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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if it intends to bring forward secondary legislation to bring the Animal (Low Welfare Activities) Act 2023 into force.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy on 14th July, PQ UIN 15936.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether recipients of the U.S Embassy to the United Kingdom's grant scheme entitled Liberty Under Law: The Shared Anglo-American Tradition have registered with the foreign influence registration scheme.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

It would not be appropriate to comment on whether specific entities have registered under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Registrations submitted which relate to political influence activities are available for view on the public register, providing that no “exception to publication” applies. The Government will be publishing an annual report on the operation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will include, among other things, the number of registrations under both tiers, the number of information notices issued, and the number of persons charged with or convicted of offences under the scheme. The first report will be published as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of CPR and defibrillator questions in driving theory tests.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Information about first aid, including CPR, is already included in the official learning materials by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Highway Code and Driving Essential Skills. Questions are then asked as part of the driver theory test to check learning has taken place.

All questions within the theory test, including those on CPR and defibrillators, are evaluated regularly to ensure they are performing correctly, are accessible and that DVSA is providing a fair test to learners.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he plans to provide a non-digital route for existing directors to comply with mandatory identity verification requirements.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Identity verification became mandatory on 18 November 2025 for new and existing directors, equivalent roles in other registrable legal entities, and People with Significant Control (PSCs).

Individuals are encouraged to use GOV.UK One Login as this offers several routes, including using photo ID, answering online security questions or document checks at a Post Office. Those unable to complete verification using a One Login route can instead use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), such as an accountant or solicitor, to verify their identity.

ACSPs must meet Companies House's identity verification standard. Companies House also provides tailored support and reasonable adjustments.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mandatory Companies House identity verification on long-serving company directors.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Most existing company directors can complete online verification in a matter of minutes using a wide range of documents. The service has been designed to be straightforward and meets government accessibility requirements, including compatibility with assistive technologies and can be completed independently using a smartphone or computer. A 12-month transition period commenced on 18 November 2025 to lessen the impact on existing directors.

An impact assessment found verification costs and burdens are minimal, reflecting our aim to keep new requirements proportionate and manageable. The assessment is available here: Impact Assessment - Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

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 potential merits of introducing a minimum apple or pear juice content of 50% for products marketed as cider or perry.

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

This Government currently has no plans to change the rules governing minimum juice content in cider and perry. The current minimum juice content requirements provide flexibility for producers, support product variety and innovation, and maintain consumer choice.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress has been made by Capita in processing payments to those affected by the McCloud judgment.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The pension scheme has 1.7m members with approx 420k members affected by Remedy. Capita, having assumed responsibility for the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025, is responsible for delivering the remaining 2015 Remedy work. The cases remaining to be processed are generally the most complex, involving intricate service histories, multiple retirements, or complex benefit structures.

All active and deferred Remedy-affected members receive this choice at retirement. The McCloud remedy work is a bespoke and one-off piece of work that is not an ongoing part of the services for members who have not yet retired. As part of the Remedy work, members, who had service during the remedy period, who retired and claimed benefits before 1st October 2023, receive an immediate choice remedial savings statement (RSS). The RSS confirms their options and asks them to confirm their choice of benefits between their legacy scheme and alpha for the remedy period. To date, 58,411 RSS’s have been distributed and 42,516 immediate choice elections have been implemented. The outstanding circa 73k retired members and c.24k deferred members are part of the final and most complex group requiring rectification work, and as such this will take some time to complete.

The Cabinet Office has now received Capita's Remedy Delivery plan for completion of the outstanding work. We are currently reviewing, challenging and assuring the Full Business Case and cost profile. The Civil Service Pensions Scheme website will be updated as this work progresses.

The specific financial values of commercial transactions remain commercially confidential in relation to Capita and I am unable to disclose the figures. The primary objective of the initial Discovery Phase was to comprehensively define and evaluate the total scope of outstanding work transitioned from the legacy administrator. Furthermore, the phase was designed to enable the supplier to formulate detailed technical designs, establish robust operational delivery plans, and construct accurate cost and resource estimates essential for the successful execution of the subsequent implementation phases.

It is important to note that all impacted members in receipt of a pension are already receiving benefits and that the remedy is a potential adjustment, depending on the member’s choice, to benefits already in payment. As such the alternative scheme benefits does not automatically provide a member with a higher pension and lump sum. Where it does and the member makes an alternative scheme election, the difference between what has been paid and what is due, will be backdated to the original payment date and paid to the member inclusive of interest.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate her Department has made of the value of Capita's Civil Service Pension Scheme administration contract attributable to processing McCloud judgment remedy payments.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The pension scheme has 1.7m members with approx 420k members affected by Remedy. Capita, having assumed responsibility for the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025, is responsible for delivering the remaining 2015 Remedy work. The cases remaining to be processed are generally the most complex, involving intricate service histories, multiple retirements, or complex benefit structures.

All active and deferred Remedy-affected members receive this choice at retirement. The McCloud remedy work is a bespoke and one-off piece of work that is not an ongoing part of the services for members who have not yet retired. As part of the Remedy work, members, who had service during the remedy period, who retired and claimed benefits before 1st October 2023, receive an immediate choice remedial savings statement (RSS). The RSS confirms their options and asks them to confirm their choice of benefits between their legacy scheme and alpha for the remedy period. To date, 58,411 RSS’s have been distributed and 42,516 immediate choice elections have been implemented. The outstanding circa 73k retired members and c.24k deferred members are part of the final and most complex group requiring rectification work, and as such this will take some time to complete.

