Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, by which date she will publish a draft bill to ban conversion practices for LGBT+ people.

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

We remain absolutely committed to publishing a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices and we firmly intend to do so soon.

The first parliamentary session was incredibly busy, we saw the Government bring forward landmark employment legislation and hate crime parity for LGBT+ people.

This is a complex area and my officials and I are working at pace to finalise our approach to this important issue.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a joint committee of cross-party MPs and peers to conduct post-legislative scrutiny of the (a) the Gender Recognition Act and (b) the Equality Act 2010.

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

The Government is currently prioritising working through the implications of the Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland vs Scottish Ministers case, including reviewing the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Code of Practice for services, associations and public functions. We are also focused on delivering our manifesto commitments to deliver a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, equalising all strands of hate crime, and reviewing health services to ensure that all trans people receive appropriate and high-quality care. As with all major pieces of legislation, the Equality Act 2010 is constantly kept under review to ensure that it operates as intended in a changing and evolving social and economic environment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to question 97838, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the LGBT+ health evidence review.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to undertake the statutory ten‑year review of the NHS Constitution.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for skilled worker visa applications and renewals.

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

All straightforward skilled worker visa applications are being processed within our advertised service standard. If customers wish to receive a quicker response, they have the option of selecting a priority service on which there is no cap.

With regards to undefined certificates of sponsorship (CoS), we have recently reduced our core service standard by a third and increased priority slots by a minimum of 100 per week. These are also being processed within their service standard.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 124428 on Visas: Skilled Workers, what steps she is taking to review the oversubscription of priority services for changes of visa sponsorship for skilled workers.

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

All straightforward skilled worker visa applications are being processed within our advertised service standard. If customers wish to receive a quicker response, they have the option of selecting a priority service on which there is no cap.

With regards to undefined certificates of sponsorship (CoS), we have recently reduced our core service standard by a third and increased priority slots by a minimum of 100 per week. These are also being processed within their service standard.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has conducted an equality impact assessment on the current 'economic crime' limitation of anti-SLAPP measures; and whether he has assessed the potentially disproportionate impact of that limitation on women and minority groups, who may be targeted for non-economic social advocacy.

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

The Government implemented the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) measures in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) in June 2025, which provides protection against SLAPPs relating to economic crime. The equalities impacts of those measures were considered at the time of their introduction.

The Government recognises that SLAPPs can arise across a wider range of cases beyond economic crime and is considering all options for reform to ensure that all forms of SLAPPs are addressed appropriately.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking, with the Secretary of State for Justice, to tackle the use of SLAPPs to silence victims of sexual violence.

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

The Government implemented the Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) measures in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) in June 2025, which provides protection against SLAPPs relating to economic crime. The equalities impacts of those measures were considered at the time of their introduction.

The Government recognises that SLAPPs can arise across a wider range of cases beyond economic crime and is considering all options for reform to ensure that all forms of SLAPPs are addressed appropriately.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to her Written Statement on 8 January 2026, by which date her Department will introduce secondary legislation to enable local authorities to conduct civil enforcement of unnecessary pavement obstruction.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

It is not possible to specify the date the Statutory Instrument will be laid before Parliament. It is our intention to lay before Parliament by the end of the year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer to Question UIN 87730 of 11 November 2025, if her Department will publish a formal response to the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry’s report dated 13th March 2025, into Israel's systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 15 April 2025 to HL6110.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) availability and (b) affordability of transport options for apprentices working on remote construction sites.

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

Support for apprentices travelling to sites is provided through employer arrangements including employer-organised transport or reimbursement of travel expenses. On more remote sites accommodation may be provided. The JIB Industrial Determination 2026-2028 details arrangements for apprentices where an employer transports to site or own transport is used and identifying how employer support can be built into terms of employment.

DBT is currently working with industry, including union engagement, to develop a Construction Jobs Plan, as part of delivery of the Industrial Strategy, including addressing potential barriers to jobs and working conditions such as working on sites.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of healthcare facilities in Gaza in receipt of UK aid have been attacked since 7 October 2023.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is estimated that 90 per cent of all hospitals and primary care facilities have been damaged in Gaza, with less than half now functional and no hospital currently operational in North Gaza.

We have consistently urged the Israeli authorities to avoid this appalling damage to healthcare facilities and other civilian infrastructure, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to protect and respect the safety of medical personnel. One of the first acts of this Government was to review and suspend the licensing of relevant arms exports that could be used by the Israel Defence Forces in their campaign in Gaza.

The UK has committed over £40 million to support healthcare in Gaza since the start of the conflict. This includes over £26.5 million to support UK-Med's operations, who have completed over 1 million patient consultations in Gaza.

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Redress for people impacted by surgical mesh, sodium valproate and Primodos

Found: Conservative; South Leicestershire) Mary Glindon (Labour; Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) Marie Goldman

Found: Glindon (Labour, Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) (added 28 Oct 2024) 35 of 40 (87.5%) Marie Goldman

Found: Emma Downing (R&R Client Team) (for Item 3) Paul Duffree Catherine Hallett (R&R Client Team) Marie Goldman

Found: Dr Michele Dix Meg Conway-Wait (R&R Client Team) Paul Duffree James Court-Martin (Lords) Marie Goldman