Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Sentencing Act 2020 to record crimes motivated by misogyny as hate crimes.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no current plans to extend the Sentencing Act 2020 to include sex as an aggravating factor in the enhanced sentencing regime.

However, an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill has added sex to the list of protected characteristics under the aggravated offences in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. When this provision has been implemented – offences listed in the Act motivated by hostility against someone’s sex or presumed sex can be charged as an aggravated offence and the courts will be able to impose a longer sentence on conviction beyond those provided for in the Sentencing Act 2020.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect the right to peaceful protest in Devon.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government is committed to protecting the right to peaceful protest, while ensuring public order legislation balances freedom of expression with protecting the public from serious disruption or harm.

Under the Public Order Act 1986, the police have the necessary powers to manage protests, and it is for individual forces to determine the most appropriate approach based on the specific context.

The Government is taking the Crime and Policing Bill through Parliament to equip police with targeted powers to manage evolving protest tactics while safeguarding public safety and the right to protest. The measures aim to protect the right to protest while keeping public spaces safe and accessible.

The Home Secretary launched an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation on 5 October 2025. It will ensure police powers remain fit for purpose, are used consistently, and strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest.   Lord Ken Macdonald of River Glaven KC is leading the review and is expected to report its findings to the Home Secretary by the end of May.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that disabled children have access to social care support following the Law Commission's report on social care law; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing legal reform to achieve that objective.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Law Commission published its final report on 16 September 2025 following a department-commissioned review in April 2023 of the legal framework for disabled children’s social care.

The report sets out 40 recommendations, which we are now considering, aimed at improving how the law operates, with a focus on simplifying and strengthening the system to better support disabled children and their families.

In line with the protocol agreed between the Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission, the department provided an initial response to these recommendations on 16 March 2026 and is expected to provide a full response within one year, setting out which recommendations will be accepted, rejected or modified, and any implementation timeline. Policy development is ongoing and the department continues to engage with key stakeholders, therefore it would not be appropriate to comment on specific recommendations ahead of publication of the full response.

Alongside this, we believe the rollout of Family Help as part of the Families First Partnership programme, backed by £2.4 billion of funding over three years, is already beginning to deliver many of the intended outcomes of the report. Our wider reforms are designed to make a real and tangible difference to children and families, including disabled children.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of adequacy of the Law Commission's findings regarding regional variations in support for disabled children; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure consistent entitlements for such children across all local authorities.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Law Commission published its final report on 16 September 2025 following a department-commissioned review in April 2023 of the legal framework for disabled children’s social care.

The report sets out 40 recommendations, which we are now considering, aimed at improving how the law operates, with a focus on simplifying and strengthening the system to better support disabled children and their families.

In line with the protocol agreed between the Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission, the department provided an initial response to these recommendations on 16 March 2026 and is expected to provide a full response within one year, setting out which recommendations will be accepted, rejected or modified, and any implementation timeline. Policy development is ongoing and the department continues to engage with key stakeholders, therefore it would not be appropriate to comment on specific recommendations ahead of publication of the full response.

Alongside this, we believe the rollout of Family Help as part of the Families First Partnership programme, backed by £2.4 billion of funding over three years, is already beginning to deliver many of the intended outcomes of the report. Our wider reforms are designed to make a real and tangible difference to children and families, including disabled children.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to consider the recommendations in the Law Commission's 2025 report on disabled children's social care; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of legislative reform alongside the rollout of the Family Help programme.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Law Commission published its final report on 16 September 2025 following a department-commissioned review in April 2023 of the legal framework for disabled children’s social care.

The report sets out 40 recommendations, which we are now considering, aimed at improving how the law operates, with a focus on simplifying and strengthening the system to better support disabled children and their families.

In line with the protocol agreed between the Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission, the department provided an initial response to these recommendations on 16 March 2026 and is expected to provide a full response within one year, setting out which recommendations will be accepted, rejected or modified, and any implementation timeline. Policy development is ongoing and the department continues to engage with key stakeholders, therefore it would not be appropriate to comment on specific recommendations ahead of publication of the full response.

Alongside this, we believe the rollout of Family Help as part of the Families First Partnership programme, backed by £2.4 billion of funding over three years, is already beginning to deliver many of the intended outcomes of the report. Our wider reforms are designed to make a real and tangible difference to children and families, including disabled children.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing national eligibility criteria for disabled children's social care in England; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Law Commission published its final report on 16 September 2025 following a department-commissioned review in April 2023 of the legal framework for disabled children’s social care.

The report sets out 40 recommendations, which we are now considering, aimed at improving how the law operates, with a focus on simplifying and strengthening the system to better support disabled children and their families.

In line with the protocol agreed between the Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission, the department provided an initial response to these recommendations on 16 March 2026 and is expected to provide a full response within one year, setting out which recommendations will be accepted, rejected or modified, and any implementation timeline. Policy development is ongoing and the department continues to engage with key stakeholders, therefore it would not be appropriate to comment on specific recommendations ahead of publication of the full response.

Alongside this, we believe the rollout of Family Help as part of the Families First Partnership programme, backed by £2.4 billion of funding over three years, is already beginning to deliver many of the intended outcomes of the report. Our wider reforms are designed to make a real and tangible difference to children and families, including disabled children.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increased flexible working rights for workers in Devon.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are making changes through the Employment Rights Act to make it more likely that flexible working requests are accepted.

