Imogen Walker

The government is clear that children should have strong protections from harmful online content. Ofcom published a report on the use of age assurance on 15 July 2026 that indicates that age assurance is having a meaningful impact on children’s online experiences, including by helping to prevent them from accessing harmful content. We will continue to work with Ofcom to ensure that the age assurance requirements continue to deliver effective protections for children online.

The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks from the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for everyone. Over 95% of customers have already been migrated.

In November 2024 and March 2026, the industry agreed safeguards with Government to protect consumers, in particular vulnerable people and telecare users, during the PSTN migration to modern digital networks. These include providing vulnerable, including telecare, customers with the offer of a free engineer visit as well as a battery back-up solution for use in the event of a power outage.

Tourism is a devolved matter in Scotland, and responsibility for determining which Scottish destinations are marketed domestically rests with VisitScotland.

DCMS engages regularly with national tourism bodies and cross-nation stakeholders to support the sector and share best practice and I was delighted to meet with Visit Scotland in Glasgow around the Commonwealth Games this summer. Within England, DCMS works closely with VisitEngland to encourage domestic tourism and highlight historic and cultural locations. Engagement across the wider sector focuses on supporting regional growth, encouraging overnight stays, and promoting the diversity of historic towns and destinations.

The Shared Rural Network is a joint programme between the UK Government and the mobile network operators to improve coverage in rural areas. According to the latest information published by Ofcom, outdoor 4G coverage in Hamilton and Clyde Valley, from all four operators currently stands at 87% and coverage from at least one mobile network operator is 99%. Given these existing coverage levels, there will not be any further coverage improvements from the Shared Rural Network in this constituency.

Ofcom do not report on mobile connectivity at this level of locality, but in their Connected Nations Spring update (13 May 2026), they reported that, as of January 2026, 87% of the Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency landmass has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile network operators (MNOs), with standalone 5G available outside 95% of premises across the constituency from at least one MNO.

Whilst these are positive coverage statistics, mobile connectivity is not only about whether a signal is present in a particular location. What matters to people is whether they can use that signal to make calls, use data reliably, access services and stay connected when they need to. Through the Mobile Market Review, government is considering what ‘good’ mobile coverage is in relation to the quality of service provided.

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita. To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser has been appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

Following Capita’s failure to meet its commitment to fully restore the scheme to contractual levels by the end of June, Capita’s executive leadership committed to Parliament to clear ‘stock’ cases by 1 September 2026 and process cases within Key Performance Indicators from 30 September 2026.

Capita has claimed to have met its self-imposed 1 September target across five priority areas: Bereavement, Death in Service, Ill-Health Retirement, Retirement Payments, and Retirement Quotes for cases that it categorises as workable. We are working to establish the accuracy of this claim. While this is noted, it does not constitute full service recovery and still leaves far too many scheme members facing uncertainty while they wait for their cases to be resolved. Overall performance remains unacceptable, and the Government continues to hold Capita firmly to account using all commercial levers available to it. Alongside this we continue to work on finding a suitable alternative for future scheme administration, considering all potential options including insourcing.

A written ministerial statement on the situation can be found in Hansard.

A substantive update will be provided to the House in October following the conclusion of the technical audit and report from the Remedial Advisor.

Reindustrialisation is about resilience, growth and good jobs in every postcode, including South Lanarkshire. A place-led Industrial Strategy remains our primary framework for delivering this, attracting investment and helping businesses start, scale and stay in the UK.

The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan sets out in detail our support to manufacturers, backed by up to £4.3bn. Businesses in South Lanarkshire can access a range of measures, from scale-up finance and R&D funding to energy relief from the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

South Lanarkshire also benefits from inclusion in the Glasgow City Region Investment Zone, focused on advanced manufacturing.

The Government is reducing the use of animals in regulatory testing through the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, which supports the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. Progress includes regulatory reforms by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to support the use of non-animal data, work to establish the UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM), and action to replace specific regulatory tests where validated alternatives are available. The Government is also working with regulators and international partners to increase acceptance of alternative methods while maintaining high standards of human, animal and environmental safety.

The Government is committed to helping co-operatives grow and sustain, including in central Scotland.

Eligible co-operatives can access programmes including Help to Grow: Management for leadership training, mentoring and support, which BIST has updated so that there is now more information on co-operatives and mutuals, as well as The British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme for finance to invest and grow.

