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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of empty and abandoned homes in Devon.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government wants to see more empty homes brought back into use across the country, including in Devon.

Local authorities have strong powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. They have the discretionary powers to charge additional council tax on properties which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The maximum premium that a council can apply increases, depending on the length of time that the property has been empty for, with a premium of up to 300% on homes left empty for over ten years.

Local authorities can also use powers to take over the management of long-term empty homes to bring them back into use in the private rented sector. Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure local authorities are able to require standards in excess of legal minimums as conditions for planning approval.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Planning conditions attached to the grant of planning permission can be used to require development to meet certain standards.

However, as the National Planning Policy Framework states, such conditions should only be imposed where they are necessary, relevant to planning and to the development to be permitted, enforceable, precise and reasonable in all other respects. They should also not duplicate the role of other regulatory regimes.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52067 on Power Failures, whether the contingency plans include protection from cyber attacks.

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

The Government takes the security of Great Britain’s energy infrastructure extremely seriously and works closely with industry to continually improve and strengthen cyber security resilience. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill being introduced this summer will further strengthen cyber security standards for all sectors, including energy. Additionally, industry have well-developed cyber security plans to minimise the risk of disruption and to respond to any emerging issue.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that non-deterministic outputs from AI tools used in (a) diagnostics and (b) treatment planning can be (i) explained and (ii) validated.

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

In the United Kingdom, the majority of artificial intelligence (AI) products being used in health and social care are regulated as medical devices. This means they are subject to stringent safety, performance, and efficacy requirements, primarily set out in the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, with robust monitoring by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency. These requirements also apply to non-deterministic AI systems that are medical devices used in the National Health Service, such as large language models.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), an arms-length body of the Department, makes recommendations on the safety and cost-effectiveness of products for health and social care services in England. NICE routinely evaluates medical technologies, including innovative AI-enabled technologies, which are assessed in NICE’s Early Value Assessment programme, for those technologies that are most needed and in-demand.

NHS England is also developing guidance for those adopting or considering adopting AI technologies, which is expected to support the safe uptake of these technologies and alleviate concerns that clinicians currently have when buying and using these technologies.

Although many generative AI systems need minimal intervention from users, clinicians still need to review and approve the text which has been produced. AI tools are to be used to support clinicians with their own decision making, rather than to make decisions on the clinicians’ behalf. AI augments, rather than replaces, human expertise.

To ensure that clinicians understand the tools they are working with, we have developed tailored guidance for users and regulators. Through public dialogue, we’ve involved patients and the public in deciding how and why access to health data should be granted for AI research and development. In addition, to bridge the gap between policy and practice we have launched the AI Ambassador Network, which currently has 5,000 members.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that (a) patients and (b) clinicians are able to (i) understand and (ii) challenge decisions made by non-deterministic AI systems.

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

In the United Kingdom, the majority of artificial intelligence (AI) products being used in health and social care are regulated as medical devices. This means they are subject to stringent safety, performance, and efficacy requirements, primarily set out in the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, with robust monitoring by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency. These requirements also apply to non-deterministic AI systems that are medical devices used in the National Health Service, such as large language models.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), an arms-length body of the Department, makes recommendations on the safety and cost-effectiveness of products for health and social care services in England. NICE routinely evaluates medical technologies, including innovative AI-enabled technologies, which are assessed in NICE’s Early Value Assessment programme, for those technologies that are most needed and in-demand.

NHS England is also developing guidance for those adopting or considering adopting AI technologies, which is expected to support the safe uptake of these technologies and alleviate concerns that clinicians currently have when buying and using these technologies.

Although many generative AI systems need minimal intervention from users, clinicians still need to review and approve the text which has been produced. AI tools are to be used to support clinicians with their own decision making, rather than to make decisions on the clinicians’ behalf. AI augments, rather than replaces, human expertise.

To ensure that clinicians understand the tools they are working with, we have developed tailored guidance for users and regulators. Through public dialogue, we’ve involved patients and the public in deciding how and why access to health data should be granted for AI research and development. In addition, to bridge the gap between policy and practice we have launched the AI Ambassador Network, which currently has 5,000 members.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to consult (a) businesses, (b) trade unions, (c) investors and (d) civil society organisations on the principle of moving from shareholder primacy to stakeholder primacy.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires company directors to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. All large companies must report annually on how their directors have fulfilled this duty. Section 172 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe their duty only to shareholders.