The impacts of the Employment Rights Act have been assessed through a comprehensive package of published analysis. This includes an assessment of regional impacts, which is available here: Employment Rights Act 2025: economic analysis. In addition, this package features the Impact Assessment ‘Making flexible working the default’, available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

From 2027, employers will have to discuss challenges in accommodating requests with employees and consider alternative options, and, if they can’t agree an arrangement, to explain their reasoning.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average duration has been of full closures of the rail line between Newton Abbot and Dawlish for planned works in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

During the 2025-26 Financial Year, there were planned closures for two midweek nights during the last week of February, for 6 hours each night. On the first weekend in March, there was a planned closure for 52 hours. On the second weekend in March, there was a planned closure for 10 hours. All other access required for maintenance of our infrastructure is carried out during ‘rules of the route possessions’ when no trains are running, to avoid impact to train operators.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance the Department issues on the acceptable duration of full closures of rail lines for planned engineering works, with particular reference to the coastal route between Newton Abbot and Dawlish.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not set acceptability criteria for access to rail lines for engineering works. Access is agreed through the established regulatory and contractual framework. Network Rail engages train operators via the Network Code and Access Agreements to agree possessions, taking account of passenger and stakeholder impacts.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support fire and rescue workers in Devon.

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

Fire and rescue workers in Devon are employed by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority which is responsible for workforce wellbeing and operational deployment based on local risk.

Government supports fire and rescue services nationally through funding, policy and resilience arrangements, while operational and employment decisions remain a matter for local fire and rescue authorities, working with partners to respond to risks in their communities.

The 2026/27 Local Government Finance Settlement makes available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power for Fire and Rescue Authorities in England, representing an average increase of 4.71 per cent compared to 2025/26.

This is part of a multi‑year settlement which will deliver a 12.75 per cent increase in core spending power by the end of the period, alongside a further £15 million secured since the provisional settlement to support services to plan, invest and strengthen workforce health and wellbeing.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Department considered introducing measures for businesses comparable to those available to households to mitigate rising energy costs.

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

Just as we are looking across Government at the situation that households face, the Government is absolutely focused on the impact of the crisis on business and industry, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to monitor the situation and consider what contingency plans need to be put in place.

We are reviewing the support provided to business through the Energy Bill Discount scheme that ran until 31 March 2024, including the higher level of support provided to Energy Intensive Industries compared to the universal offer for all businesses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the ministerial statement made during the House of Lords debate on Security Vetting on 20 April 2026, whether any conditions or restrictions were placed on Lord Mandelson’s activities as a result of security vetting arrangements, including whether any official accompanied him during meetings in an official capacity.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 21 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) her Department and (b) any intelligence body holds written guidance, instructions, emails and briefings relating to supervision, accompaniment and activity restrictions concerning Lord Mandelson following his vetting outcome.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 21 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support rewilding in Devon.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Rewilding projects tend to be run by environmental NGOs and private organisations. Defra’s focus is to support nature recovery through a range of mechanisms, funding and policies. While Defra does not lead on nature recovery projects directly, it supports Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry England in their regulatory and partnership roles at a local level – including in Devon. Examples range from local projects such as species reintroductions to catchment scale habitat and river restoration, providing benefits to people and nature.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Peter Mandelson required a (a) chaperone and (b) accomplice as condition for his security vetting clearance.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 21 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the business rates relief given to pubs to independent gyms and other leisure businesses.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Pubs rents in business rates valuations are analysed differently to some other sectors. While most hospitality and leisure properties are valued by comparing the size of the property, pubs are valued by comparing their turnover potential. Industry bodies have highlighted concerns with how costs are accounted for in this methodology, particularly during periods of high inflation. The Government agrees this needs to be looked at and is therefore launching a review which will explore how pubs are valued for business rates. In the meantime, pubs are being provided with additional support.

Independent gyms and other leisure businesses will continue to benefit from the wider £4.3 billion support package announced at Budget, which protects against ratepayers seeing large overnight increases in bills.

The Government has also introduced new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties, including gyms and other leisure businesses.

As a result, over half of ratepayers see no bill increases this year, including 23 per cent whose bills go down. Most properties seeing increases have them capped at 15 per cent or less this year, or £800 for the smallest.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for the NHS Federated Data Platform after 15 February 2027.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed

The Medium-Term Planning Framework 2026/27 to 2028/29 sets out the expectation that all providers and integrated care boards onboard to the NHS Federated Data Platform and start making use of core products, data capabilities, and population health management tools by 2028/29. The framework available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29/

The supplier contract will be reviewed this year in line with standard contract management processes, and a decision will be made on its extension.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) his Department and (b) any intelligence body holds written guidance, instructions, emails and briefings relating to supervision, accompaniment and activity restrictions concerning Lord Mandelson following his vetting outcome.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer you to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Proportional Representation for UK Elections

Supporting Ukraine and seizing Russia’s frozen assets

A UK-EU customs union to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis

Leasehold reform

Speech and Language Therapy for Autistic Children

Gambling harms

Proportional representation for general elections

Mental Health Awareness Week

Reaching 3% of GDP on defence by 2030

Social media for under-16s

Digital sovereignty and sovereign public procurement strategy

Meta and YouTube and legal liability for addictive design and online harms

Torbay Hospital

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

Endometriosis Awareness Month 2026

Funding for rural fire and rescue services

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

King's Guard's ceremonial bearskin caps

Found: Gravesham) Adam Thompson (Labour; Erewash) Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat; Henley and Thame) Martin Wrigley

Found: George Freeman; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Freddie van Mierlo; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Martin Wrigley