Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of consumer protections for purchasers of new-build homes where a developer becomes insolvent before completing associated infrastructure works.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognises the importance of strong consumer protections for purchasers of new-build homes. That is why the Building Safety Act 2022 created a power to require, for the first time, that all new-build homes are sold with a new-build warranty. The government is considering how best to implement this power.
Where a developer becomes insolvent before completion of a new-build home, we recognise that this can create difficulties for purchasers, as developments can be left incomplete and the developer’s insolvency can make obtaining financial redress more challenging.
Where insolvencies occur, we expect local authorities to work proactively with administrators to find new developers willing to take sites forward and deliver new homes alongside the associated infrastructure.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of why households in the Merseyside and Northern Wales electricity region face the highest standing charge under the energy price cap; and what steps she is taking to ensure that regional differences in standing charges do not disproportionately disadvantage households in areas that contribute to the UK's energy generation.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Regional variations in electricity standing charges arise from differences in distribution costs, including the costs of maintaining and upgrading local networks and the number of consumers across whom those costs are spread.
The Government recognises concerns about regional disparities, including in North Wales and Merseyside, and that too much of the burden of energy bills is placed on standing charges.
The Government is working closely with Ofgem through its Cost Allocation and Recovery Review, which is considering how fixed system costs, including network costs commonly recovered through standing charges, should be allocated across consumers. This includes whether costs could be recovered in fairer and more progressive ways and consideration of regional differences. The Government will continue to work with Ofgem to ensure future charging arrangements are fair and do not disproportionately disadvantage consumers.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current voluntary arrangements for the independent safety testing of advanced AI models; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the AI Security Institute has the statutory powers necessary to require developers to provide models for independent safety testing.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The AI Security Institute (AISI) has trusted, voluntary relationships with the world's leading AI companies. This collaborative approach lets us keep pace with a fast-moving technology and adapt as it evolves.
As I outlined in my speech on 12 October, the Government has been working closely with the US government and frontier labs to ensure AISI continues to have access to the most powerful AI models before they are released.
AI scientists at AISI continue to conduct rigorous evaluations of the latest generation of models to build a scientific understanding of the risks posed by the most advanced AI systems and develop technical mitigations against them, so that policy decisions are grounded in evidence.
This Government remains committed to ensuring AISI is equipped to fulfil its vital role, and will continue to keep the House updated on its work.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the (a) packaging, (b) nicotine strength and (c) point-of-sale requirements for nicotine pouches on the level of protection of children and young people from nicotine exposure and use.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Members to the Government's consultations, and accompanying consultation stage impact assessments, on smoke-free, heated tobacco-free, and vape-free places, and on the packaging, device appearance, and display of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. The Government will carefully consider the responses before taking decisions on future regulations.
I refer the Hon. Members to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill House of Lords debate on 24 February 2026 in relation to filters. Evidence is still developing and there are no current plans to consult on plain packaging and promotions restrictions. No assessment has been taken on filters being used to circumvent the current flavours ban.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of penalties for retailers found to have sold nicotine pouches to people under the age of 18.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is currently no age of sale restriction for nicotine pouches, and therefore no penalties apply. However, from 29 October 2026, it will be an offence to sell these products to a person under the age of 18 years old.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed restrictions on social media for under-16s on disabled children, including (a) Deaf children who use British Sign Language and (b) autistic and other neurodivergent children.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises that online services can be especially valuable to disabled children, supporting communication, learning, social connection and access to information. Our consultation committed to considering potential unintended consequences, including possible impacts of any potential restrictions on vulnerable children, including those with special needs and disabilities. As regulations are developed, we will continue engaging children, parents, civil society, Ofcom and industry to ensure implementation is evidence-based, proportionate and inclusive, including for children with disabilities. We are also committed to ensuring that all children can have enriching experiences offline.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the rail network in Wales.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Secretary of State for Wales
Last week, on his visit to Wales, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister reaffirmed this Government’s commitment to the £14bn plan for Welsh rail. It will unlock 12,000 jobs and connect the people of Wales to tens of thousands more jobs we are creating across the country.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of current statutory rest break entitlements under the Working Time Regulations 1998; and whether he plans to review these provisions to improve working conditions for hourly paid workers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Working Time Regulations establish minimum standards for rest periods, including a 20-minute rest break after every 6 hours’ work, a minimum rest period of 11 hours each 24-hour period and a minimum rest period of 24 hours in any 7-day period. The government encourages employers to provide more rest breaks where appropriate for them and their workers, but the law seeks to guarantee minimum rest breaks for all workers, including those paid hourly, while also providing flexibility for businesses. The government has no current plans to review these provisions.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
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 work with young people in developing policies on restrictions to social media use for under-16s.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government has engaged extensively with children and young people as part of the Growing up in the Online World consultation and National Conversation, including through a dedicated version of the consultation for young people, alongside youth‑led sessions and workshops to hear directly from them.
Ministers and officials have also engaged in schools, youth settings and community groups, working with trusted organisations to reach diverse groups of young people.
The Government will continue to work closely with organisations representing the voices of children and young people as policy is developed.
Asked by: Gill German (Labour - Clwyd North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current system whereby proof of posting is treated as proof of delivery for notices of intended prosecution for speeding offences; and whether she has considered introducing additional measures in cases where delivery is disputed.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Notices of Intended Prosecution are issued by the police, not by the Department for Transport. The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 requires, for certain offences including speeding, that a person is warned at the time of the offence, or that a summons or notice of intended prosecution is served within 14 days, and provides that compliance with those requirements is presumed unless and until the contrary is proved.
Where service of a Notice of Intended Prosecution is disputed, it is for the court to consider the evidence in the individual case. The Department does not issue Notices of Intended Prosecution and enforcement is a matter for the police.
The Department has not made a separate assessment of this issue and has no current plans to introduce additional measures, but keeps the relevant legislative framework under review.