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. I look forward to considering the clauses of the Company Directors (Duties) Bill when available.

I would be pleased to meet with the Honourable Member for Newton Abbot to discuss his Private Member's Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will amend section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 to require company directors to balance the duty to promote the success of the company with duties to (a) employees and (b) the environment.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires company directors to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. All large companies must report annually on how their directors have fulfilled this duty. Section 172 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe their duty only to shareholders.

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. I look forward to considering the clauses of the Company Directors (Duties) Bill when available.

I would be pleased to meet with the Honourable Member for Newton Abbot to discuss his Private Member's Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will meet with (a) the hon. Member for Newton Abbot and (b) members of the business community to discuss expanding the duties of company directors.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires company directors to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. All large companies must report annually on how their directors have fulfilled this duty. Section 172 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe their duty only to shareholders.

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. I look forward to considering the clauses of the Company Directors (Duties) Bill when available.

I would be pleased to meet with the Honourable Member for Newton Abbot to discuss his Private Member's Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to support reform in corporate governance from shareholder primacy towards stakeholder primacy.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires company directors to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. All large companies must report annually on how their directors have fulfilled this duty. Section 172 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe their duty only to shareholders.

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. I look forward to considering the clauses of the Company Directors (Duties) Bill when available.

I would be pleased to meet with the Honourable Member for Newton Abbot to discuss his Private Member's Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will support the (a) passage and (b) principle of the Company Directors (Duties) Bill.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires company directors to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment. All large companies must report annually on how their directors have fulfilled this duty. Section 172 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe their duty only to shareholders.

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. I look forward to considering the clauses of the Company Directors (Duties) Bill when available.

I would be pleased to meet with the Honourable Member for Newton Abbot to discuss his Private Member's Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of supermarket loyalty scheme pricing models on consumers.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department has not made such an assessment. However, in 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) undertook a review into loyalty pricing in the groceries sector, publishing their findings in November 2024. The CMA found that shoppers who are members of a loyalty scheme can almost always make a genuine saving on the usual price by buying loyalty priced products. This should give shoppers confidence that they are not being treated unfairly. The CMA analysed around 50,000 grocery products on a loyalty price promotion and found very little evidence of supermarkets inflating their ‘usual’ prices to make loyalty promotions seem like a better deal.

In addition, shoppers without a loyalty scheme membership are generally paying the same price during the loyalty price promotion as they do in the weeks both before and after loyalty price promotions. However, the CMA found several loyalty priced products which were significantly more expensive than the cheapest price available at other supermarkets at that time, so there is value in shopping around.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if UK defence intelligence will analyse the reported drone attack on the vessel Conscience in international waters to determine the identity of the actors involved.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I hope the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Department does not routinely disclose precise details of intelligence analysis concerning specific incidents.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that company law prioritises stakeholder primacy over shareholder primacy.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. As part of this, officials have engaged with industry-led reports such as the Demos report, "The Purpose Dividend" published in 2023.

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. The Government believes that this allows companies to determine their purpose and priorities themselves. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe duty only to shareholders.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries meeting with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had meetings with (i) business representatives and (ii) civil society organisations on changing shareholder primacy into stakeholder primacy in business in the last 12 months.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. As part of this, officials have engaged with industry-led reports such as the Demos report, "The Purpose Dividend" published in 2023.

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. The Government believes that this allows companies to determine their purpose and priorities themselves. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe duty only to shareholders.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries meeting with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of Demos' report entitled The Purpose Dividend, published on 28 November 2023.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government welcomes suggestions on how to ensure companies consider wider stakeholder interests alongside the needs of stakeholders. As part of this, officials have engaged with industry-led reports such as the Demos report, "The Purpose Dividend" published in 2023.

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 enshrines in statute the "enlightened shareholder value" principle, which recognises that the long-term success of a company depends in part on the ongoing consideration of wider stakeholder interests. The Government believes that this allows companies to determine their purpose and priorities themselves. This contrasts with the "shareholder maximisation" principle underpinning directors' duties in some other jurisdictions, in which directors owe duty only to shareholders.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries meeting with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to bring into force paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021 on a due diligence regime for forest risk commodities in advance of the COP30 international climate conference in November.

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

We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government will set out its approach to addressing UK consumption of forest risk commodities in due course.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on operational trust when non‑deterministic AI models produce different outputs from identical inputs.

