Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will amend the (a) Military Aid to the Civil Powers (Emergency Powers) Act 1964 and (b) Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to ensure parliamentary oversight during national crises.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) 2004 and the associated Regulations deliver a single framework for civil protection in the UK. While emergency regulations could be brought into force immediately during a crisis they must be presented to Parliament as soon as practicable after being made, ensuring parliamentary oversight. The Cabinet Office has a legal obligation to review the CCA every five years. The most recent review was published in March 2022 and concluded that the Act continues to achieve its stated objectives.

The Ministry of Defence keeps all relevant legislation under review to ensure it remains fit for purpose and appropriate to the operational context, this includes the Emergency Powers Act 1964. Using the Emergency Powers Act requires Defence Council Order and considerable policy, legal and financial scrutiny including specific Ministerial approval.

There are no current plans to amend either of these Acts.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will reform the Judicial Appointments Commission to ensure improved (a) transparency and (b) diversity in the appointments process.

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

The independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has a statutory duty under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (CRA) to select candidates for judicial appointment solely on merit and to encourage diversity. Its processes are governed by the CRA and by the Judicial Appointments Regulations 2013. It keeps its selection processes under continual review to ensure they are transparent, fair, and attract talented candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. It publishes its annual report and accounts, independent reviews and appointments data is included in the annual judicial diversity statistics.

The Government is strongly committed to achieving a judiciary which better represents the diversity of the population. In the most recent year for which statistics are available (2023/24), 53% of candidates recommended for appointments to become judicial office holders by the JAC were women and 16% from ethnic minorities, contributing to a more diverse judiciary. The Ministry of Justice, as a member of the Judicial Diversity Forum, works closely with the judiciary, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Legal Services Board and the three largest legal professions on actions to improve judicial diversity. The Forum’s 2025 action plan (https://judicialappointments.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Judicial-Diversity-Forum-Priorities-and-Actions-for-2025-Final.pdf) which was published in February, sets out our shared priorities.

Under the CRA, candidates for judicial office can complain to the JAC and subsequently to the independent Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman if they believe that their application for appointment has not been handled appropriately.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will have discussions with senior judges on maintaining political impartiality when making (a) professional and (b) personal comments in public.

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

Judges swear in the judicial oath to act "without fear or favour, affection or ill will". They are recognised and respected across the world for their independence, fairness and impartiality.

It is for the senior judiciary to give guidance on the standards and behaviour expected of judges, and the judiciary revised its Guide to Judicial Conduct in 2023. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office exists to deal with complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office holders.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding and extending sanctions against Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to limit Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) weapons programmes and counter their proliferation activity through maintaining a robust sanctions regime This includes an extensive range of UN sanctions covering financial, trade, aircraft, shipping and immigration measures. We continue to keep our DPRK sanctions regime under close review. We do not comment on future or potential expansions of our DPRK sanctions regime as this could affect their impact: we will continue to keep this regime under close review.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make it her policy to abolish Ofcom if its code of conduct for technology companies does not improve children's online safety.

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

The government is clear that we expect significant improvements in children's online safety as platforms comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act.

Ofcom's child safety codes include over 40 measures to hold platforms accountable, ensuring safer social media with less harmful content, protection from strangers, and effective age checks.

Ofcom are clear that they will take strong enforcement action if companies do not take the necessary steps protect children. Where we need to strengthen the law to protect children online, we will do so.

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 the International Atomic Energy Agency on (a) the safety of the Ostrovets nuclear plant in Belarus and (b) the potential impact of that nuclear plant on the safety of UK nationals living in Baltic States.

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

Details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly in arrears.

Found: schedule (Standing Order No. 68) Chairs: Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Sir Roger Gale Emma Lewell Mark Pritchard