Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of high-skilled jobs in sectors reliant on research and innovation in Bradford and West Yorkshire.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Our modern Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and create a highly skilled, economically prosperous country. Its key objectives are to drive up business investment and create high-quality jobs across the UK.

We are directing £9 billion in research and innovation funding to Industrial Strategy sectors, with £4.5 billion directed towards innovative businesses. Additionally, the West of Yorkshire Combined Authority will benefit from targeted interventions, including: at least £30 million from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding, a strategic partnership with the National Wealth Fund and dedicated support from a British Business Bank Cluster Champion. Together, interventions like this are helping create the conditions to attract investment, support innovation and unlock opportunities for high-quality, high-skilled jobs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) start-ups and (b) scale-ups in (i) Bradford and (ii) West Yorkshire.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Through the Industrial Strategy, Small Business Plan and Budget 2025, the government is backing small businesses to start, scale and stay in the UK.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has integrated its support for businesses in a single, accessible place – the Business Growth Service. UK businesses, including those in West Yorkshire, can access our wide range of support via business.gov.uk. We're engaging more closely with founders and scaling firms, understanding the support required to unblock barriers and help scale-ups realise their full potential.

The recent Made in West Yorkshire Sold to the World event provided a great opportunity to strengthen DBT’s partnerships across the region.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of existing business support programmes in reaching SMEs in deprived communities.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

This government is committed to ensuring that small and medium sized businesses are able to access the support they need to start, grow and thrive in every community. Through the Small Business Plan, we are taking a holistic approach to strengthening the business support landscape, including reaching into underserved and deprived areas.

Business support available includes the Business Growth Service, which works closely with the West Yorkshire Business Growth Hub. Working in tandem they provide free, tailored advice to all SMEs in the region, including amongst deprived communities.

The Maple Review is an independent, government-backed initiative launched in Summer 2025 to identify and dismantle economic barriers to entrepreneurship in the UK. The Review’s final report and recommendations are anticipated for May/June 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of access to finance for start-ups in (a) Bradford and (b) West Yorkshire.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

This government is committed to supporting startups to grow and thrive in every part of the country. Through the Small Business Plan, we are taking measures to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, including a £4bn finance boost to increase access to finance for SMEs.

Startups across West-Yorkshire can access government-backed finance delivered by the British Business Bank, including Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme and free, tailored advice through the West Yorkshire Growth Hub. Over 11,000 loans (£113m funding) were issued across the Yorkshire and Humber between 2012 and 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to export support services for SMEs in Bradford.

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

Under the umbrella of the Business Growth Service, UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support including the Business Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.

DBT has built strong partnerships in West Yorkshire specifically, including Minister McDougall joining West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin at the recent Made in West Yorkshire Sold to the World event in Bradford.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much aid has been allocated to (a) safeguarding and (b) gender-based violence prevention programmes for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned by the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and committed to improving their situation in Bangladesh. In September, the Foreign Secretary announced £27 million in new funding for these efforts, bringing the UK's total support to £447 million. This includes assistance to help refugees access to essential services. In December, the UK also announced joint funding with Saudi Arabia and Qatar of £6.96 million to support the response to the Rohingya crisis.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much aid has been allocated to child protection programmes for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned by the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and committed to improving their situation in Bangladesh. In September, the Foreign Secretary announced £27 million in new funding for these efforts, bringing the UK's total support to £447 million. This includes assistance to help refugees access to essential services. In December, the UK also announced joint funding with Saudi Arabia and Qatar of £6.96 million to support the response to the Rohingya crisis.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is allocated to education programmes.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned by the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and committed to improving their situation in Bangladesh. In September, the Foreign Secretary announced £27 million in new funding for these efforts, bringing the UK's total support to £447 million. This includes assistance to help refugees access to essential services. In December, the UK also announced joint funding with Saudi Arabia and Qatar of £6.96 million to support the response to the Rohingya crisis.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of grassroots boxing clubs to community cohesion.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.

Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.

Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.

I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of grassroots boxing clubs to community wellbeing.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.

Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.

Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.

I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of grassroots boxing clubs in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.

Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.

Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.

I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of grassroots boxing clubs in youth diversion.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.

Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.

Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.

I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for new grid connections for businesses in West Yorkshire.

