Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving support and diagnosis for women experiencing menopause in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Health is largely devolved and the Government works closely and collaboratively with the devolved administrations on a range of health priorities. The Department engages regularly with counterparts in the devolved administrations to share information and discuss areas of mutual interest. This includes engagement through established intergovernmental structures such as the Interministerial Group for Health and Social which meets quarterly at the ministerial level.

While health policy, including services relating to menopause, is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government remains committed to constructive engagement with the devolved administrations on shared health challenges and opportunities to improve outcomes across the United Kingdom.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of speech and language support for pupils in primary schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Speech and language therapists (SaLTs) break down communication barriers, but too often, children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) wait too long to receive support from them.

As part of our new £1.8 billion investment, schools will be able to access support from professionals such as SaLTs through the Experts at Hand offer. These experts will work directly with school staff to equip them with skills and strategies to better meet need.

We are also investing £15 million to establish new SaLT advanced practitioners in every integrated care board area to support more SaLTs to work with educational settings, upskill speech and language support workers, and promote the SaLT apprenticeship route.

This is in addition to £3.4 million being invested this year in the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) programme, helping to identify and respond to speech and language needs, continued investment in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention, which has demonstrated significant impact on speech and language skills particularly for disadvantaged pupils, and an expansion of English Hubs support to include specialist early language support from the 2026/27 academic year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that all schools are adequately prepared for emergency situations.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

All education, childcare and children’s social care settings should have emergency plans in place. They must also comply with legal responsibilities, including under health and safety law.

The department publishes non-statutory guidance to support settings plan for emergencies within their own local context. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings.

In any emergency, education, childcare and children's social care settings should keep children and staff safe and seek to minimise the amount and length of any disruption.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of extreme weather events on small-scale farms in the last two years.

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

Defra has made no assessment of the potential impacts of extreme weather on small farms.

The Government has allocated £11.8bn to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, including £5.9bn for environmental farming schemes. Defra is focusing efforts on actions with multiple benefits: for example, improving soil health so soil can hold more water, which both reduces flood risk in extreme rainfall (winter 2026) and drought risk in extreme dry weather (summer 2025). Later this year Defra will open the Sustainable Farming Incentive offer in two windows: the first from June 2026 for small farms and also farms without existing Environmental Land Management revenue agreements; the second from September for all farms.

Farmers contribute to and are affected by weather-related challenges. The measures the government is introducing will help British farming thrive and boost farmers’ resilience to extreme weather while protecting this country’s water resources and meeting environmental goals.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the relevance of lessons from the war in Ukraine for addressing emerging security challenges in other regions, including the Middle East.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine on the sharing of knowledge, including insights about drones, missile threats and electronic warfare, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Government of Ukraine on collaboration between government, universities and industry to support Ukraine’s long-term defence technological development.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

On 17 March 2026, the UK and Ukraine signed an enhanced security and defence industrial declaration, which strengthens collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators.

The UK has delivered seven successful trade missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is provided to GPs on faith-sensitive medical care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice. The standards cover personal beliefs and medical practice, and set out that in assessing a patient’s conditions and taking a history, doctors should take account of spiritual, religious, social, and cultural factors, as well as their clinical history and symptoms.

The training curriculum for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council. The RCGP curriculum includes content on ‘demonstrating the holistic mindset of a generalist medical practitioner’, which covers spirituality and cultural factors.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated by his Department to programmes designed to incorporate lessons from the war in Ukraine into UK defence innovation since February 2022.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights from the war in Ukraine, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia. UK Defence Innovation is informed by lessons from Ukraine, sharing knowledge internationally through NATO DIANA and AUKUS Pillar 2.

Under Programme LYRA, we are informing future defence and security innovation with the Government of Ukraine, sharing what works and what doesn't.

We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security. The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation.

We recognise that Ukraine's experience in defending itself against large-scale aggression represents a unique and valuable resource for the development of modern defence capabilities. We are committed to promoting the systematic integration of Ukraine's operational experience into military training, doctrinal development, and capability planning.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the relevance to the UK defence innovation ecosystem of Ukraine’s approach to rapid defence innovation during the ongoing conflict.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights from the war in Ukraine, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia. UK Defence Innovation is informed by lessons from Ukraine, sharing knowledge internationally through NATO DIANA and AUKUS Pillar 2.