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

The government recognises the importance of operational trust in AI systems. DSIT is building confidence in and driving adoption of AI by supporting a growing, competitive, and dynamic AI assurance ecosystem.

By providing ways to measure, evaluate, and communicate the trustworthiness of AI systems, AI assurance can increase confidence in AI systems, support AI adoption, and boost economic growth.

We have also placed a renewed focus on skills, recently announcing a joint commitment with industry to provide 7.5 million workers with fundamental AI skills. Equipping workers with these skills will also help build operational trust in AI systems, building understanding as to when a model is working as intended, even where different outputs are produced from identical inputs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34064 on Export Health Certificates and Pet Travel Scheme, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of regulating the costs of (a) pet passports and (b) Animal Health Certificates for travel between the UK and the EU.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. This will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper. Instead of needing an animal health certificate each time you travel, you will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.

We will provide more information on pet passports valid for travel to the EU in due course.

We currently have no plans to regulate the costs of pet passports or Animal Health Certificates. All fees set by veterinary surgeons or veterinary practices are a private matter between individual practices and their clients.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what mechanisms are in place to ensure (a) reproducibility and (b) accountability when AI is used in cross-government digital services.

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

The AI Playbook discusses accountability requirements for the use of AI in the public sector, emphasising human validation for high-risk decisions and user-reporting channels for oversight. Transparency is mandated through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), requiring public disclosure of algorithms in decision-making, with contestability mechanisms for appeals and redress.

The Playbook and Magenta Book stress considering reproducibility and scalability from project inception, supported by rigorous evaluation and quality assurance. The AI Community fosters collaboration across government to prevent duplicated efforts, while the AI Knowledge Hub’ collection of AI use cases supports reproducibility and scalability of projects through shared learning and best practices.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has issued guidance to government Departments on the (a) procurement and (b) use of non-deterministic AI models in public service delivery.

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

DSIT has issued detailed guidance via the AI Playbook for the UK Government on both (a) procurement and (b) use of AI, including forms of non-deterministic AI such as Generative AI.

The Buying AI section outlines best practices on engaging commercial teams, specifying requirements, and aligning procurement with ethics and regulation.

The Playbook stresses that such AI systems produce probabilistic, non-deterministic outputs and require continuous monitoring, ethical safeguards, and clear understanding of their limitations. It provides guidance on managing the risks of generative AI—including hallucination, bias, and misinformation—while emphasising human oversight, data protection, and responsible deployment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that decisions made using AI in law enforcement can be (a) explained, (b) reviewed, and (c) challenged.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

It is for operationally independent Chief Constables to decide when and how they use AI-enabled or algorithmic tooling.

However, the adoption of these technologies by law enforcement must be lawful, transparent, ethical and underpinned by robust data and governance arrangements. These principles are set out in the ‘Covenant for Using AI in Policing’ which all Chief Constables have signed.

The Home Office is working closely with the AI portfolio of the National Police Chief’s Council and the Police Chief Scientific Advisor to ensure policing has the resources and support it needs to abide by these principles consistently. This includes working with a range of academics from leading universities on a ‘responsible AI checklist’ and producing a detailed ‘AI playbook for policing’, akin to those produced for government departments.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether civil servants receive (a) training and (b) guidance on managing the risks of non-deterministic outputs in AI-assisted decision-making.

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

DSIT has provided civil servants with both training and guidance on managing the risks of AI, including non-deterministic models such as LLMs. Training includes over 70 free courses on AI fundamentals, ethics, machine learning and generative AI, available through Civil Service Learning and the Government Campus. These emphasise critical evaluation of AI outputs and awareness of risks like bias and hallucination. The AI Playbook for the UK Government outlines principles for managing risks, accuracy, bias, hallucinations, and security threats. Civil servants are advised to apply human oversight and robust testing to ensure responsible use of AI and always adhere to the Model of Responsible Innovation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, regarding Housing Benefit, if she will make it her policy to commit a portion of benefit funding into social housing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Housing support is delivered through Housing Benefit (HB) and the Housing Element of Universal Credit (UCHE). These are means tested benefits intended to help people pay their rental costs, including around two-thirds of households living in the social rented sector in England.

