Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to prioritise sight-loss conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, within (a) UK Research and Innovation's and (b) the Advanced Research and Invention Agency’s future biomedical research programmes.

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

The Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), funds research into vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), through a range of schemes. This research spans discovery science and fundamental mechanistic understanding, through to new approaches for diagnosis and intervention. For example, MRC has committed over £4 million to Kings College University for a clinical trial to establish safety and efficacy of photoreceptor transplantation in retinal degeneration and AMD patients as a potential treatment of the condition.

The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has maximum autonomy over its research and project choice, and allocation of funding to research projects and different sectors will be decided by those with relevant technical expertise. ARIA has made nearly £530 million in funding available across its first 10 programmes, which includes biomedical research.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward regeneration funding for rural market towns.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In September 2025 we announced the Local Regeneration Fund, which brings together the Levelling Up Fund, Towns Deals and Pathfinder Pilots into a single, flexible capital pot, responding to Local Authority feedback for less bureaucratic oversight and more local autonomy.

This partnership approach empowers local authorities to allocate resources based on their own priorities, which will help rural councils. Decisions on how to manage these allocations rest with each authority’s Section 151 Officer or equivalent. In the small number of cases where projects are no longer viable, we expect projects to rescope their plans and use the funding for other initiatives in the same area that originally stood to benefit.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister confirmed that 40 further places will join the Pride in Place Programme. That means that nearly 300 communities will benefit from this transformational programme. Funding for the Pride in Place programme is going to communities with the greatest need: places that have been overlooked and stand to benefit most, including market towns.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will bring forward proposals to require train operating companies to install and maintain CCTV systems in train carriages for the purposes of crime deterrence and detection.

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

The Government has no current plans to introduce a mandate requiring the installation of CCTV in all train carriages, however most new train procurements since 1996 have included provision of CCTV. National Rail Contracts and Service Agreements between the Government and train operators do impose obligations that where CCTV is installed or upgraded, operators are contractually required to comply with relevant CCTV guidance and industry standards.

Where CCTV is provided, train operators are expected to follow the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Rail Industry Standard for On-Train Camera Monitoring Systems. This standard sets out requirements for camera placement, image quality, secure data storage and integration with passenger alarms.

The RSSB Key Train Requirements (KTR) also emphasise the importance of internal CCTV as an element of passenger security, including good coverage, reliable performance and proper maintenance over the life of the train. The KTR document assists rolling stock procurers, specifiers, manufacturers, and system suppliers to compile procurement specifications for new and refurbished trains.

Swift access to CCTV images is critical for police investigations, which is why we recently announced nearly £17 million of funding for a project to connect railway station CCTV directly to BTP, providing investigators with the images they need to identify suspects and bring them to justice.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission research into the potential impact of the daily use of mobile phones on eye diseases and health-related conditions.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is funding research into the possible health impacts of mobile phone use on health, although this has not focused on eye diseases. The NIHR Policy Research Programme has allocated approximately £2 million of funding to support the United Kingdom arm of the pan-European Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Use and Health. This international cohort study has been funded since 2014 and is investigating possible health effects from long-term use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies. Specific health effects being examined are brain and other tumours, heart disease, stroke, fertility, birth events, for instance low birth weight or preterm birth, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental health conditions. Previously, NIHR provided £1.5 million to the Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones, which has investigated whether children’s use of mobile phones might affect their cognitive or behavioural development.

The NIHR welcomes research funding applications in any aspect of health and care, including the impact of mobile phone use on eye diseases.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of medical research funding has been allocated to eye research in each of the last five financial years; and what proportion of that funding has been directed towards age-related macular degeneration.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. In the last five financial years it has awarded £26.2 million on eye research which has included £6.2 million on age related macular degeneration.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the NHS and social care services of age-related macular degeneration-related sight loss and (b) potential cost savings of increased funding for preventative and curative research.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has not made a specific comparative estimate of the cost to the National Health Service and adult social care of age‑related macular degeneration‑related sight loss. Whilst it is not possible to estimate the potential cost savings from increased funding for specific preventative and curative research, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) provides a large economic return to society. For every £1 invested in NIHR research, over £13 of economic benefit is returned to the nation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to reduce the number of civil servants working for HM Treasury.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The department’s Spending Review settlement of a 10% real terms reduction to admin by 2028-29 means it will need to get smaller.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to help improve the living accommodation for Armed Forces personnel located at Clive Baracks, Tern Hill in Shropshire.

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

Clive Barracks has been identified for closure under the Defence Estates Optimisation Portfolio, as such, work has been limited to routine and planned preventative maintenance. All troops accommodated at Clive Barracks will be relocated ahead of the closure of the site, in 2029.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA):

The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a vision for the future transformation of military homes; 90% of military homes will be upgraded, renewed or rebuilt, through a record £9 billion investment over a decade. The Armed Forces Bill will establish the new Defence Housing Service (DHS), which will put the needs of Forces and their families first.

In Financial Year 2024-25, 121 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties serving Clive Barracks received replacement UPVC doors and windows, and 52 SFA received replacement loft insulation and roofs.

Single Living Accommodation (SLA):

In 2025 the installation of 88 Self-Contained (single occupancy) pods with ensuite bathrooms, shared kitchen & utility rooms, was commissioned by the Army, with further works in progress to improve on-site ablutions, due for completion by the end of the Financial Year. No further improvement works are identified currently.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide details of collaboration with the French Government on the UK nuclear deterrent.