Government will continue working closely with the devolved government in Scotland, including Scottish Enterprise and sector partners

Our forthcoming response to the BIST call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals will also set out further government action.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with Royal Mail in its capacity as the universal service provider.

I have been frank in my conversations with Royal Mail’s leadership that its service has been unacceptable for too long, and that the pace of improvement must increase. I will continue to raise issues relating to service performance directly with Royal Mail, including the impact of delays on communities.

The Government recognises the essential role that post offices play in communities across the country. While decisions about individual branches within constituencies are operational matters for Post Office Limited, Government has committed to maintaining a minimum network of 11,500 branches and retaining all six geographical access criteria. These include the requirement that 99% of the UK population live within three miles of a Post Office outlet. The criteria is not currently measured on a constituency basis.

The Government has not made an estimate. According to the Scottish Census data, 5.1% of all households in Scotland rely on heating oil as their primary source of central.

Heating policy is devolved to the Scottish Government. The Government allocated £53 million of financial support across the nations of the UK to support those on low income with the rising cost of heating oil and LPG. Government is regulating the heat oil sector for the first time

This includes £4.6 million allocated to the Scottish Government.

Great Britain has one of the most reliable energy systems in the world, and maintaining a resilient electricity system is a key priority for Government.

We recognise, however, the particular challenges faced by rural communities, which can experience more frequent power disruption. This is why Government works closely with Distribution Network Operators, including SP Energy Networks who serve Hamilton and Clyde Valley, to improve resilience of energy infrastructure and ensure an effective response to disruptive incidents.

Ofgem also regulates Distribution Network Operators through a price control process. This includes incentives to reduce the frequency and duration of power interruptions, no matter the cause, and to invest in and maintain infrastructure to guarantee minimum standards of service.

The Bill Discount Scheme will provide eligible households living near new or upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure with up to £250 a year off electricity bills for up to 10 years.

In March 2025, powers to establish the scheme were secured under the Planning and Infrastructure Act.

In May 2026, we announced the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) as the scheme administrator.

In July 2026, we published the scheme policy design.

The Government plans for the scheme to begin providing first payments to households in the first half of 2027, once necessary secondary legislation has been laid in Parliament.

As of 30 October 2024, there were 38 British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme members in Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency.

The Government recognises the specific pressures faced by households in Scotland, including rural and semi-rural communities, and understands that many off-gas-grid households rely on heating oil. The Government has provided over £50 million in support for low-income households reliant on heating oil, including £4.6 million for Scotland delivered through the Scottish Emergency Oil Heating Scheme.

The Government has also increased Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants for air source heat pumps from £5,000 to £7,500, which can help off-gas-grid households move to cleaner, more efficient heating where suitable.

Tackling affordability is this Government’s number one priority. The Government has taken action to remove VAT from electricity bills from October, providing breathing space to households facing cost of living pressures. The Government also acted at last year’s Budget by taking on average £150 of costs off energy bills, with those decisions now factored into bills for the years to come.

In addition, 5.7 million households in Britain benefitted from our expanded £150 Warm Home Discount last winter, and this will remain in place for the rest of the decade. The Government has also been contingency planning for a range of scenarios since the conflict in the Middle East broke out. We will continue to look at what more we can do to tackle unaffordable bills and make life easier for working people.

The UK has one of the toughest pet border checking regimes in the world and this Government is committed to preserving the high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare.

The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 gives the Government powers to prohibit the import into Great Britain of puppies and kittens under six months old and introduce measures to strengthen current enforcement mechanisms. Defra will continue to work with UK enforcement bodies as we develop these measures.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) publish detailed data on car driving test waiting times so learners can get better understanding of the booking system. More information and waiting time data, including for driving test centres serving Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency is available on GOV.UK

In April 2025, the Government announced a package of measures to reduce practical car test waiting times and deliver around 10,000 additional tests per month. Between April 2025 and March 2026, DVSA conducted a record 1.99 million practical car tests, 159,000 (8.6%) more than the previous year.

DVSA has made changes to make the booking system fairer, as well as continuing to run national recruitment campaigns for driving examiners (DE) across the country. From recruitment, a full-time DE can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.

E-bikes that do not comply with the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are motor vehicles and must therefore be registered, taxed and insured to be used on public roads. The rider must also wear a safety helmet and hold a driving licence.