Registered providers of social housing use income from rents to manage and maintain their homes, as well as to deliver new homes. At Spending Review 2025, the Government announced a 10-year social housing rent settlement from 2026 at CPI + 1% for England, alongside a consultation to follow shortly on how to implement social housing rent convergence. This settlement will provide long-term certainty to enable providers to borrow and invest in new and existing homes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential impact of increased availability of social housing on levels of demand for (a) housing benefit and (b) Universal Credit housing payments.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

My department has been supporting the development of a long-term housing strategy which the government intends to publish later this year.

At Spending Review 2025, the government announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment for England in a generation, confirming £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. The programme will prioritise homes for social rent and will make more homes available for those who would otherwise struggle to afford private rents. The Government also announced a 10-year social housing rent settlement from 2026 at CPI + 1%, alongside a consultation on how to implement social housing rent convergence.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on reviewing the balance of funding between housing support for private rents and long-term capital grants for affordable housing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

My department has been supporting the development of a long-term housing strategy which the government intends to publish later this year.

At Spending Review 2025, the government announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment for England in a generation, confirming £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. The programme will prioritise homes for social rent and will make more homes available for those who would otherwise struggle to afford private rents. The Government also announced a 10-year social housing rent settlement from 2026 at CPI + 1%, alongside a consultation on how to implement social housing rent convergence.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of Housing Benefit recipients live in (a) private rented accommodation and (b) social housing.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24 financial year, 490,000 Housing Benefit claimants lived in private-rented accommodation. This accounted for 21% of all housing benefit claimants.

In 2023/24 financial year, 1.9 million Housing Benefit claimants lived in social housing. This accounted for 79% of all housing benefit claimants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Housing Benefit as a mechanism for supporting people to live in the private rented sector.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum levels of housing support for households claiming Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and who rent in the private rented sector.

LHA rates are reviewed annually, usually at an Autumn fiscal event. LHA rates are based on the area of the country a person lives and their bedroom entitlement.

The decision to maintain LHA rates at current levels for 2025/26 was taken after a range of factors were considered, including rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, rate increases in April 2024 and the wider fiscal context. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25, and approximately £7bn over 5 years.

In the Private Rented Sector, households in similar circumstances living in the same area are entitled to the same maximum rent allowance regardless of the contractual rent paid. However, LHA rates do not cover all rents in all areas.

Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the challenging fiscal context. This includes the recent Spending Review announcement of a £39 billion successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of Universal Credit on the level of payments made to private landlords.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

The Department does not hold data on the level of payments made by claimants to private landlords, either under Universal Credit or legacy benefits. While we can identify the value of a Universal Credit housing element or a managed payment to a landlord, we do not have access to landlord rent account data and therefore cannot determine what was actually paid by the claimant. This applies across both the social and private rented sectors.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to develop guidance for educational institutions (a) using and (b) procuring AI systems.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

To accompany the Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy paper, the department has published online materials to help educators use AI safely and effectively, developed in partnership with Chiltern Learning Trust and the Chartered College of Teaching. The materials are a toolkit for all educators, outlining the basic information that everyone working with young people should know about using AI safely, with some potential use cases, to help leaders address the risks and opportunities of AI, and how to consider AI as part of a wider digital strategy.

To help educational institutions procure safe and effective education technology (EdTech), the department wants to incentivise more evidence generation from EdTech companies by setting product quality standards and piloting how to assess products through the EdTech Evidence Board.

To ensure the safety of our children, the department announced the AI Product Safety Expectations in Education framework for technology companies, which sets out technical safeguards including prioritising child-centred design and enhanced filtering of harmful content.

The department will test an approach to quality assurance by engaging experts, such as company and sector representatives, data scientists, regulators, charities, academics and expert teachers, to assess edtech product evidence against set criteria and give judgements which could be made available to the sector.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of using non-deterministic AI in (a) marking, (b) admissions and (c) behaviour prediction on (i) schools and (ii) universities.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department aims to use evidence-based technology to reduce the time teachers spend marking, planning and form filling so their drive, energy and passion is fully focused on delivering change for children. The department provided £2 million funding to support Oak National Academy to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools for teachers. Oak has launched an AI assistant called Aila that helps teachers create personalised lesson plans and resources in minutes, saving them hours each week.

In August 2024, the department announced the Education Content Store, a joint pilot with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, aiming to make the underpinning content and data that are needed for great AI tools available to developers. In parallel, the department has launched innovation funding to encourage developers to make use of the content store and stimulate the market to create high-quality marking and feedback tools.

