Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) police forces and (b) community groups to protect places of worship from targeted attacks.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

The Government is clear that protecting the right of all faith communities to worship in peace and without fear is fundamental.

In 2026/27, record funding of up to £77.4 million has been made available for the Home Office’s protective security schemes for faith communities. This includes £32.4 million for the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, £40 million for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme and for security and Muslim faith schools, and £5 million for places of worship and associated faith community centres of all other faiths.

On 30 April, the Government also announced £25 million of immediate funding in 2026/27 to strengthen policing, protect Jewish communities and provide reassurance in response to the terrorist attack in Golders Green and recent spate of antisemitic attacks. This includes £20 million to support policing in maintaining enhanced, visible patrols and other operational measures, and a further £4 million for the JCPS Grant, contributing to the overall £32.4 million funding outlined for the Grant above.

The Home Office has also launched a brand-new scheme, Faith Security Training (FST), to better protect faith communities in England and Wales. The FST scheme, developed in partnership with policing and faith representatives, is a free scheme designed to help faith communities strengthen their security awareness and preparedness. This training is practical, accessible, and tailored to the needs of faith leaders and volunteers.

The Government continues to work closely with the police and other partners to monitor threats and ensure that effective and proportionate protections are in place to protect communities from hate crime, terrorism and wider security threats.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with devolved administrations on coordinating prevention and response to targeted attacks on places of worship.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Secretary of State for Defence

The Government is clear that protecting the right of all faith communities to worship in peace and without fear is fundamental.

The Home Office works closely with the devolved administrations on issues relating to the safety and security of communities. This includes regular engagement through the governance of the CONTEST system, which monitors the implementation of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy and ensures that we maintain effective co-ordination across government.

We continue to work closely with the police and other partners to monitor threats and ensure that effective and proportionate protections are in place to protect communities from hate crime, terrorism and wider security threats.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment with the the Minister for the Cabinet Office of the potential impact of providing public subsidies to non-UK bus manufacturers on national security.

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

The Government is supporting the transition to zero emission buses, which will decarbonise the fleet while improving passenger journeys. We provide funding to local transport authorities; local leaders can use this funding to invest in local priorities, including the purchase of new zero emission buses.

The Department for Transport last year convened the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, which brought together government, local transport authorities, bus operators and manufacturers to consider the sustainability of the UK bus manufacturing sector.

The Government takes national security seriously. All buses deployed on roads in GB must be approved to robust standards. We recently introduced two SIs to strengthen cyber protection (UN R155) and regulate software updates (UN R156) within the approval framework.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he intends to meet representatives of the WASPI campaign to discuss the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women’s State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd (WASPI) are seeking permission from the High Court to bring a Judicial Review on our response to the Ombudsman’s report. We do not comment on live litigation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of harmonising import duties on foreign manufactured diesel and zero-emission buses.

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

In setting tariffs, the Government considers different factors such as the interests of UK consumers, producers, productivity, competitiveness, and external trade, as well as other Government objectives. Tariffs for zero-emission buses are set at 10%. This is the maximum applied tariff permitted for zero-emission buses under our goods schedule at the WTO.

As with all policy, the Government welcomes feedback and monitors these requests closely. Feedback can be submitted on specific tariff lines via the UKGT feedback form available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tariffs-on-goods-imported-into-the-uk

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of temporary targeted fuel duty support for essential commercial haulage operators.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has already taken action to bear down on prices at the pump, which benefits hauliers. The Government has announced it is extending the temporary 5p-per-litre cut in fuel duty until the end of the year.

Petrol and diesel are currently 11p per litre cheaper than under plans inherited from the previous government, and fuel duty has not been lower than it is now at any point in over 16 years.

Recognising the key role the road haulage sector plays in transporting goods across the UK and their disproportionate exposure to fuel costs, the Government is also introducing a 12-month holiday from Vehicle Excise Duty for the majority of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), which will save a typical HGV £600 on top of savings from fuel duty.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of further regulation of novel wearable technology.

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

Wearable technologies are not regulated as a broad category, as products may have a wide range of uses and functions. Existing frameworks apply where appropriate.

For example, under the Medical Device Regulations 2002, regulatory requirements apply to products, or software run on or with such products, that meet the definition of a medical device.

Relevant regulators, such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, continue to engage with Government, patients, clinicians and industry, to assess whether existing frameworks remain appropriate as technologies evolve, and to determine whether further regulatory measures or guidance may be needed to ensure safety while supporting innovation.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for implementing reforms to decouple electricity prices from gas prices.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government plans to consult later this year on introducing a voluntary Wholesale Contract for Difference (CfD), which would offer existing eligible generators that aren’t already contracted under a CfD the option to seek to agree a fixed price for the electricity they generate, with an intention to run an allocation process in 2027. In addition, the Government has announced a 10% increase to the rate of the Electricity Generator Levy which will take effect from 1st July 2026, to respond to the high prices that generators are benefitting from at present due to the crisis in the Middle East.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the UK Health Security Agency and (b) devolved governments on preparedness for infectious disease cases linked to international travel.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which acts as the lead Government department for emerging infectious disease outbreaks. UKHSA has well-tested capabilities to detect, manage, and contain cases and outbreaks of infectious diseases. UKHSA works closely with laboratories, the World Health Organisation, and public health surveillance agencies across the world to identify imported cases, and delivers an effective contact tracing, case management, and contingency planning response by working with partners across the Government and local systems. In relation to international travel, UKHSA offers border health support for United Kingdom ports of entry, maintains horizon scanning capabilities for emerging threats, and offers expert public health advice to inform travel advice.

The Department of Health and Social Care and UKHSA work closely with the devolved administration and their public health agencies in planning and response for infectious disease threats under the Common Framework for Public Health Protection and Health Security.

Both the Department of Health and Social Care and UKHSA have worked closely together in response to the recent outbreak of hantavirus, as well as working in close partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the UK Overseas Territories, the Department for Transport, the Home Office, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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Leys Group’s support for Strathcarron Hospice

110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

Government response to Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Ban on industrial action by prison officers

Jonathan Frisher

Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters

Scott Hastings

US sanctions on Cuba

Found: representations: Edward Morello and Lloyd Hatton: Independent Water Commission Final Report Euan Stainbank