The Cabinet Office has now received Capita's Remedy Delivery plan for completion of the outstanding work. We are currently reviewing, challenging and assuring the Full Business Case and cost profile. The Civil Service Pensions Scheme website will be updated as this work progresses.

The specific financial values of commercial transactions remain commercially confidential in relation to Capita and I am unable to disclose the figures. The primary objective of the initial Discovery Phase was to comprehensively define and evaluate the total scope of outstanding work transitioned from the legacy administrator. Furthermore, the phase was designed to enable the supplier to formulate detailed technical designs, establish robust operational delivery plans, and construct accurate cost and resource estimates essential for the successful execution of the subsequent implementation phases.

It is important to note that all impacted members in receipt of a pension are already receiving benefits and that the remedy is a potential adjustment, depending on the member’s choice, to benefits already in payment. As such the alternative scheme benefits does not automatically provide a member with a higher pension and lump sum. Where it does and the member makes an alternative scheme election, the difference between what has been paid and what is due, will be backdated to the original payment date and paid to the member inclusive of interest.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been paid to Capita to date in respect of progressing payments to those affected by the McCloud judgment.

Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The pension scheme has 1.7m members with approx 420k members affected by Remedy. Capita, having assumed responsibility for the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025, is responsible for delivering the remaining 2015 Remedy work. The cases remaining to be processed are generally the most complex, involving intricate service histories, multiple retirements, or complex benefit structures.

All active and deferred Remedy-affected members receive this choice at retirement. The McCloud remedy work is a bespoke and one-off piece of work that is not an ongoing part of the services for members who have not yet retired. As part of the Remedy work, members, who had service during the remedy period, who retired and claimed benefits before 1st October 2023, receive an immediate choice remedial savings statement (RSS). The RSS confirms their options and asks them to confirm their choice of benefits between their legacy scheme and alpha for the remedy period. To date, 58,411 RSS’s have been distributed and 42,516 immediate choice elections have been implemented. The outstanding circa 73k retired members and c.24k deferred members are part of the final and most complex group requiring rectification work, and as such this will take some time to complete.

The Cabinet Office has now received Capita's Remedy Delivery plan for completion of the outstanding work. We are currently reviewing, challenging and assuring the Full Business Case and cost profile. The Civil Service Pensions Scheme website will be updated as this work progresses.

The specific financial values of commercial transactions remain commercially confidential in relation to Capita and I am unable to disclose the figures. The primary objective of the initial Discovery Phase was to comprehensively define and evaluate the total scope of outstanding work transitioned from the legacy administrator. Furthermore, the phase was designed to enable the supplier to formulate detailed technical designs, establish robust operational delivery plans, and construct accurate cost and resource estimates essential for the successful execution of the subsequent implementation phases.

It is important to note that all impacted members in receipt of a pension are already receiving benefits and that the remedy is a potential adjustment, depending on the member’s choice, to benefits already in payment. As such the alternative scheme benefits does not automatically provide a member with a higher pension and lump sum. Where it does and the member makes an alternative scheme election, the difference between what has been paid and what is due, will be backdated to the original payment date and paid to the member inclusive of interest.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to launch the procurement process for a replacement fast-jet training aircraft; when it expects to award a contract; and what steps it is taking to ensure that the programme supports UK aerospace manufacturing and preserves the operational capability of the Red Arrows until the new aircraft enter service.

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

As announced in the Defence Investment Plan 2026, the Ministry of Defence has initiated a programme to introduce a modernised fast-Jet Training System, which will also allow the Red Arrows display team to replace their ageing Hawk aircraft, with a significant UK workshare.

Now the programme has launched it will look to decide on procurement options as quickly as practicable alongside market engagement, which includes the publication of Request For Information 700004994 - Jet Training System on the 6 August. The programme recognises the pace required to meet the intent of Defence Reform and an iterative approach to the introduction to service of the new platform will form part of the plan.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications to the Advanced Fuels Fund were received for projects in relation to the Grangemouth industrial cluster.

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

Projects applying to and funded through the Advanced Fuels Fund were at various stages of development and would not necessarily have secured a location for project development and construction. Between 2022-2026, the Advanced Fuels Fund received around 75 applications across a wide range of locations including industrial clusters. Project location information where it is available for the Advanced Fuels Fund is published on gov.uk.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her department intends to review the minimum age, payment levels and advertising rules for egg donation, and commission research into the long-term health effects on donors.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 10 December 2024 in response to Question 17097, and on 1 September 2025 in response to Question 70057.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support local aid organisations to deliver aid during the Sudanese conflict.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This year, through an allocation of £15 million, we are stepping up our support for Sudanese frontline responders and mutual aid groups, including the Emergency Response Rooms. This will ensure that those closest to the crisis are able to deliver aid to communities in some of the hardest to reach areas where international humanitarian organisations are often prevented from going.

Colours Hair & Beauty wins Scottish Colour Salon of the Year

Forth Valley College Gallery Restaurant

Specialist and leading research at Forth Valley College

Central Advocacy Partners

Banknock Community Hall Management Committee SCIO

Quiet Waters (SCIO)

20th anniversary of Forth Valley Sensory Centre

Prohibiting Members of Parliament from having paid second jobs

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Stirling Pride 2026

Stirling University

Deaths of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Found: Knaresborough) Afzal Khan (Labour; Manchester Rusholme) Alex Sobel (Labour; Leeds Central and Headingley) Euan Stainbank