Universities are independent and autonomous bodies responsible for decisions such as admissions, course content, teaching and assessment. They are responsible for designing and implementing their own policies and approaches to the use of AI as well as for taking steps to detect and prevent any form of academic misconduct by students including the misuse of AI, as set out in the Office for Students’ regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer 13 June 2025 to Question 57485 on Chemicals: Sanitary Products, what further (a) research and (b) evidence does his Department plan to commission.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In February, the Government published a draft Code of Conduct setting out how we intend to consult when using the new powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill - Product safety: checks and balances on developing policy and legislation - GOV.UK. It is this approach that the Government will take in relation to period products.

Officials are currently reviewing the evidence base concerning the safety of these products, from which any evidence gaps will be identified, and appropriate expert evidence or further research will be sought. The Department welcomes continued engagement on this important matter from relevant external organisations.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer 13 June 2025 to Question 57485 on Chemicals: Sanitary Products, which groups his Department plans to consult.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In February, the Government published a draft Code of Conduct setting out how we intend to consult when using the new powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill - Product safety: checks and balances on developing policy and legislation - GOV.UK. It is this approach that the Government will take in relation to period products.

Officials are currently reviewing the evidence base concerning the safety of these products, from which any evidence gaps will be identified, and appropriate expert evidence or further research will be sought. The Department welcomes continued engagement on this important matter from relevant external organisations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470 on Hospices: Charitable Donations, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the proposed funding increase for hospice care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. The funding will help hospices to provide the best end of life care to patients and their families in a supportive and dignified physical environment.

We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.

Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding from integrated care boards (ICBs) for providing National Health Services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative care and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

We are also working to make sure the palliative and end of life care sector is sustainable in the long term and are determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community through our 10-Year Health Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that AI-generated intelligence products are (a) reproducible, (b) trusted and (c) secure.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to exploit AI tools to support intelligence analysts in producing robust and comprehensive assessments. Assessments that incorporate AI analysis are held to the same rigorous standards, such as the Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment Common Analysis Standards, which ensure the highest levels of objectivity, rigour, and auditability. In parallel, we are offering all staff AI training to ensure the MOD is best placed to interpret, manage and keep appropriately secure the large volumes of complex and often conflicting data. This will enable senior decision-makers to spend more time acting on accurate, timely intelligence assessment.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for which roles his Department has considered using non‑deterministic AI systems; and what mechanisms he plans to put in place to (a) monitor and (b) mitigate associated risks.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence intends to exploit AI across a broad spectrum of use cases from the frontline to the back office to make all parts of Defence more efficient and effective. This may include the use of ‘non-deterministic’ AI systems (such as Large Language Models). Joint Service Publication 936 on Dependable AI provides a robust framework to address AI-related risks around human control and unpredictability as part of our existing risk management process. This ensures that our legal, ethical and safety obligations are always fulfilled for all AI use cases. We expect that use cases such as training simulations and operational planning exercises will require robust assurance so that outcomes remain valid and repeatable.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of non‑deterministic AI behaviour on the validity of (a) training simulations and (b) operational planning exercises.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence intends to exploit AI across a broad spectrum of use cases from the frontline to the back office to make all parts of Defence more efficient and effective. This may include the use of ‘non-deterministic’ AI systems (such as Large Language Models). Joint Service Publication 936 on Dependable AI provides a robust framework to address AI-related risks around human control and unpredictability as part of our existing risk management process. This ensures that our legal, ethical and safety obligations are always fulfilled for all AI use cases. We expect that use cases such as training simulations and operational planning exercises will require robust assurance so that outcomes remain valid and repeatable.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the National Cyber Security Centre on (a) long-term contract costs and (b) cybersecurity implications of awarding government-wide data infrastructure work to Palantir Technologies.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The National Cyber Security Centre is part of GCHQ, and works closely with the rest of Government to improve the cyber security of critical infrastructure and systems.

It is HMG policy not to comment on the details of the Single Intelligence Account, including contract costs and conversations with HMT.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the proportion of housing benefits that are paid to private landlords in (a) the UK and (b) other OECD countries.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much Housing Benefit was paid to private landlords (a) in real terms and (b) as a proportion of total Housing Benefit expenditure in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the total amount of housing benefit paid to private landlords in the last ten years.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much Housing Benefit is paid to private landlords in each (a) region and (b) local authority.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of (a) Housing Benefit and (b) the housing element of Universal Credit is paid to private landlords.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of Housing Benefit is paid to private landlords.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost of Housing Benefit was in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2023/24, total housing support provided to private rented sector (PRS) tenants amounted to £12.3 billion (in 2024/25 prices). Of this, £3.9 billion was delivered through Housing Benefit (HB), while £8.4 billion was provided via the Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE). This means that HB accounted for 32% of total PRS housing support, with UCHE making up the remaining 68%.

