department received (a) applications and (b) expressions of interest prior to the decision to not proceed with proposals to give businesses a cash grant for innovative steel projects.

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

We are committed to providing up to £2.5bn for the steel sector, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund (NWF). A consultation was launched in February 2025 regarding the upcoming steel strategy, and we sought views on further potential mechanisms to support the steel industry, including the possibility of grant funding. However, we were not seeking applications or expressions of interest at that stage.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether negotiations on a Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area with the EU has begun.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK is ready to move forward quickly to implement the outcomes agreed at the UK-EU summit.

We are already in discussions in some areas – Security Action for Europe (SAFE), Erasmus, Electricity linking - and in others (Sanitary and Phytosanitary / Emissions Trading Scheme) the EU is agreeing to their mandates. We stand ready to start talks as soon as those mandates are agreed.

Bank closures, digital exclusion and cyber risks

Tackling van and tool theft

Water scarcity and agricultural reservoirs

Access to banks

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

UK access to the EU SAFE defence fund

UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement

UK Youth Parliament 2025

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on 20 November 2025

50th Anniversary of women’s right to independent mortgages

110 years of the Women's Institute

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Sodium valproate and surgical mesh redress

Mouth Cancer Action Month

Exceptional performing arts centres in rural areas

Exmoor Forest Inn

Local Housing Allowance

Family Business Week 2025

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Support for the UK-Ukraine Trauma and Recovery Collaborative

Friends of Campsie Community Work

Britain’s canals and rivers

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025

Cancer waiting times

Local government and social care

Ukrainian Permission Extension Scheme

Affordable rail travel for over-30s

Conduct of Samir Zitouni and Stephen Crean on the 18.25 Doncaster to Kings Cross train on 1 November 2025

Government proposals for mandatory digital ID

Impact of extreme weather on farming

Llynclys Crossroads

Fossil fuel company profits

The Lakes School

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Ann Davies; Gill German; Simon

Found: Current membership Ruth Jones (Labour; Newport West and Islwyn) (Chair) David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); David Chadwick; Ann Davies; Ben Lake; Llinos