Under Programme LYRA, we are informing future defence and security innovation with the Government of Ukraine, sharing what works and what doesn't.

We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security. The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation.

We recognise that Ukraine's experience in defending itself against large-scale aggression represents a unique and valuable resource for the development of modern defence capabilities. We are committed to promoting the systematic integration of Ukraine's operational experience into military training, doctrinal development, and capability planning.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking with Ukraine and NATO allies to ensure that lessons from the war in Ukraine inform future cooperation on defence and security innovation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights from the war in Ukraine, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia. UK Defence Innovation is informed by lessons from Ukraine, sharing knowledge internationally through NATO DIANA and AUKUS Pillar 2.

Under Programme LYRA, we are informing future defence and security innovation with the Government of Ukraine, sharing what works and what doesn't.

We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security. The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation.

We recognise that Ukraine's experience in defending itself against large-scale aggression represents a unique and valuable resource for the development of modern defence capabilities. We are committed to promoting the systematic integration of Ukraine's operational experience into military training, doctrinal development, and capability planning.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what programmes his Department has established to incorporate lessons from the war in Ukraine into UK defence innovation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights from the war in Ukraine, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia. UK Defence Innovation is informed by lessons from Ukraine, sharing knowledge internationally through NATO DIANA and AUKUS Pillar 2.

Under Programme LYRA, we are informing future defence and security innovation with the Government of Ukraine, sharing what works and what doesn't.

We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security. The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation.

We recognise that Ukraine's experience in defending itself against large-scale aggression represents a unique and valuable resource for the development of modern defence capabilities. We are committed to promoting the systematic integration of Ukraine's operational experience into military training, doctrinal development, and capability planning.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which UK companies, universities or research institutions are participating in programmes designed to incorporate lessons from the war in Ukraine into defence innovation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights from the war in Ukraine, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia. UK Defence Innovation is informed by lessons from Ukraine, sharing knowledge internationally through NATO DIANA and AUKUS Pillar 2.

Under Programme LYRA, we are informing future defence and security innovation with the Government of Ukraine, sharing what works and what doesn't.

We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security. The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation.

We recognise that Ukraine's experience in defending itself against large-scale aggression represents a unique and valuable resource for the development of modern defence capabilities. We are committed to promoting the systematic integration of Ukraine's operational experience into military training, doctrinal development, and capability planning.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of operational lessons from the war in Ukraine for UK defence procurement and capability development.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of speed and technical innovation for UK defence procurement if we are to stay ahead of our adversaries.

The Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy reflect these lessons, setting out plans to overhaul acquisition. Our new segmented approach to procurement, supported by accelerated commercial pathways, is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster.

Likewise, UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) is placing innovation at the heart of defence procurement. Backed by a ring-fenced budget, UKDI will ensure we are able to rapidly acquire the innovative technologies our Armed Forces need to keep pace with the changing nature of warfare.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support cooperation between British and Ukrainian defence industries in support of European and NATO security.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

On 17 March 2026, the UK and Ukraine signed an enhanced security and defence industrial declaration, strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators and supporting wider security of the Euro-Atlantic region.

The UK has delivered seven successful trade missions to Ukraine, bringing together UK industry and likeminded European partners to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation and investment, and to promote greater collaboration with defence industrial companies inside Ukraine.

Last year, we announced the UK will manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment with Ukrainian industry through a groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for UK and NATO defence policy of Ukraine’s wartime innovation in areas including drone technology and digital battlefield coordination.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine and NATO partners on the sharing of knowledge and insights from the war in Ukraine, whose technologists and armed forces are constantly evolving capabilities to address a variety of threats from Russia. UK Defence Innovation is informed by lessons from Ukraine, sharing knowledge internationally through NATO DIANA and AUKUS Pillar 2.

Under Programme LYRA, we are informing future defence and security innovation with the Government of Ukraine, sharing what works and what doesn't.

We are building a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine which will develop industrial capacity while supporting UK and Ukrainian security. The 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine facilities the rapid pursuit of sustainable production to create a dynamic ecosystem of defence innovation.

We recognise that Ukraine's experience in defending itself against large-scale aggression represents a unique and valuable resource for the development of modern defence capabilities. We are committed to promoting the systematic integration of Ukraine's operational experience into military training, doctrinal development, and capability planning.