The Department does not hold information on housing benefit payments made to private landlords in other OECD countries. Housing support systems vary significantly between countries, and as such, comparisons of housing benefit payments across international contexts should be treated with caution.

The information requested on Housing Benefit paid to private landlords by region and local authority is publicly available. It can be accessed via Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK (Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority 2023/24)

Housing Benefits Expenditure, £m real terms, 2025/26 prices, from 2014/15 to 2023/24

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of (a) Housing Benefit and (b) the provision of social housing in each of the next ten years.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested on Housing Benefit (HB) expenditure over the next ten years is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, expenditure on HB for the years up to and including 2029/30 is available in the Benefit Expenditure and Caseload tables.

The Department for Work and Pensions does not estimate the cost of provision of social housing.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help incentivise private landlords to rent to benefit recipients.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Rental discrimination against people who receive benefits has no place in a fair and modern housing market.

The Renters’ Rights Bill takes direct action to stop discriminatory practices against households receiving benefits in the private rented sector. It will address overt discriminatory practices, such as ‘no DSS’ adverts, and any indirect practices designed to intentionally prevent someone entering into a tenancy.

DWP does not incentivise private landlords to rent their properties to benefit recipients.

We do provide housing support towards rental costs for private renters in receipt of either Housing Benefit or Universal Credit via the Local Housing Allowance.

Discretionary Housing Payments are also available from local authorities to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the his US counterpart on UK citizens with a green card data.

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

The Foreign Secretary has not had any recent discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio about green card data, or UK citizens with green cards.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to create delineated funding mechanisms for different tiers of local government in the proposed English Devolution Bill.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has no plans to create further delineated funding mechanisms for different tiers of local government in the proposed English Devolution Bill.

The English Devolution White Paper set out that where a Strategic Authority takes on powers which are currently funded outside the Local Government Finance Settlement or the Integrated Settlements, such as Mayoral Capacity Funding, MHCLG will work with the relevant department or organisation to explore funding this through one of these routes.

Further detail on the interactions between Local Authority and Mayoral Strategic Authority funding will be set out in the upcoming consultation on Local Authority funding reform.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide funding for the Teign estuary project through the Local Transport Grant.

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

At the Spending Review (SR), the government announced £2.3 billion across the SR period for the Local Transport Grant (LTG). Allocations have been published, and Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority have been allocated £40.9m. This is in addition to £4.7m the authority was allocated in 2025/26 through the Integrated Transport Block.

This funding is for maintaining and improving local transport infrastructure, delivering transport schemes that will boost growth. Local leaders can choose how to spend it, including on supporting new housing developments, improving public transport, and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Funding guidance will be issued later this year to support local areas in deciding how to best utilise their LTG allocations.

In addition, Active Travel England recently announced capital funding allocations for 2025/26 to local authorities through the Consolidated Active Travel Fund. Devon County Council’s allocation is £2.3m, and this can be used to support the delivery of high quality walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure as well as capability building measures and behaviour changes activities.

It is for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to decide how they wish to spend their LTG and Consolidated Active Travel Fund allocations, including on the Teign Estuary Project, alongside other priority projects in their Local Transport Plan.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21418 on South West Main Line: Dawlish, what criteria she used for the decision not to include funding for phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme at Dawlish in the Spending Review 2025.

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

Following the Chancellors’s statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our wider portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be published as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 on Question 21418 on South West Mainline: Dawlish, whether she plans to provide funding for phase 5 of the Dawlish south west rail resilience fund.

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

Following the Chancellors’s statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our wider portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be published as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29262 on Insulation: Housing, if he will offer support for homes with faulty spray foam installed.

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

There is no government financial assistance available to have insulation removed. Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under a government-backed scheme, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee at no cost to the consumer.

Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must be installed in accordance with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. The TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29262 on Insulation: Housing, if he will publish data on the number of homes using the warm homes grant to date.

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

The Department publishes Household Energy Efficiency Statistics. The detailed annual reports provide breakdowns of measures installed under various government support schemes. These date back to 2015 and are available at GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics).

