Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information her Department holds on the number of telecommunication landlords that have ceased to host infrastructure since the Electronic Communications Code 2017 was implemented.

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

The Department has not undertaken comprehensive monitoring of the number of active Code agreements following the 2017 reforms. However, based on Ofcom reporting, 4G geographic coverage from at least one operator has increased from 78% in 2017 to 96% in July 2025. Ofcom also reports that 5G geographic coverage from at least one operator has reached 65% in July 2025 from the start of its rollout in 2019.

Landowners can terminate agreements governed by the Electronic Communications Code for a number of reasons, including if they intend to redevelop the land. Any data on the number of terminated agreements alone would therefore not be indicative of the effectiveness of the 2017 reforms.

Government has no plans to conduct a formal review of the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code before commencing the remaining sections of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.

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 support patients with pulmonary fibrosis in Devon.

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

Royal Devon University Hospital provides a regional interstitial lung disease service covering Devon. The team provides clinical care, support, and access to services such as pulmonary rehabilitation. Patients with pulmonary fibrosis may attend pulmonary rehabilitation services in Exeter, North Devon, Torbay, and Plymouth.

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 move funding away from being centered in the London and the Home Counties and towards research projects in (a) Devon and (b) other areas of the UK.

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

The Department funds health and care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research infrastructure spans England in order to build research capacity, including in Devon.

The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) is the main vehicle for clinical research delivery and will introduce a new national funding model in 2026/27 to ensure fair, transparent, and consistent funding across all regions, reducing variation, and supporting underserved areas.

Devon hosts four NIHR-funded infrastructure: the Regional Research Delivery Network South West Peninsula; the Exeter Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility; the HealthTech Research Centre for Sustainable Innovation; and the Applied Research Collaboration for the South West Peninsula, which supports the whole of Devon. In line with prior commitments, the Department has increased funding for infrastructure developing and delivering research outside the greater South East.

The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care from across England and the United Kingdom. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Additionally, by investing in career development initiatives through the NIHR Academy, NIHR Infrastructure, and the RDN, the NIHR continues to fund high quality applied health and care research and training across England.

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 increase funding for research for pulmonary fibrosis.

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

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes applications for research on any aspect of human health and care, including pulmonary fibrosis. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Since April 2020, the NIHR has spent £4.8 million on research projects and programmes relating to pulmonary fibrosis.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Access to Work scheme in supporting disabled people into (a) sustained employment and (b) meaningful work experience.

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

No changes have been made to Access to Work policy. We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation has closed. We are considering responses to the consultation and will set out our plans in due course.

We are continuing to work closely with stakeholders, and in particular disabled people and their representatives.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase research funding for pulmonary fibrosis.

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

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes applications for research on any aspect of human health and care, including pulmonary fibrosis. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Since April 2020, the NIHR has spent £4.8 million on research projects and programmes relating to pulmonary fibrosis.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to end child hunger in Devon.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child hunger. That is why the department is introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals (FSM). This ensures that all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible from September 2026. This will provide over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day. Department for Work and Pensions data shows that 36,230 children in Devon will be eligible for FSM from September 2026.

The government remains committed to deliver on its pledge to provide a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged children. This will ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, has a supportive start to the school day. Over 750 early adopter schools are already being funded to deliver free breakfast club places for their primary pupils, including 27 in Devon. An additional 2,000 schools will join the scheme between April 2026 and March 2027, benefitting around half a million more children.

Additionally, the holiday activities and food programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their heath, wellbeing and learning.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the level of pay of NHS staff in Newton Abbot constituency.

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

Pay for most staff employed by National Health Service organisations is set at a national level. The Government has remitted the independent NHS Pay Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration to make recommendations on headline pay for NHS staff. Within their reports they make an assessment of the level of pay to recommend, with regard to various factors such as recruitment and retention. The process for the 2026/27 pay round is already underway, with the Department publishing its evidence to the Pay Review Bodies on 30 October.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer received on 14 November 2025 to written question 88030, as part of the formation of GBR will the government look to create a specific scheme for schools.

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

The Railways Bill will safeguard existing statutory discounts for disabled persons, younger passengers and older passengers, which today are delivered via railcards. In relation to discount schemes generally, the government's intention is for Great British Railways to have the ability to respond to changing passenger requirements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the Financial Conduct Authority's commercial mortgage regulations to only apply when a problem is observed and a complaint raised.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Unlike residential mortgages, commercial mortgages are not typically regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her department holds on the number of complaints about the Financial Conduct Authority's regulations for commercial mortgages from a) Brokers and b) Commercial Mortgage holders.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Unlike residential mortgages, commercial mortgages are not typically regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Financial Conduct Authority regulations on commercial mortgages.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Unlike residential mortgages, commercial mortgages are not typically regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to increase the accountability of the Financial Conduct Authority with the finance industry.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is fully accountable to Parliament and the Government for how it discharges its statutory functions. Legislation places a range of statutory requirements on the FCA designed to support accountability and enhance transparency.

For example, the FCA is held to account through regular appearances at Parliamentary committees, including the Treasury Select Committee and the Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee.

Ministers regularly engage with the FCA to ensure it continues to improve its operational efficiency.

In addition, the FCA regularly engages with industry, consumers and other stakeholders via consultations, publications and statutory panels.

