Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take diplomatic steps to ensure accountability mechanisms in response to the United Nations Commission of Inquiry findings on violations against Palestinian children in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July in response to Question 13226.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to make a public statement in response to the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July in response to Question 13226.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the findings of the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel's report entitled The essence of childhood has been destroyed: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023, published on 18 June 2026, that acts committed in Gaza may be classed as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July in response to Question 13226.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the findings of the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel's report entitled The essence of childhood has been destroyed: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023, published on 18 June 2026, that Israeli authorities have deliberately targeted Palestinian children in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 July in response to Question 13226.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, whether changes have been made to Serious Fraud Office governance and oversight arrangements since July 2025.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

The SFO operates within a well-established governance framework, including accountability through the Attorney General’s superintendence functions and the appointment of Non-Executive Directors as set out in their Framework Agreement. Governance arrangements are kept under review in line with good practice, with the Framework Agreement being reviewed and updated in 2024.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of decoupling electricity and gas prices.

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

The existing Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has been successful in bringing forth new renewable assets at fixed, competitive prices. CfDs are already beginning to decouple electricity and gas markets, protecting consumers from gas price volatility.

However, Government wants to go further and offer eligible legacy low-carbon generators new fixed price contracts, known as Wholesale CfDs. This will help speed up decoupling and protect families and businesses from higher electricity bills when gas prices increase. We plan to consult on this policy later in the year and all impacts will be scrutinised and assessed as the policy develops, with contracts being offered only where they deliver clear value for money for the consumer.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on wind farms and the practice of curtailment, in the context of the current price of electricity.

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

The current extent of grid constraints reflects years of underinvestment, with new network infrastructure development having lagged the expansion of new generation.

That’s why this Government is delivering the biggest upgrade in Great Britain’s electricity network in decades.

Alongside this, in April the Government set out it’s Reformed National Pricing Delivery plan, which outlines a number of measures the Government is taking to improve system efficiency and reduce the costs associated with network constraints. We are working closely with Ofgem and NESO to deliver these actions.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has reviewed curtailment policy in the context of the conflict in the Middle East.

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

The current extent of grid constraints reflects years of underinvestment, with new network infrastructure development having lagged the expansion of new generation.

That’s why this Government is delivering the biggest upgrade in Great Britain’s electricity network in decades.

Alongside this, in April the Government set out it’s Reformed National Pricing Delivery plan, which outlines a number of measures the Government is taking to improve system efficiency and reduce the costs associated with network constraints. We are working closely with Ofgem and NESO to deliver these actions.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of how much curtailed wind energy could have instead been stored in batteries or other forms of energy storage.

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

The Government has not undertaken an assessment of how much curtailed wind energy could have instead been stored in batteries or other forms of energy storage. The Government has commissioned and published analysis by LCP Delta and Regen on the benefits of Long-Duration Electricity Storage (LDES), including reduced wind curtailment, which has informed policy to encourage storage deployment including the LDES Cap and Floor.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much was paid to wind farm operators for constraint and curtailment payments in 2025 and 2026 so far; and what steps he is taking to reduce this figure.

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

The costs associated with network curtailment and other balancing actions are passed on to consumers in electricity bills.

As set out in the Reformed National Pricing (RNP) Delivery Plan, wind generators were paid £370 million in 2024/2025 to reduce generation their generation in order to support balancing of the network. Annual balancing costs for 2025/26 will be published in due course by NESO.

The Government is taking forward work through the Reformed National Pricing (RNP) programme to reduce constraint costs and improve consumer outcomes, as outlined in the Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the amount consumers paid through electricity bills for wind farm curtailment in the last 12 months.

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

The costs associated with network curtailment and other balancing actions are passed on to consumers in electricity bills.

As set out in the Reformed National Pricing (RNP) Delivery Plan, wind generators were paid £370 million in 2024/2025 to reduce generation their generation in order to support balancing of the network. Annual balancing costs for 2025/26 will be published in due course by NESO.

The Government is taking forward work through the Reformed National Pricing (RNP) programme to reduce constraint costs and improve consumer outcomes, as outlined in the Reformed National Pricing Delivery Plan.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what internal oversight exists to ensure consistency of prosecutorial decisions.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

The Serious Fraud Office is an independent prosecuting authority. Its operational decisions, including whether to investigate or prosecute individuals, are the responsibility of the Director in accordance with the law. Where appropriate, the Law Officers will engage with the SFO at a strategic level to support effective delivery of its functions.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to review whistleblower protection frameworks since 2015.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

In April 2026, important amendments to the Employment Rights Act 1996 came into force. These clarified that workers who ‘blow the whistle’ on sexual harassment can benefit from whistleblowing protections against detriment and unfair dismissal.

Additionally, the government commenced changes this June to update The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014, adding six new prescribed whistleblowing bodies and changing the remits of seven existing bodies. Keeping the framework up to date, gives workers greater confidence about where to raise concerns, and supports earlier detection of wrongdoing.

The government also plans to launch a consultation on whistleblowing.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to strengthen protections for individuals who cooperate with investigations into corporate misconduct.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Individuals who cooperate with investigations are protected from retaliation by their employer where their reporting qualifies as a “protected disclosure” (or whistleblowing) under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA).