Warm Homes: Local Grant and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund schemes began in April 2025. Statistics on the delivery of these schemes will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29262 on Insulation: Housing, if he will take legislative steps to ensure access to mortgage facilities for people purchasing homes with spray foam insulation.

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

The insulation, lending, and surveying communities published protocols in March 2023 to support surveyors to assess spray foam, provide reassurance to lenders, and inform consumers. We understand from lenders that in general they follow the advice of surveyors and that most no longer have blanket policies.

The government cannot comment on the decisions made by individual lenders. However, the presence of spray foam should not automatically prevent lending, and decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis following a survey. Whilst one lender may be unable to offer a mortgage to a customer, this does not prevent them from being offered credit elsewhere.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the change in population of the 17-19 year old age group in Newton Abbot Constituency in the last five years.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th June is attached.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to corporate governance law on economic output.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Non-financial reporting information is a vital part of the UK’s corporate governance framework. The Government has committed to review non-financial reporting in order to reduce burdens on business and has already made legislative changes that will save companies £240 million per year.

This work is ongoing and the Government will publish a further consultation later this year.

The Department supported the Financial Reporting Council in revising the UK Stewardship Code. The new Code reduces reporting burdens and early estimates suggest that signatories to the Code may be able to reduce reporting volume by 20-30% while maintaining reporting quality.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish guidance on the safe use of non-deterministic AI in public sector decision-making systems.

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

The AI playbook clearly describes the non-deterministic nature of probabilistic, AI-based predictive analysis and automated decision-making, while prescribing ten key principles for the safe and responsible use of AI. For example, it highlights the non-deterministic and probabilistic nature of AI models—specifically large language models (LLMs)—which can yield inaccurate or hallucinated outputs. Accordingly, it stresses legal and ethical duties, requiring departments to register AI-powered algorithms via the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. It also recommends and emphasises meaningful human oversight, including monitoring, assurance, and user feedback mechanisms, with a risk-aware approach from inception through the entire life cycle of the services.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take legislative steps to introduce a regulatory framework to set standards for (a) testing and (b) verification of non-deterministic AI systems.

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

It is right that most AI systems are regulated at point of use by our existing expert regulators, who are best placed to do this. In response to the AI Action Plan, Government committed to building regulators’ capabilities to do this.

Additionally, the Government is developing legislative proposals which will allow us to securely realise the enormous benefits of the most powerful AI systems. We will launch a public consultation, and engage with a full range of stakeholders, on our legislative proposals in due course.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) Housing Benefit and (b) other housing subsidies on rent levels in the private rented sector.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for low income tenants in the private rented sector (PRS). In April 2024, LHA rates were set at the 30th percentile of local market rents and have been maintained at the same levels for 2025/26.

In the PRS, LHA households in similar circumstances living in the same area are entitled to the same maximum rent allowance regardless of the contractual rent paid. However, LHA rates do not cover all rents in all areas.

International evidence varies widely on how much housing subsidies feed through into rent levels. DWP analysis has shown that only 9.5% of rents paid by households covered by the LHA were within +/- £5 per week of the LHA rate in May 2024, with a similar rate (7%) seen in February 2023. While anecdotal evidence suggests that some landlords use the LHA to set rent levels, on balance it appears that in practice local rental market dynamics are the primary driver.

Discretionary Housing Payments are also available from local authorities to those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to assess the reliability of non-deterministic AI before it is used to support (a) policing, (b) public safety and (c) immigration processes.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The government recognises the importance of operational trust in AI systems. The Home Office is actively working to ensure the responsible adoption of AI technologies within our processes.

This includes evaluation and assurance of AI tools in line with relevant industry guidance and regulatory standards including HMG AI frameworks.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support disabled veterans in Devon.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Disabled people, including disabled veterans, can access a wide range of support in Devon. Information on what support is available to them can be found on Gov.UK including these specific areas: Veterans UK - GOV.UK and Disabled people - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help tackle stigma among disabled veterans claiming PIP.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The benefits system exists to support people at critical points in their lives and for a range of reasons. There should be no stigma attached to claiming a benefit you're entitled to, and people should claim social security benefits as and when their circumstances dictate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide funding for the final phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Following the Chancellor’s Spending Review statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be announced shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children from Gaza have been granted visas to the UK for medical treatment since the scheme began.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The requested information is not currently available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The UK has supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. On 1 May, the Minister for the Middle East announced that two children have arrived in the UK to begin treatment. The Government also announced a £7.5m package of support to bolster vital medical care in Gaza and the region, which includes additional funding for UK-Med, WHO Egypt and the OCHA OPTs Humanitarian Fund.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58701 on USA: British Nationals Abroad, if he will make representations to his US counterpart on the potential merits of protecting the green card data of British citizens in line with GDPR standards, in the context of the work of the US Department of Government Efficiency.

