Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's report entitled SACN statement on the WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners: summary, published on 2 April 2025.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In its statement, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) concluded that the evidence of a risk to health from consuming non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) is inconsistent. It also made a precautionary recommendation that intakes of NSS be minimised. With greater certainty of the impact of sugars on health, the SACN recommended that “swapping sugars for NSS may help reduce sugar intake from foods and drinks (and so reduce energy intake), at least in the short term. The long-term goal is to limit both sugar and NSS intake”.

A number of Government policies encourage businesses to reduce sugar levels in products. As a result of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, the sugar levels of the drinks included within the levy have reduced by nearly half, or 47% specifically, and through other policies reductions of approximately 15% have been seen in breakfast cereals, with reductions of over 13% and approximately 7% also having been seen in yogurts and ice creams, respectively. Sugar levels in pre-packed milk-based drinks have also reduced by approximately 32%.

For the levy, the sugar that has been removed has largely been replaced with sweeteners, although this is not the case for all of the drinks included in the scope of the levy where sugar levels have been reduced. Sweeteners have not been used in food products to such a great extent, which is generally due to legislative or business-related restrictions, the latter largely arising because of consumer concerns around their usage.

It is ultimately up to businesses to decide if and the extent to which they use sweeteners in their products, where these are permitted for use. It is recognised, however, that there are benefits to not replacing the sugar removed with sweeteners as these maintain a highly sweet taste in a product, rather than allowing palates to adapt to having less sugar in food and drink.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70325 on Ministry of Justice: Translation Services, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the spending between 2021 and 2024 that was attributable to people who have arrived in the UK since 2021.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

As this personal data is not collected in relation to the translation contract, the requested information cannot be provided.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to assist in the roll out of the T-cell-based approach vaccine to tackle Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus.

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

APHA scientists have assisted the consortium, which includes the University of Surrey, and Chester Zoo, to get to this phase 1 study of a novel vaccine to tackle Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus. They will continue to provide expert advice and assistance. Chester Zoo have agreed to take this work forward, which is likely to include a phase II study prior to any wider roll out.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will hold discussions with Scottish football authorities on the display of banners supporting deceased supporters of terrorism at football grounds.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Everyone has the right to support their football club but they must do so in line with the law. Investigations into potential offences are a matter for Police Scotland.

All clubs across Scotland have a responsibility to ensure that football is, as it should be, a force for good.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with her European counterparts on removing requirements for (a) proof of accommodation, (b) evidence of sufficient funds, (c) proof of medical insurance and (d) proof of a return ticket from the EU's Entry-Exit System for UK based travellers.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The government will continue to engage the European Commission and member states on their plans to implement the Entry/Exit System.

Questions asked to passengers as part of the new system are ultimately operational matters for the Commission and member states.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how often the UK National Screening Committee met in 2024; and in what format it met.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) usually meets three times a year. In 2024 the UK NSC met twice, firstly in March, in an online format, and again in November, in person with online facilities available. The June meeting did not take place as it fell in between the pre-election period of 25 May to 4 July ahead of the United Kingdom general election. Information about the UK NSC’s meetings and minutes can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-nsc-meetings-and-minutes

10th anniversary of Book Week NI

Free speech and Dr Päivi Räsänen

Cost of asylum seeker accommodation

Reformation Day 2025

100th anniversary of the Bangor Branch of the Royal British Legion

Thurrock Christian Fellowship

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and its work in Wiltshire

Menopause Awareness Month

Flying Nightingales

Drug deaths (No. 2)

Poppy Appeal in Northern Ireland

Baby Loss Month

Preventing sight loss in people with diabetes

National Memorial for armed forces veterans who lost their lives in Northern Ireland

Discrimination in Ulster boxing

Treatment of Professor Michael Ben-Gad

70th anniversary of Raffrey GB

35 years of Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning

40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

World Sight Day 2025