The police can seize e-bikes not properly registered as motor vehicles under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. In addition, in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 the Government has strengthened the powers for the police to seize vehicles used anti-socially by removing the need to provide a warning. These powers apply to e-bikes that have been registered as motor vehicles.

Government works closely with regulators, industry and law enforcement partners to monitor emerging scam risks, identify new threats and ensure that appropriate protections are in place for pension savers.

The Conditions for Pension Transfers Regulations form a key element of those protections. Providing important safeguards against pension scams by enabling trustees and scheme managers to pause or prevent a transfer where there are indicators that the transfer may present a risk.

Earlier this year, the Government consulted on reforms to the regulations following concerns about the potential misuse of Small Self-Administered Schemes. Having carefully considered the responses received, we have today published our response, outlining a targeted package of measures to address identified risks, improve existing safeguards, and enhance protections for pension savers. The Government Response is available at the following link: Government response to the public consultation on proposals to amend the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Conditions for Transfers) Regulations 2021 - GOV.UK

The Department for Work and Pensions supports disabled veterans in South Lanarkshire through a dedicated Armed Forces Champion (AFC) covering the local Jobcentre Plus district. The AFC provides tailored employment and health-related support, benefits advice, and assistance in overcoming barriers to work, helping disabled veterans access the support and services available to them.

Disabled veterans may be eligible for a range of support, including disability and health-related benefits, income-related benefits and compensation schemes for injuries or illnesses attributable to military service. The AFC also supports veterans by connecting them with local partners and specialist organisations. By developing strong links with services such as Defence Medical Welfare Services, Veterans First Point and Lanarkshire Armed Services Advice, we are better able to support veterans through coordinated referrals, helping them access the specialist assistance they need and reducing barriers to support.

The AFC also participates in the Lanarkshire Firm Base, led by North and South Lanarkshire local authorities, which brings together local government, the Armed Forces, NHS services, charities, and employers to promote the aims of the Armed Forces Covenant and support serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Participation in this network enables us to raise awareness of the Armed Forces Champion role, strengthen relationships with key partners, identify additional sources of support for veterans, and develop collaborative opportunities that enhance the range and quality of services available to the Armed Forces community.

Through attendance at these meetings, we have identified a newly launched Veterans Hub run by an Armed Forces charity supporting members of the Armed Forces community with their mental health. We are exploring opportunities for future partnership working, including the potential to deliver support and engagement activities within the Hub and strengthen referral pathways for veterans.

In Scotland, Carer's Allowance has been replaced by Carer Support Payment.

Carer’s Allowance is devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Social Security Scotland publishes Carer Support Payment statistics, but the published dataset does not provide a Westminster parliamentary constituency breakdown.

Jobcentre Services in Hamilton and Clyde Valley are provided from Hamilton and Lanark Jobcentre Plus.

Through Jobcentre Plus, Work Coaches offer personalised advice to help individuals secure roles which reflect their skills, qualifications and prior experience, alongside targeted job-search support. In addition, we signpost to services delivered in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, colleges, employers, and Scottish Government’s ‘No One Left Behind’ approach through Local Employability Partnerships. Those aged 16 to 24 also benefit from specialist Youth Work Coaches, employment programmes, and the Government's Youth Guarantee, which supports young people to access education, training, apprenticeships, and work.

In addition, we are currently exploring outreach opportunities within Hamilton, including within family hubs, alongside South Lanarkshire Council.

Please find information on the number of State Pension recipients in the Hamilton and Clyde Valley constituency at DWP Stat-Xplore.

On the costs of developing the App, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December 2023 in response to Question 5345.

On the benefits resulting from use of the App, I refer the Hon Member to the GOV.UK website press release from April 2025, which sets out a range of estimated cost savings and other efficiencies across different healthcare settings, and which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-nhs-app-expansion-cuts-waiting-times

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has responsibility for decisions on approval of medicines. In March 2026, the MHRA published a statement outlining its approach which included that, from January 2027, where a medicine has been developed without animal testing, the MHRA will review data generated by a developer to determine in advance of a formal application, if it agrees. Plans to implement this are well-advanced. The MHRA’s statement is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mhra-approach-to-medicines-using-non-animal-methods

On the costs of developing the App, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December 2023 in response to Question 5345.

On the benefits resulting from use of the App, I refer the Hon Member to the GOV.UK website press release from April 2025, which sets out a range of estimated cost savings and other efficiencies across different healthcare settings, and which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-nhs-app-expansion-cuts-waiting-times