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

The Foreign Secretary regularly discusses a range of bilateral issues with his US counterpart, and officials are regularly in touch with US authorities on consular and immigration issues which may affect British Nationals living in the US. Data collected by the US Government as part of their own processes is subject to US law, which is a sovereign matter for the US.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what what steps she is taking to help ensure consistency in standards of (a) ethics, (b) training and (c) reporting in (i) parish, (ii) town and (iii) district councils.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.

This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what statutory powers are available to local standards committees to investigate and sanction councillors for breaches of the Nolan Principles.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.

This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many complaints were referred to local standards committees in the last year; and what proportion of those complaints led to sanctions.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.

This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the enforcement of the local government code of conduct.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.

This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a legal requirement for manufacturers to list (a) the components and (b) any trace toxic chemicals in period products.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13^th June 2025 to question 57485 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps bring forward regulations to ban period products which include pesticide residues.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13^th June 2025 to question 57485 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

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 introducing testing for period products to ensure they are free from toxic chemical residues.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13^th June 2025 to question 57485 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 59834 on South West Main Line: Dawlish, if she will set out a timescale for when a decision on whether Stage Five of the rail resilience programme for Dawlish will receive funding will be reached.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We are currently working to determine which rail enhancement projects will be taken forward following the conclusion of the Spending Review on 11 June. More information will be made public shortly.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to allow veterans in receipt of the Armed Forces Independence Payment to claim the new health-related Universal Credit support.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Green Paper, “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working” announced that we would be scrapping the Work Capability Assessment and moving to a single assessment for financial support related to health and disability benefits. This single assessment will be the PIP assessment and those who are eligible for an award of Daily Living in PIP would also be able to access additional financial support in Universal Credit.

We recognise that claiming certain other benefits can impact whether or not a claimant applies for or can get PIP, including Armed Forces Independence Payment. We are currently considering how the future system will operate and will provide further information in the upcoming White Paper.

Shared Lives Carers

Small businesses in North Cornwall

Cool hubs

Rail fare increase

Post Offices in rural areas

Access to dentistry

Investment in General Practice

200 year anniversary of the North Devon Infirmary

Ark Cancer Centre

Tackling food waste

Ban trophy hunting imports

Malmesbury FC Girls and Women’s Teams and Rhianon Stidever

Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk MBE

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Silverburn Festival in Leven

Contribution of technical colleges

International Women in Engineering Day

Clean air awareness campaign

Role of relationship education in preventing violence against women and girls

Babbacombe Corinthian Sailing Club

20th anniversary of DAY1

David Maxwell Fyfe

Local authority funding

Visas and access to education for Ukrainian refugee children

Gurkha pensions

Inverness ranked top Scottish city for outdoor enthusiasts

Impact of proposed immigration changes on migrants living in the UK

Bank charges for micro-charities

Press ownership by foreign states

Residential estate management companies

The Three Chimneys restaurant fundraising for Scottish Ambulance Service

Myeloma Awareness Week 2025

Prostate cancer screening and men's health support

UK trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Methanol poisoning, UK traveller safety and education in schools

Scottish Government restrictions on NHS medical aid to Ukraine

Democracy in Hong Kong

Bath Rugby

High street gambling reform

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Found: Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Tom Gordon; Kit Malthouse; Jon Pearce; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Martin Wrigley

Found: Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Tom Gordon; Kit Malthouse; Jon Pearce; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Martin Wrigley

Found: present: Chi Onwurah (Chair); Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Steve Race; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Martin Wrigley

Found: present: Chi Onwurah (Chair); Dr Allison Gardner; Kit Malthouse; Steve Race; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Martin Wrigley

Found: _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour Tom Gordon Martin Wrigley Calum

Found: Presented by Martin Wrigley Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 21st October 2024.

Found: MacCleary Peter Prinsley Caroline Voaden Liz Jarvis Sarah Olney Vikki Slade Ian Roome Martin Wrigley

Found: Not called_NC93 Helen Maguire Martin Wrigley .