We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of which elements of the UK’s collaboration between government, academia and industry could support Ukraine’s long-term technological development.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT assesses that there are multiple elements of UK collaboration between government, academia and industry that support Ukraine’s long‑term technological development, reaffirmed by the Prime Minister during the UK‑Ukraine Strategic Dialogue on 17 March. These include, but are not limited to: TechBridge, which connects tech businesses and has helped Ukrainian startups secure over £10 million in funding; ResearchBridge, which links researchers in priority areas to build sustainable partnerships; deepening cooperation between our space agencies on joint projects to support the peaceful uses of outer space; and work with Ukraine on digital transformation and cooperation on AI to provide best‑in‑class public services.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of schools who have their own minibus.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department does not collect or hold information about the number of schools who have their own minibus.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the role that defence and advanced manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland could play in future UK-Ukraine defence cooperation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators, including companies based in Northern Ireland.

The Ministry of Defence has placed contracts with Thales in 2022, 2024 and 2026 to supply Starstreak High Velocity Missiles (HVM) from remaining stocks and to develop new versions of the HVM.

The Prime Minister additionally announced a £1.6 billion deal with Thales in March 2025, to supply over 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to Ukraine, supporting 700 existing jobs at Thales in Belfast. This was increased by a further 1,000 missiles following the agreement reached with Ukraine in February this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department provides to defence and technology companies in Northern Ireland seeking to collaborate with Ukrainian partners.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence is committed to strengthening collaboration between Ukrainian and British defence innovators, including companies based in Northern Ireland.

The Ministry of Defence has placed contracts with Thales in 2022, 2024 and 2026 to supply Starstreak High Velocity Missiles (HVM) from remaining stocks and to develop new versions of the HVM.

The Prime Minister additionally announced a £1.6 billion deal with Thales in March 2025, to supply over 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to Ukraine, supporting 700 existing jobs at Thales in Belfast. This was increased by a further 1,000 missiles following the agreement reached with Ukraine in February this year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been resettled in Northern Ireland this year.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Northern Ireland is not a dispersal area and asylum seekers are therefore not routed between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Only those claiming asylum in Northern Ireland are accommodated there. Northern Ireland’s asylum population is, however, proportionate to its population when compared to the UK.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle human trafficking in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office works closely with law enforcement agencies and prosecution services to strengthen the operational response to modern slavery and human trafficking, and identify any barriers to prosecution. However, under the devolution settlement for Northern Ireland, responsibility for the policy and legislative response to modern slavery and human trafficking, including policing and criminal justice, rests with the Government of Northern Ireland.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) identification system operates UK-wide and the Home Office Competent Authorities identify victims of modern slavery for cases referred in Northern Ireland; the Northern Ireland Executive have voluntarily ‘opted in’ to this model.

In terms of improving identification and decision-making for child victims, the devolved decision-making pilot launched in 2021. The pilot enables decisions about whether a child is a victim of modern slavery to be made by those involved in their care. It also ensures that decisions are closely aligned with the provision of local, needs-based support and any law enforcement response. The pilot has seen a range of benefits including reduced decision-making time, better local understanding of the NRM, modern slavery and exploitation, and improved multi-agency join-up. Following its recent expansion in 2025, it now covers 39 local authorities across England, Wales and Scotland, as well as all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with NATO allies and regional partners on applying lessons from the war in Ukraine to defence innovation and security cooperation in other regions.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work closely with NATO allies on the sharing of knowledge and insights about drone, missile threats, electronic warfare, innovation, and supply chains.

The Secretary of State for Defence continues to work with allies in other regions, where the lessons from Ukraine can be applied.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether lessons from the use of drones and autonomous systems in Ukraine are informing future UK equipment requirements.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The pace of Defence's 'learn and adapt' cycle has accelerated exponentially as a result of lessons learnt in Ukraine, and the Strategic Defence Review highlighted the importance of autonomous systems within the UK's integrated force.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support trade and industrial cooperation between British and Ukrainian defence and technology companies.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

On 17 March 2026, the Prime Minister announced the Enhanced Security and Defence Industrial Collaboration Declaration between the UK and Ukraine.

This declaration affirms our commitment to building a sustained defence industrial partnership that enhances industrial capacity while supporting the security of both nations. It is founded on the principles of innovation, resilience, and rapid adaptation to evolving security challenges.