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

The Department is working closely with Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator, and the network companies on a suite of reforms to improve grid access and reduce connection times across Great Britain, including West Yorkshire. This includes reforming the connections queue to prioritise projects that are ready and needed, strategically planning and accelerating network investment, and addressing wider barriers to speed up new grid infrastructure build such as planning delays, and skills and supply chain constraints.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support local energy efficiency and demand reduction measures for commercial premises in Bradford.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards are in place for non-domestic buildings, meaning that most non-domestic properties cannot be leased with an Energy Performance Certificate below band E. This Department consulted on strengthening these standards and will publish the response in due course.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grants of £7500 towards the cost of purchasing and installing heat pumps.

The Government also funds the UK Business Climate Hub, an online resource supporting Small and Medium Enterprises reduce their energy use. Specific funding is available through Bradford Council’s Local Industrial Decarbonisation Project and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Business Sustainability Support.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to provide funding for low-carbon hydrogen production and use in West Yorkshire.

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

The UK Government is supporting electrolytic hydrogen production projects through the Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs). Projects that were successful in the first allocation round (HAR1) are now moving through to the final investment decision, construction and operation phases. In total, they are expected to unlock around £400 million of private investment and create over 600 direct jobs.

This includes Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen, located in Bradford city centre, which will produce hydrogen for diggers and buses. Published subsidy award details for this project include approximately £13 million in grant funding and around £400 million under the Hydrogen Production Business Model. The exact amount of funding will depend on the hydrogen produced at the site over a 15-year period.

We will seek feedback on the proposed design and delivery of the third hydrogen allocation round (HAR3) through a market engagement exercise in early 2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the electricity distribution network in Bradford and West Yorkshire to support new commercial and industrial connections.

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

We are committed to expanding the electricity network to support new commercial and industrial connections and are working closely with Ofgem and industry to mobilise the investment at the scale and pace required. For the current distribution price control, RIIO‑ED2, Ofgem has allowed £22.2 billion for upfront network investment, including £3.1 billion for network upgrades. The next price control starting in 2028, ED3, will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans to enable long‑term, strategic investment driven by regional and local energy requirements.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much aid has been allocated to education provision for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned by the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and committed to improving their situation in Bangladesh. In September, the Foreign Secretary announced £27 million in new funding for these efforts, bringing the UK's total support to £447 million. This includes assistance to help refugees access to essential services. In December, the UK also announced joint funding with Saudi Arabia and Qatar of £6.96 million to support the response to the Rohingya crisis.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much aid has been allocated to programmes supporting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned by the challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and committed to improving their situation in Bangladesh. In September, the Foreign Secretary announced £27 million in new funding for these efforts, bringing the UK's total support to £447 million. This includes assistance to help refugees access to essential services. In December, the UK also announced joint funding with Saudi Arabia and Qatar of £6.96 million to support the response to the Rohingya crisis.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of expanding local renewable energy generation in Bradford and West Yorkshire.

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

This Government is hugely ambitious about the role that community energy will play in achieving our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. On 10 February 2026, we announced the Local Power Plan: a joint DESNZ-Great British Energy (GBE) publication setting out the UK’s largest ever public investment in community energy, up to £1 billion.

GBE has funded rooftop solar for around 250 schools and 260 NHS sites. This is cutting bills for schools and hospitals, releasing money for frontline services. This includes Feversham Primary Academy in Bradford.

GBE has also funded over £16 million to the Mayoral Renewables Fund, supporting solar on fire stations, leisure centres, police headquarters and schools across England. This includes Bradford Pool and Sports Centre in Bradford East.

The Great British Energy Community Fund, a £5 million grant programme delivered by the five Local Net Zero Hubs, has supported projects in West Yorkshire. This includes the Sustainable Arts Centre in Leeds.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of sport-based diversionary activity in preventing anti-social behaviour among young people.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Sport can be a uniquely powerful tool to engage at-risk young people.

The Government, through its arm’s-length body for grassroots sport, Sport England, invests in community-level sport and physical activity projects across the country. This includes investing in organisations like StreetGames, whose "doorstop approach” to sport has been evaluated as effective in reducing youth crime and anti-social behaviour, alongside improving health and boosting educational attainment and employability.

Dual nationals and new UK entry documentation requirements

World Social Work Day 2026

Future of Hamworthy Fire Station

Payment of employment tribunal awards

New United Nations Convention on the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals

Football ticket prices (No. 2)

Escalation of conflict with Iran

Essentials Guarantee

Funding for fire and rescue services

Government response to Israel’s West Bank annexation plan

Found: Mrs Sureena Brackenridge Feversham Primary Academy BD3 9EG Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber Imran Hussain

Found: Mrs Sureena Brackenridge Feversham Primary Academy BD3 9EG Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber Imran Hussain