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

The UK and France work closely together on a range of nuclear research and technology matters, including as part of the 2010 Teutates Treaty. Our deepening co-operation under the 2025 Northwood Declaration includes nuclear policy, capabilities and operations.

Release of information relating to the UK’s nuclear deterrent and our collaboration with Allies on nuclear matters is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account considerations regarding national security, defence and international relations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will introduce pre-confirmation hearings for ambassadorial candidates.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the appearances made before the Foreign Affairs Committee by the Foreign Secretary on 16 December 2025 and by the Permanent Under Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 3 November 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure safeguards in the use of AI in the defence systems within the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.

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

The delivery of defence capabilities enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) will be ambitious, safe and responsible. Research to identify, understand, and mitigate against risks of applying AI for sensitive defence affairs is underway.

Routine nuclear deterrence operations continue to be conducted in accordance with the highest standards and controls. Regardless of any potential application of artificial intelligence in our strategic systems, we will ensure human political control of our nuclear weapons is maintained at all times. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that I will not comment further on the details as to do so would prejudice the capability, security and effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish a Modern Service Framework on kidney disease.

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

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs), including respiratory conditions. The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for new MSFs as part of its work programme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the BBC on allowing licence fee payers to access the BBC app when overseas.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) meets regularly with representatives of the BBC on a range of matters.

The BBC is operationally independent, and decisions on whether and how the BBC makes its content and services, such as its respective BBC apps, available to licence fee payers when abroad are therefore for the BBC to make independent of government.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce (a) ring-fenced and (b) targeted funding for research into age-related macular degeneration; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of such funding on long-term sight-loss prevention.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Research funds are not usually ringfenced into specific conditions and there is not a target for research funding into age-related macular degeneration. However, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including age-related macular degeneration. Our approach to funding research is through open and fair competition and peer review to ensure that the highest-quality proposals, most likely to deliver real impact for patients, are funded without imposing financial targets or limits. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

The nature of research means it is difficult to provide a precise assessment on impact against specific conditions, although there have been times when it has responded to Government commitments to spend pre-specified amounts of money on research in particular areas. In the last five financial years the NIHR has awarded £26.2 million on eye research which has included £6.2 million on Age Related Macular Degeneration

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants were dismissed from the Civil Service but not referred to the police for breaching the Official Secrets Act between 2005 and 2025.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

This information is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

Departments have delegated responsibility for decisions relating to dismissal of an employee.

Civil Service statistics on the composition of the Civil Service workforce, including data on those leaving the Civil Service due to dismissals, are available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will meet with the Chief Executive of (a) Shropshire Council and (b) Telford & Wrekin Council to review the continuing use of Royal Mail postal services for democratic services and for elections where postal votes are permitted.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government meet regularly with Royal Mail to discuss matters relating to elections including capacity, capability and contingency planning.

We are aware of current concerns about Royal Mail deliveries in national and local press, and have been in contact with Royal Mail about these ahead of the upcoming local elections in May.

As part of the usual engagement ahead of significant electoral events, Ministers and senior government officials have met with the Chief Executive and other senior representatives from Royal Mail and it is intended to do so again before of the May elections.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will require members of intelligence agencies transferring to ministerial private offices to declare confidentially to those ministers the (i) fact that they have previously served in an intelligence agency and (ii) name of that intelligence agency.

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

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to (a) expand and (b) refine the categories of sexual offences used in police recorded crime data for monitoring (i) the nature of offences committed and (ii) trends in sexual offences data in England and Wales.

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

The police recorded crime collection is primarily an offence-based series in which crimes are recorded by the police in England and Wales based on the criminal offence that has been committed.

To respond to user needs, sub-categories have been created such as providing a breakdown of the age and sex of victims of rape, and qualifiers to indicate if the crime was related to child sexual abuse or exploitation or was committed online. These provide more insight on the nature of such offences and the Home Office continually reviews the presentation of its official statistics to ensure they meet user needs.

In the recently published VAWG Strategy the government committed to improving the quality and availability of data which will include data collected by the police on sexual offences.

Data on sexual offences recorded by the police in England and Wales are published by the Office for National Statistics and trends from 2002/03 can be found in table A5a here:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesappendixtables

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to help address the under-reporting of sexual offences in England and Wales.

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

Rape and sexual offences are amongst the most harmful crimes in society and can have a devastating impact on victims, their loved ones and our communities.

We know that these crimes are underreported, and we are taking action to ensure victims have the confidence to report these offences and trust they will be taken seriously and supported when they do.

We have made several commitments to transform the criminal justice response to sexual offences. This includes ensuring there are specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every force by 2029, introducing free independent legal advice for adult victims of rape, and fast‑tracking rape cases.

Through the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection, we are also continuing to support Operation Soteria and ensuring officers build the strongest possible, suspect‑focused cases to bring perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she will take to detain sanctioned Russian ships passing through the English Channel.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Further action against Russia's shadow fleet is critical to increasing economic pressure on Russia's war machine. We are also clear on the need to crack down on the dangerous and illicit practises that are employed by these vessels to evade sanctions and international safety and environmental rules. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has worked closely with other departments to increase pressure across the entirety of shadow fleet operations, and we will continue to consider what further actions we can take, in accordance with the UN Convention Of the Law of the Sea.

Found: 7219 1424 Social: @houseofcommons parliament.uk Thursday, 12 February 2026 Councillor Mark Pritchard