The statutory framework also includes a requirement for the FCA to establish a Complaints Scheme, which allows anyone directly affected by the way in which the FCA has exercised, or failed to exercise, its functions (other than its legislative functions) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to make a complaint. The Complaints Scheme is overseen by the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner, who is an independent person appointed by HM Treasury and has powers to recommend the payment of compensation and to require the FCA to publish its response to any recommendations. The FCA’s decisions can also be challenged in the courts under judicial review procedures. There is an appeals process for supervisory and disciplinary decisions made by the FCA.

The Government will continue to hold the FCA to account for its performance against its statutory duties, its work to reduce administrative costs, and alignment with government priorities.

The government has recently consulted on proposals to require the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to publish long-term strategies setting out how they will advance their objectives, including their secondary objective to facilitate growth and international competitiveness. This would ensure that stakeholders, including regulated firms in the sector, are able to fully understand the FCA and PRA’s strategy towards the sector. The government is currently considering the responses to that consultation and will set out next steps in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of re-introducing a consumer credit license.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Businesses must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide credit to consumers unless an exemption applies. Lending without FCA authorisation is illegal and punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a fine.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 58761; how will the government support unparished areas in Devon like a) Exeter and b) Torbay in the Local Government Re-organisation process.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

All two tier authorities and their neighbouring unitaries must have regard to the statutory guidance on local government reorganisation. Criterion six states that new unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

We understand communities should have their say on the future of local government in their area and we have been clear on the importance of councils engaging with local residents and organisations as they develop their proposals.

The power to create and restructure town and parish councils is devolved to principal local authorities, which can review and make changes to local governance arrangements through Community Governance Reviews. In doing so, they are expected to take the views of local people into account, and they should also consider the financial and administrative requirements.

Following the submission of proposals for unitary local government in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay on 28 November, it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and to consult as required by statute. Responses from residents, town and parish councillors and local businesses to that consultation will be welcome.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make public toilet provision a statutory duty for local authorities.

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

Government does not propose to introduce a statutory duty at this time.

We recognise the importance of toilet provision and have taken steps to support local leaders. At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the number of Access to Work decisions that have not aligned with Access to Work guidelines in the last 12 months.

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

We have interpreted “Access to Work decisions that have not aligned with Access to Work guidelines” as cases where a customer has challenged a decision and requested a reconsideration.

From November 2024 to October 2025:

• 1,517 reconsideration requests were received.
• 1,008 of these have been reviewed and cleared.
• Of those reviewed, 159 decisions were partially or fully overturned.

Some overturned decisions will be due to customers providing additional information, rather than the decision not aligning with Access to Work guidelines. We do not hold data that identifies how many overturned decisions were specifically due to misalignment with the guidelines. The remaining 509 cases are still under consideration

Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what investigations her Department has made into alternative to the culling of healthy flocks of caged birds in areas of wider avian flu outbreak.

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

Culling is the most effective means of controlling and stamping out an avian influenza outbreak together with movement restrictions, high standards of biosecurity, separation of poultry from wild birds and surveillance.

Preventative vaccination for avian influenza may be an option for the future but will not be viable for the 2025/2026 risk season. Defra has established a cross government and industry taskforce to explore future vaccination options. The taskforce published its initial report on 24 July. The report recommends a series of actions, including a vaccination trial in turkeys, before a final recommendation can be made.

Currently, vaccination of poultry and captive birds against avian influenza, excluding those in licensed zoos in England, is not permitted. Defra continue to invest in avian influenza research, and we continue to monitor vaccine usage both in Europe and globally, as well as the effectiveness of other disease control measures taken.

Any future decisions on disease control measures, including the use of vaccination, will be based upon the latest scientific, ornithological, and veterinary advice.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is His Department's standard response time for resolving official complaints submitted to Access to Work.

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

Complaints received about Access to Work are handled in line with the overall Departmental complaints process published on Gov.uk. We aim to contact customers within 15 working days to clear the complaint or agree how to investigate it if it will take longer.

Gambling executives' profits

Cary Repair Café

Royal Naval Association Torbay

Water bills

McLaren title win for British motorsport

Armed Forces Training Contract and Elbit Systems

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Buying community energy locally

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Tackling van and tool theft

Neurodivergent service personnel in the armed forces

County FA Recognition Awards 2025

Access to banks

Safeguarding pubs, brewers and one million jobs

UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement

Fly-tipping and illegal waste dumping by criminal gangs

Found: Martin Wrigley made representations.

Found: This is not devolution downwards to communities; it is centralisation.12 Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem) raised

Hair and beauty products (chemicals applied to the hair or body for cosmetic purposes) and treatments (cosmetic procedures typically performed by specialists) can cause harm to consumers if they contain unregulated ingredients or if they are improperly administered.  The inquiry will respond to recent research which has led to concerns about the current scientific evidence base and regulation for these products, as well as the required training and qualifications of specialists performing treatments.  The inquiry will also investigate the growing concern that certain products that are commonly used by marginalised groups, such as creams to ‘relax’ afro-type hair and synthetic hair, can contain harmful chemicals.

On 15 July 2025 the Defence Secretary told the House of Commons about a large-scale data breach that had taken place in 2022, when a Ministry of Defence official emailed a spreadsheet to an external contact, unaware that it contained details relating to 18,700 Afghan nationals applying for relocation.