Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what actions he is taking to ensure that each UK embassy and consulate around the world is using British made tableware.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have a specific policy to buy British crockery or tableware for embassies or consulates or the Heads of Mission Residences; however, there is a pattern requirement which often necessitates the use of specific (British) suppliers.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many meetings have taken place within the department and appropriate predecessor departments to consider the responses to the consultation on retaining and expanding access to market for small and independent brewers since 22nd October 2025.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the important contribution that pubs and small and independent breweries make to local economies and communities across the country, and remains committed to supporting a diverse and competitive beer and pub sector.
Over the last six months I have met with all interested stakeholders directly to consider the evidence received through the review of the beer market and I have discussed this evidence in detail with policy experts within my department.
However, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) recently wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting a market investigation into this area. Given the CMA's role as the UK's independent competition regulator, it is important that the CMA is given the opportunity to consider that request.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
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 publish the outcome of the consultation on access to market for small and independent brewers before Christmas recess 2026.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the important contribution that pubs and small and independent breweries make to local economies and communities across the country, and remains committed to supporting a diverse and competitive beer and pub sector.
Over the last six months I have met with all interested stakeholders directly to consider the evidence received through the review of the beer market and I have discussed this evidence in detail with policy experts within my department.
However, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) recently wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting a market investigation into this area. Given the CMA's role as the UK's independent competition regulator, it is important that the CMA is given the opportunity to consider that request.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the UK brick manufacturing sector to meet domestic demand bricks.
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)
In 2025, the UK brick manufacturing sector produced 1,557 million bricks. This equated to around 82% of the UK brick market, with under 20% being met by imports. Brick imports increased by 11% on the previous year.
The Government is working with the sector to encourage domestic production by addressing electricity costs, through the British Industry Supercharger and through the Ceramics Industry Support Scheme which will also be open to the sector when it is formally launched.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what actions she is taking to increase the proportion of British manufactures cars used in the Government Car Service.
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 Government recognises the significant contribution the automotive sector makes to the economy, employment and innovation across the country. A substantial proportion of the Ministerial fleet is manufactured in the United Kingdom or supports the wider industry through UK-based manufacturing, engineering and supply chains and around three quarters of the vehicles procured so far this year have been manufactured in the UK.
When vehicles are procured, consideration is given to a range of factors, including operational requirements, security, safety, value for money for taxpayers, environmental performance and country of origin. Where British-manufactured vehicles meet these requirements and offer the best overall value, they are prioritised in line with procurement regulations.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to gambling taxes and regulations on the size of the black market in that sector.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The government published behavioural costings assumptions relating to gambling duty changes at Budget 2025. We want a modern regulated gambling sector and are taking action on illegal gambling. We provided an extra ÂŁ26 million in funding to the Gambling Commission to tackle illegal gambling. We also established the Illegal Gambling Taskforce and are consulting on banning unlicensed gambling sponsorship. Throughout this, we continue to work closely with industry and other stakeholders.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the proposed taskforce on the labelling of AI-generated content will consider measures to improve transparency for consumers when AI-generated or AI-assisted content is derived from, or closely resembles, the work of visual artists and creators.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. The Government recognises that labelling AI-generated content can improve transparency for consumers by helping them understand when content has been created using AI. This summer we will establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026. Further details on the taskforce will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that proposals for labelling AI-generated content are informed by engagement with visual artists and creators regarding the use of their works.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. The Government recognises that labelling AI-generated content can improve transparency for consumers by helping them understand when content has been created using AI. This summer we will establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026. Further details on the taskforce will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress her Department has made on establishing a taskforce on the labelling of AI-generated content.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
On 18 March, we published our report and impact assessment on copyright and AI. This set out where we will do more work with our creative and AI sectors. The Government recognises that labelling AI-generated content can improve transparency for consumers by helping them understand when content has been created using AI. This summer we will establish a taskforce on the labelling of AI‑generated content, which will publish an interim report in autumn 2026. Further details on the taskforce will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress she has made on establishing a working group on independent and smaller creative organisations on the impact of AI on creators, and when she expects the working group to hold its first meeting.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
We are in the process of establishing the working group, and have reached out to prospective members including independent creatives, creative industries trade and member organisations, and individuals with expertise in law and licensing.
We are now confirming membership and aim to hold the first meeting this month, subject to participants’ availability.
The group will help us understand how creatives are experiencing the evolving AI licensing market, and whether there are appropriate mechanisms in place to ensure individual creators and right holders are appropriately represented in it.
This will sit alongside other workstreams we are progressing on AI and copyright including a consultation on digital replicas, a new taskforce to put forward proposals for government on best practice for labelling AI-generated content, and a review of the mechanisms available for creators to control their works online.