Cooperation may include establishing joint production lines, collaborative research and development, integrating defence supply chains, and large-scale production of defence systems and components.

We are determined to strengthen our defence partnership, expand cooperation, and continue contributing to global security.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on how lessons from Ukraine’s wartime innovation are informing UK defence policy.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK is learning extensively from Ukraine, particularly the need for a much faster 'learn and adapt' cycle and the ability to analyse real time data to drive rapid changes in capability and tactics though rapid innovation. This continues to inform UK Defence Policy alongside the Strategic Defence Review and the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. As such, we are strengthening collaboration between operators, scientists and industry to accelerate our innovation activity to satisfy Defence requirements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to help reduce classroom sizes in primary schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. Measures are in place to limit and reduce class sizes, particularly for younger children. Legislation caps the size of an infant class at 30 pupils per qualified teacher. Infant classes are those in which most pupils turn five, six, or seven during the school year. Current data shows the average infant class size is 26.2 pupils, a decrease of 0.4 compared with the previous year.

There is no statutory limit on class sizes for older children aged eight and above. Schools have the flexibility to organise these classes according to local needs and circumstances, ensuring pupils receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. The average primary class size, covering both infant and junior classes, is 26.4 pupils, down by 0.2 from last year.

These trends, alongside the statutory infant class limit, demonstrate that current measures are helping to keep class sizes manageable in primary schools.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to (a) ensure adequate funding to youth clubs and (b) promote social inclusion in communities.

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

This Government is committed to rebuilding and improving local youth services to ensure every young person across the country has a community.

We’re also investing in the #iWill Movement to support place-based youth social action work. In this work, young people will play an active role in addressing local issues, supporting their sense of belonging and connection to community.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK-UAE Illicit Finance Partnership Agreement on (a) Muhammad Tahir Lakhani and Muhammad Ali Lakhani and (b) other enforcement outcomes.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK–UAE Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows is focused on strengthening cooperation on illicit finance, fraud, asset recovery and the return of the proceeds of crime.

Since the partnership was established in 2021, the UK and UAE have worked together to enhance operational collaboration, improve information sharing, and build stronger structures to support joint law enforcement activity.

However, the Home Office is not able to comment on or make assessments regarding individual cases.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how funding is allocated to local sports clubs.

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

The Government is committed to supporting grassroots sport clubs, which play an important role within communities across the country.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport clubs through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery Funding.

Through its Movement Fund, Sport England allocates funding to grassroots sports clubs primarily based on their ability to deliver against the aims set out in their ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy around getting more people active, reducing the number of inactive people and tackling long-standing inequalities. Sport England’s website provides transparency data about how their funding is invested.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to increase investment in cyber security research to protect UK businesses and public services.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government - in partnership with industry and academia - carries out a wide range of research to support our objectives on cyber security and protect the public and businesses. This includes the annual Cyber Security Breaches Survey which details the frequency and impact of cyber breaches attacks on businesses, charities and educational institutions; a range of studies examining the cyber risks and opportunities relating to new and emerging technologies; and research by the AI Security Institute into the cyber security risks and capabilities of advanced AI systems. Our new TechExpert programme will support 500 domestic doctoral students conducting research in frontier technology sectors, including cyber security. The forthcoming National Cyber Action Plan will set out further details of how the government will respond to the growing cyber threat and work with industry to raise cyber resilience levels across the economy.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support exists for family-run businesses.

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

The government is committed to supporting all small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) including family-run businesses through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive support package in a generation.

The plan features the most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance for start-ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising High Streets, as well as boosting Digital and AI Adoption.

The Business Growth Service makes it easier for SMEs to access the right support at any stage of their growth journey, while Go Succeed provides expert advice for businesses in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help protect UK citizens travelling abroad.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are all key priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in a single answer. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, or continuing to attend sessions of FCDO departmental questions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help prevent international human rights abuses.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are all key priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in a single answer. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, or continuing to attend sessions of FCDO departmental questions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support persecuted Christians abroad.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The issues raised in the Hon Member's questions are all key priorities for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and our work in these areas cannot adequately be summarised in a single answer. However, he can find regular updates about that work by following the FCDO news feed on GOV.UK, or continuing to attend sessions of FCDO departmental questions.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is given to local authorities on supporting carers’ mental health.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In England, local authorities are required by the Care Act 2014 to undertake carers assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support at their request. As stipulated in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, a carer’s mental health must be considered when considering whether a carer has eligible needs.

