Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her planned timetable is for publishing the statutory guidance to be issued under the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Warrington South on 14 July 2026 in response to Question 16199.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support residents of new-build estates a choice of broadband providers in circumstances where the developer has restricted access to the estate's properties to just one broadband provider.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to promoting competition in the broadband market, which supports investment, innovation and consumer choice, and our Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) highlights the importance of this. As of January 2026, Ofcom reports that 77% of residential premises have access to more than one network.

New-build regulations require developers in England to install a gigabit-capable connection, up to a cost of £2,000 per premises.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to prepare for a new Russian military mobilisation for its invasion of Ukraine in autumn 2026.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Prime Minister Burnham visited Kyiv on Ukrainian Independence Day for his first international visit and reiterated the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine and its independence.

We continue to liaise closely with the Ukrainian Government to ensure the capabilities we provide meet the demands of the conflict as it evolves.

Through the UK role as co-chair of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we have successfully raised pledges of over $80 billion in military help to Ukraine. The UK will continue to drive international support to meet Ukraine's needs at the next meeting on the 8 September.

As emphasised by the Prime Minister in Kyiv, Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has to (i) extend the life of the UK Parliament Education Centre beyond 2030 and (ii) extend the Education Centre’s facilities.

Answered by Nick Smith

The Parliamentary Education Centre welcomes 80,000 UK schoolchildren annually for a tour of the Palace of Westminster, a lesson tailored to the curriculum and, whenever possible, an opportunity to meet their Member of Parliament.

The temporary planning and licence agreements for the current site of the Education Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens are due to expire at the end of 2030. In October 2026, the Administration Committee is expected to consider options related to continued provision of the Education Centre’s services during the period prior to the commencement of R&R in order to inform a decision by the House of Commons Commission in the following months.

The longer-term location and proposal for the Education Centre is dependent on the decision by the Houses on the way forward for the Restoration & Renewal (R&R) Programme. Parliamentary debates are expected following the publication of the R&R Client Board’s costed proposals report (HC Paper 1576) earlier this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Georgian counterpart on regulating surrogacy services offered by Georgian companies to UK citizens.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The Government currently has no plans to hold talks with the Georgian Government regarding surrogacy services. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice strongly advises British nationals considering surrogacy in a foreign country to seek specialist independent legal advice both in the UK and the other country before making any arrangements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has undertaken research on the safety of airline passengers taking electric, battery powered, ride-on children's suitcases on to civilian aircraft.

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

The Department for Transport takes the safe handling of lithium batteries on civilian aircraft seriously. The Government has worked with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and international partners to establish guidance for the safe transport of lithium batteries, including luggage containing lithium batteries.

This guidance says that some more powerful lithium batteries should not be carried on flights, and that other less powerful batteries should only be carried in cabin luggage, including ride-on luggage powered by lithium batteries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK impacted by scam call centres based in Georgia, and what action he is taking to work with the Government of Georgia to shut down those centres.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The Government does not hold an estimate of the number of people in the UK affected by scam call centres based in Georgia. We continue to work closely with international partners, including the Government of Georgia, to support efforts to tackle transnational organised crime and online fraud. We encourage co-operation between relevant law enforcement authorities to investigate and disrupt criminal activity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department plans to take to provide (a) earlier diagnosis, (b) greater treatment options, and (c) more support for people living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 15 June 2026 in response to Question 6594.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reform the Civil Service to improve productivity.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The government is committed to improving Civil Service productivity. This includes reducing bureaucracy by adopting digital technology and AI tools, streamlining approval processes, and establishing a higher-skilled civil service with stronger accountability for performance.

Through automation of routine administrative tasks, we are freeing up civil servants to focus on high-value casework and delivering better services to the public. For example, the incubator for AI (i.AI) tool "Consult", has publicly supported 38 consultations across 10 departments, saving tens of thousands of administrative hours and millions of pounds.

The Cabinet Secretary is also leading a wide-ranging review of the permanent Civil Service to set out a vision for its future as an efficient, world class institution serving the elected government of the day. The review will report before summer 2027. Its final report will include proposals to strengthen accountability and capability across the Civil Service, with a focus on delivery, innovation and productivity, and public trust.