The government intends to consult on the whistleblowing framework in the ERA.

Separately, employees are protected from unfair dismissal under the ERA. A dismissal may be unfair if the employer lacks a fair reason, follows an unfair procedure, or both. An employee who is dismissed for cooperating with an investigation into wrongdoing may be able to bring an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, depending on the circumstances.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, how many individuals were charged in relation to LIBOR manipulation; and how many investigations concluded without charges, disaggregated by seniority where such information is held.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

13 individuals were charged in relation to the Libor investigation. 5 were subsequently found guilty and convicted. The release of the information on investigations concluded without charges would be likely to prejudice the prevention of crime.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, whether her Department has issued any guidance to the Serious Fraud Office following the Supreme Court’s judgment in R (Respondent) v Hayes (Appellant) UKSC/2024/0087.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

The judgement made in Tom Hayes’ and Carlo Palombo’s appeal to the Supreme Court regarding their convictions for manipulating Libor and Euribor was not based on flaws in the SFO’s procedures and the need for internal guidance, but that the directions given by the judge at their trials were incorrect in law. The court ruled that trial judges had misdirected juries by treating the question of whether a bank submission is "dishonest" as a matter of law, rather than leaving it to the jury.

The defences contention was that was that this removed from the jury an essential consideration of fact which ought to have been for them to determine. In quashing the convictions, the Supreme Court has indicated agreement with that view.

The SFO was not criticised in the judgment and carefully considers judgments of this nature, as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering effective and fair prosecutions

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, whether she plans to review the Serious Fraud Office’s internal procedures following the quashing of Mr Tom Hayes’ conviction by the Supreme Court.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

The judgement made in Tom Hayes’ and Carlo Palombo’s appeal to the Supreme Court regarding their convictions for manipulating Libor and Euribor was not based on flaws in the SFO’s procedures, but that the directions given by the judge at their trials were incorrect in law. The court ruled that trial judges had misdirected juries by treating the question of whether a bank submission is "dishonest" as a matter of law, rather than leaving it to the jury.

The defence’s contention was that was that this removed from the jury an essential consideration of fact which ought to have been for them to determine. In quashing the convictions, the Supreme Court has indicated agreement with that view.

The SFO was not criticised in the judgment and carefully considers judgments of this nature, as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering effective and fair prosecutions.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what records are retained by the Serious Fraud Office concerning decisions not to charge individuals during the LIBOR investigations, and for how long are those records kept.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

SFO case records are retained in line with its retention policy. This specifies that case related material should be maintained for at least 7 years following case closure, or the closure of any related appeals. Some material may be held for up to 20 years if it were subsequently deemed as being of long-term interest, before being transferred to the National Archives.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what procedures were in place during LIBOR investigations to assess the role of senior executives when deciding the scope of criminal inquiries.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

The SFO’s investigations into Libor were conducted in line with accepted principles for investigating criminal cases. SFO case teams have access to detailed internal guidance to ensure a consistency of approach on its cases and decisions to charge are the responsibility of the Director in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that the provision specified in Individual Support Plans under the SEND White Paper proposals is legally enforceable; and what recourse will be available to parents and carers where such provision is not delivered.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

An Individual Support Plan (ISP) will be produced for any child or young person who is receiving targeted, targeted plus or specialist support in a setting, including those with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). The special educational needs and disabilities Tribunal remains an important legal backstop for the most important EHCP decisions. Under our proposed reforms, families will be able to appeal the most important decisions around needs assessment, eligibility for a specialist provision package, the type of package, the placement, the outcome of an EHCP review, and a decision to cease the EHCP.

ISPs will be developed by settings together with parents and young people, giving children and young people a clear and consistent record of their needs and the help they receive so that support is joined‑up, timely and centred on what will help them to thrive. Under our proposals, if there are concerns about provision, parents and young people would be able to raise these directly with the setting, including through the improved schools complaints process where necessary. We will seek to strengthen the school complaints system with the inclusion of an appropriate, independent SEND specialist (for example a special educational needs coordinator, multi-academy inclusion director, senior school manager) on a panel, if the complaint cannot be resolved by the school’s senior management team or head teacher.

The government consultation 'SEND reform: putting children and young people first’ has now closed. We are carefully reviewing and taking into account all responses submitted to the consultation and continuing to engage widely on our proposals.

Sony's market practices

Killing of Mohamed Fawaz al-Wahidi

National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers

Modern Service Framework for neurological conditions

Deported Chinese seafarers

Support for hospices

50th Anniversary of the Grunwick Strike

Funding of Jodrell Bank Observatory

Deaths of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough

Moratorium on new AI data centres

Nature rights

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya

Industrial dispute of staff in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Autonomy’s report entitled Cleaning Up Politics

Srebrenica Memorial Week

South Yemen

Tent of Nations Nassar family farm

Sustainability of mental health legal aid services

Impact of Israel’s ingress into Palestinian territory on maternal care

Carbon monoxide alarms

Palantir and the NHS (No. 2)

Arrest of Dr Mazen Al-Rantisi and Israeli action against Palestinian civil society

Ownership and regulation of water

Found: Letter dated 22/07/2026 from Karen Baxter, Director, Enforcement and Market Oversight, to Iqbal Mohamed