The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Part of this includes an increase to the National Health Service contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund. The Better Care Fund includes funding that can be used for carer support, including short breaks and respite services. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities, but this can certainly include support for carers’ mental health.

Adults, including carers, who need support with common mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or be referred by their general practitioner. As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, we are expanding Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people complete a course of treatment by March 2029.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support sustainable transport initiatives.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Delivering greener transport is a departmental priority and we are focused on supporting a range of sustainable travel choices for people using public and private transport. More opportunities to walk, wheel and cycle will create happier and healthier communities and supporting the transition to electric vehicles will make our transport system cleaner and more resilient. Recent actions include:

• Announced on 25 March, the multi-year Depot Charging Scheme and Zero Emission Van and Truck Grants are providing a £1 billion boost for British businesses to roll out clean trucks and vans and install new electric vehicle chargers at depots – helping to build resilience against fuel price uncertainty.
• The Electric Car Grant has already helped over 80,000 drivers to choose an electric vehicle since launching last year.
• A £4 million boost to the NHS chargepoint scheme has helped modernise the health service, will decarbonise 460 million journey miles a year and save millions in fuel costs.
• In March 2026 we announced up to £73 million in additional funding to support the delivery of approximately 484 zero emission buses across 10 projects in England, on top of £38 million announced last April.
• The Bus Services Act 2025 will place a requirement on bus operators not to use new diesel buses on local bus routes in England. It will not take effect prior to 2030 so that the sector has time to plan a smooth transition. We are currently engaging with the bus sector as to the date.
• A freeze on rail fares, saving passengers £600 million and easing cost‑of‑living pressures as we rebuild a better and more reliable railway with passengers at its heart through Great British Railways.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of whether rural hospitals have adequate access to specialist medical equipment.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No specific assessment has been made. National Health Service providers, working with integrated care boards, are responsible for delivering NHS healthcare services that meet the needs of their local populations. This includes the medical equipment needed to deliver those services.

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 tackle flooding in flood-prone areas.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is a priority for this Government.

That is why we set up a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after the winter flood season.

Protecting communities from floods is a devolved responsibility. Delivering on the Plan for Change, in England, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences, protecting communities from the devastating impacts of climate change.

This Labour Government are investing £4.2 billion over the next three years—2026-27 to 2028-29—to construct new flood defence schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across England.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans her Department has to support exchanges between British and Ukrainian scientists, engineers and innovators working on defence and security technologies.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT does not lead defence or security cooperation with Ukraine, which is driven by other government departments under the 100 Year Partnership. DSIT is supporting Ukrainian and UK researchers and businesses through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grants and Horizon Europe funding, which offer routes for scientific exchange.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to ensure that teachers receive training in safeguarding children.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The initial teacher training (ITT) Criteria set out requirements for ITT courses leading to qualified teacher status. Course design must encompass all aspects of the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework, including safeguarding duties; and accredited providers are required to ensure trainee teachers are aware of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KSCIE), guidance that schools and colleges must have regard to. KCSIE is clear that every school must have a designated safeguarding lead who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. In line with KCSIE, all staff should undergo safeguarding and child protection training (including online safety) at induction. Additionally, all staff should receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates, including online safety (e.g., via email, e-bulletins, staff meetings) as required, and at least annually, to continue to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence on employment in the next five years.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government recognises that AI is transforming workplaces, demanding new skills and augmenting existing roles. We have launched the AI and the Future of Work Unit - a cross‑government function dedicated to ensuring AI delivers positive outcomes for the economy, jobs, and workers. We are preparing for a range of possible futures to ensure this transformation boosts productivity and opportunities and the Government launched an assessment of AI impacts on the labour markets in January 2026.

To build a digitally skilled workforce to support long-term economic growth, drive innovation and expand individual opportunity we are supporting AI Skills Boost to upskill 10 million workers in AI skills by 2030. We have already delivered more than 1 million AI training courses have been delivered to workers across the UK.

Building on the Future of Work Unit, the Chancellor announced a new AI Economics Institute in her recent Mais Lecture. This joint HMT-DSIT institute will incorporate the FoW Unit, as part of a broader focus on the economics of AI, including labour market, productivity and other impacts.

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