Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57480 on Broadband: Newton Abbot, what his planned timetable is for supplying (a) data speeds of over 30Mbps to the remaining 2% of (i) homes and (ii) businesses and (b) gigabit capable broadband to the remaining 17% of (A) homes and (B) businesses.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The rollout of superfast and gigabit-capable broadband is primarily driven by the private sector, with government only intervening where commercial development will not suffice. The government plans for 99% of UK homes and businesses to have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032. In Newton Abbot, Openreach is delivering a Project Gigabit contract to premises that are unlikely to be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout. This contract will disproportionately target premises currently without superfast speeds (>= 30Mbps).
The first connections under this contract are expected to be made early next year, and the contract is currently expected to run until 2030.
In the meantime, we expect superfast and gigabit-capable coverage to continue to steadily increase in Newton Abbot as a result of suppliers’ commercial rollout.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that free period products provided in schools are (a) certified organic single use disposables and (b) additive-free.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Nobody should have to miss out on education because of their period, which is why the department provides free period products to girls and women in their place of study through the Period Products Scheme. The scheme aims to remove periods as a barrier to accessing education and addresses pupils being unable to afford period products. Since the scheme began in 2020, 82% of eligible organisations in Devon have placed at least one order.
The scheme offers a broad range of products for organisations to choose from, including certified organic and chemical-free tampons and pads, as well as reusable options such as period pants. The Lil-Lets organic range, available on the scheme, meets recognised certification standards and is free from harmful chemicals.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to tackle period poverty through schools in Newton Abbot constituency.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Nobody should have to miss out on education because of their period, which is why the department provides free period products to girls and women in their place of study through the Period Products Scheme. The scheme aims to remove periods as a barrier to accessing education and addresses pupils being unable to afford period products. Since the scheme began in 2020, 82% of eligible organisations in Devon have placed at least one order.
The scheme offers a broad range of products for organisations to choose from, including certified organic and chemical-free tampons and pads, as well as reusable options such as period pants. The Lil-Lets organic range, available on the scheme, meets recognised certification standards and is free from harmful chemicals.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will launch an investigation into reported drone attacks on the vessel Conscience in international waters off Malta.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of an incident in May regarding a vessel off the coast of Malta. His Majesty's Government officials were in touch with the Maltese Authorities regarding the incident and understand there were no casualties and that no British nationals were aboard this vessel. We are not planning an investigation into the incident but continue to be in contact with Maltese Authorities if any new information regarding the incident becomes available.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the seizure of the UK-flagged civilian ship Madleen by Israeli forces in international waters.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of the interception of the Madleen and the arrest of its passengers by Israeli Naval Forces. We note that this happened without serious incident or injury to any passenger. We pressed the Israeli authorities in advance of the ship's arrival to ensure that any action they took would resolve the situation safely, with restraint, and in line with International Law. The UK continues to demand that the Israeli government permits the full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza immediately. By far the most effective way to meet the desperate needs of the Gazan people at the speed and scale that is needed is via overland routes. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is appalling. We reiterate that Israel must immediately allow the UN and other agencies to deliver lifesaving aid to those in Gaza who so desperately need it.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased social housing investment on reducing reliance on private landlords.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Over time, increased investment in social housing will reduce reliance on the private rented sector.
At the Spending Review the Chancellor announced £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what accountability mechanisms exist for private landlords who receive public funds through (a) Housing Benefit and (b) Universal Credit.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities have a wide range of enforcement tools to take action against private landlords who fail to comply with regulations, including those who receive public funds through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit. They can, for example, issue improvement notices and civil penalties, prosecute landlords, and apply to have landlords banned from letting properties for serious offences.
The Renters' Rights Bill, currently before Parliament, includes a range of measures designed to strengthen landlord accountability. These include a requirement for all landlords to sign up to the new Private Rented Sector Database; a new independent Landlord Ombudsman which will provide binding resolutions for tenant complaints; the extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector; and the application of Awaab’s law to the private rented sector.
The Bill also strengthens rent repayment orders, including doubling the maximum amount that a landlord can be ordered to pay from 12 to 24 months’ rent. Where a landlord commits certain offences and rent has been paid through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, local authorities can claim back rent through a rent repayment order.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to compare best practice in (a) the UK and (b) other countries on reducing public expenditure on private rents.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department uses both domestic and international evidence to inform policy development in relation to a wide range of issues, including in respect of public expenditure on private rents.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
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.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
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.