Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to amend the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 to (a) strengthen the powers and (b) expand the (i) jurisdictional reach and (ii) scope of the Cyber (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 to help reduce ransomware attacks.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The government is committed to calling out malicious cyber activities that threaten the UK's national interests and economic prosperity. Sanctions are an important part of our diplomatic toolkit, helping us to disrupt ransomware operations.
Our cyber sanctions regime allows us to impose cost and risk on those that carry out malicious cyber activity, and to deter others who consider similar acts. The regime is suitably broad, and allows us to freeze the assets of those around the world who have undermined the integrity, prosperity, or security of the UK and its partners. Under these powers, we have designated seventy-nine people, including sixteen members of prolific Russian cybercrime gang Evil Corp, and one of the senior leaders of LockBit which, at the time, was one of the most harmful ransomware operations affecting the UK.
We will continue to explore future use and implementation of our cyber sanctions regime against ransomware actors as part of a broader range of approaches to combat cybercrime globally.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will have discussions with the Royal Household on (a) publishing data and (b) promoting access to published data on Royal Household finances to ensure (i) accessibility and (ii) transparency for the public.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The rules governing the Sovereign Grant were set by Parliament in the Sovereign Grant Act 2011. No member of the Royal family receives a private income from the Sovereign Grant or any other public funds.
The Sovereign Grant accounts are audited by the National Audit Office and laid before Parliament every year. Those accounts are also published on the official website of the Royal Family, along with other information regarding the finances of the Royal Household, and are available here: https://www.royal.uk/royal-finances.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to increase the number of RASSO trained judges and advocates in the West Mercia region.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We commissioned Sir Brian Leveson to propose bold and ambitious measures to deliver swifter justice for victims, including for victims of sexual violence, in his Independent Review of Criminal Courts. This Review will make recommendations to ensure there is sufficient capacity within the courts to address the record Crown Court caseload, which this Government inherited, across all case types - including rape and other sexual offences. Work on Part 2 of the report, which is looking at how the criminal courts can operate as efficiently as possible, is underway. We expect it to be finalised this year.
Statutory responsibility for judicial training in the courts is held by the Lady Chief Justice. This responsibility is fulfilled by the Judicial College. All judges authorised to hear serious sexual offence (SSO) cases must complete the relevant induction training course before starting to sit and regular continuation training every three years. Presiding judges undertake an annual assessment of the business need for authorised SSO ticketed judges within their respective circuits and new approvals are decided by the senior judiciary.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Advocate Panel is a time limited list of quality assured advocates to undertake criminal prosecution advocacy for CPS. Positive changes made by the CPS to the application process in May 2024 have seen rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) advocate Panel membership increase by 51%. This includes a 38% increase in advocates prosecuting on the Midlands Circuit. These advocates have received CPS accredited RASSO training within the last 3 years and can demonstrate the experience and ability to undertake RASSO cases.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will work with (a) local authorities and (b) bus network operators to ensure new bus stop installations minimise weather exposure on bus users.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the value that high-quality public transport infrastructure provides to passengers, including bus stops. Local authorities are responsible for the bus stops in their area, however the Department has published Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/24 Bus User Priority which provides guidance on good practice in the design of bus stops, including providing weatherproof shelters in passenger waiting areas. The Government’s Bus Services (No.2) Bill also provides powers for the Secretary of State to produce statutory guidance on the inclusivity of the design of bus and coach stations and stops, and to require authorities commissioning work to provide new or upgrade existing facilities to pay due regard to this guidance.
At the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government confirmed over £1 billion to support and improve bus services, including £712 million allocated to local authorities in England outside London in 2025/26 to support and improve bus services. This includes capital funding which can be used to improve infrastructure such as bus stations and stops. Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council have been allocated £4.5 million and £3.5 million of this funding respectively.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide additional training for teachers on supporting pupils with dyslexia.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for The Wrekin to the answer of 1 August 2025 to Question 61402.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any solar infrastructure built with the support of GB Energy will use solar panels built in regions where supply chains have evidence of (a) modern slavery and (b) other exploitation.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Energy will lead the way in ethical supply chains, and there is no place for forced labour or unethical practices in the UK's energy transition. The Procurement Act 2023 enables public bodies to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers known to use forced labour. As a state-owned company, Great British Energy is expected to be a first-in-class example of adherence to the UK’s legislation and guidance on modern slavery, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
All contracts issued under the schools and hospitals solar initiative have complied with UK procurement rules, including extensive requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Great British Energy will uphold these standards in its contracting arrangements and is actively engaging with international partners to raise the bar globally on solar supply chain accountability.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to ban the import of (a) solar panels and (b) solar panel components from Xinjiang.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to tackling forced labour in solar supply chains, including in Xinjiang. We are strengthening due diligence requirements through the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 and by reviewing Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act
The Solar Roadmap outlines actions to build ethical, resilient supply chains, including support for the Solar Stewardship Initiative, which is conducting independent audits of manufacturers. Furthermore, Great British Energy (GBE) is committed to acting on any evidence of forced labour in its supply chains, as required by the GBE Act.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the use of petrol leaf blowers in public spaces on (a) noise pollution and (b) air quality.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department for Business and Trade is responsible for the legislation covering noise from outdoor equipment which is governed by the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 as amended by the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulation 2024.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will increase the (a) penalties and (b) sanctions for air passengers who cause (i) disruption, (ii) delay and (iii) danger to (A) passengers and (B) crew on commercial passenger aircraft (1) during flight and (2) while on the ground.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All passengers and crew should have the right to feel safe when travelling by air. The Air Navigation Order 2016 sets out offences such as endangering an aircraft, interfering with crew duties, or being drunk onboard, all of which carry criminal penalties. Airlines may also ban individuals from future travel, and the police may also investigate and charge for a public order offence. We believe the current statutory powers and industry-led measures are effective in deterring such behaviour, but we continue to keep the framework under review.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to increase the accessibility of adoption files for adoptees who have reached adulthood.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Local authorities have been advised to retain adoption records for at least 100 years, an increase from the previous 75-year requirement. The department has also asked them to ensure timely access to these records.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, the department will make this a legal requirement by introducing regulatory changes. These changes will ensure that all adoption case records for individuals adopted before 30 December 2005 are preserved for a minimum of 100 years. This is already a requirement for records for individuals adopted after 30 December 2005.
In addition, the department is supporting and working with Adoption England, who have recently published new guidance to promote consistent and legally compliant practice on access to records across all regional adoption agencies. Adoption England also continues to fund FamilyConnect, a pilot national advice line that supports adopted adults, birth parents, relatives, and professionals with searching for and accessing adoption records.