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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of adults without photographic identification.

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

Research by Verian, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, found that 2-4% of the 18+ UK population do not own an accepted form of identification that would enable them to vote in person at a polling station.

The Government believes the current Voter ID rules are too restrictive. We are therefore bringing forward changes, as part of the Representation of the People Bill, to allow the use of UK-authorised in-date bank cards as identification at polling stations in Great Britain. This will allow a greater proportion of electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements. The Verian research found that, with the introduction of this new measure, the proportion of the 18+ UK population without a form of accepted ID would fall to less than 1%.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve access to photographic identification.

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

Research by Verian, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, found that 2-4% of the 18+ UK population do not own an accepted form of identification that would enable them to vote in person at a polling station.

The Government believes the current Voter ID rules are too restrictive. We are therefore bringing forward changes, as part of the Representation of the People Bill, to allow the use of UK-authorised in-date bank cards as identification at polling stations in Great Britain. This will allow a greater proportion of electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements. The Verian research found that, with the introduction of this new measure, the proportion of the 18+ UK population without a form of accepted ID would fall to less than 1%.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether digital ID will become an approved method of age assurance to comply with age checks required by the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

The Online Safety Act requires in-scope services to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing harmful content online. It is up to Ofcom as the regulator to determine whether or not an age assurance process is deemed ‘highly effective’ but it does not mandate specific technologies.

Ofcom’s guidance sets out a non-exhaustive list of age assurance technologies that could constitute highly effective age assurance. This list includes digital identity services. Whilst the government expects digital identity to be increasingly popular, there will remain a number of routes through which an individual can assure their age.

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 the proportion of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

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

The Government is committed to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment (RTT).

As a first step in achieving this, we have delivered against the interim target that 65% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026. As of March 2026, the waiting list has reduced by over 515,000 since the Government came into office, and performance against the RTT standard has improved by 6.4%, reaching 65.3%. This is despite 37.2 million referrals onto the waiting list over the same period.

This progress has been made by delivering more appointments, investing in modernisation, reforming and simplifying pathways, increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity, and providing patients with faster and more convenient access to care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks of referral in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) North Tyneside.

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

At the end of March 2026, the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board reported that the proportion of patients on the waiting list waiting within 18 weeks was 72.3% compared to 70.2% in March 2025.

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reported that 72.5% of its waiting list was waiting within 18 weeks compared to 72.4% in March 2025.

Nationally, at the end of March 2026, the proportion of the waiting list waiting within 18 weeks was 65.3%.

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 merits of extending the Pubs Code to cover all leased pubs.

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

Government recognises the importance of a diverse and competitive beer market, including the role of independent breweries in supporting local economies and consumer choice. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. Its findings are currently being reviewed alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next months. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.

Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016. I will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.

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 merits of introducing a guest beer agreement in England.

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

Government recognises the importance of a diverse and competitive beer market, including the role of independent breweries in supporting local economies and consumer choice. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. Its findings are currently being reviewed alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next months. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.

Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016. I will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding reports of violence and intimidation against people who oppose the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3.) Bill.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 March in response to Question HL15456.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her counterpart in Zimbabwe on (a) the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3.) Bill and (b) its public consultation process.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 March in response to Question HL15456.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to minimise the potential impact of parcel delivery drones on wildlife.

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

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace.

All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation.

As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.

Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Amazon regarding the rollout of parcel delivery drones.

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

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace.

All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation.

As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.

Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to minimise the potential impact of parcel delivery drones on privacy.

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

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace.

All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation.

As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.

Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to minimise noise pollution caused by parcel delivery drones.

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

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace.

All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation.

As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.

Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reinstating the 56-day asylum move-on period for families.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

In reaching the decision to set the move-on period at 42 days, we have considered a range of evidence, including key findings from the evaluation of the 56-day pilot, operational data, and forecasted impacts on the asylum accommodation estate. This decision best enables the Home Office to fulfil our statutory obligations whilst looking to minimise impact on local authorities and individuals granted leave, and supports our commitment to deliver reductions to the cost of asylum accommodation and end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. The approach and its impacts are being kept under review, however, our immediate focus is on ensuring that the 42 day period is used as effectively as possible, considering whether improvements can be made to our process, communications and services to better support individuals successfully move on from asylum accommodation.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of gambling impact assessments on the licensing of gambling premises by local authorities.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs) have now been introduced in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. GIAs are yet to come into force, however, the Government is preparing for their introduction and working closely with the Gambling Commission on guidance to support their successful implementation.

GIAs will allow local authorities to change the presumption in licensing decisions away from the ‘aim to permit’, where there is evidence that additional premises would undermine the licensing objectives for gambling regulation. The local authority would then be able to adopt a policy that it will reject applications for gambling premises licences in the area covered by a GIA, unless the applicant can show that the grant of the licence would be reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives. The Government believes that GIAs will be an effective tool for local authorities, protecting them from legal challenges and providing much needed clarity when making licensing decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the social impacts of the revised asylum move-on period of 42 days.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The approach and its impacts are being kept under review. We closely monitor the wider effect on local communities and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities. We continue to engage with stakeholders, including local authorities, to reduce barriers and support effective transitions from asylum accommodation. We are also working closely with MHCLG. Under the government’s National Plan to End Homelessness strategy the Home Office has made a commitment to ensure all local authorities receive information from asylum accommodation providers for 100% of newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness. Our immediate focus is on ensuring that the 42-day period is used as effectively as possible, including considering whether improvements can be made to our process, communications and services to better support individuals to successfully move on from asylum accommodation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on writing to households who are eligible but not registered for the NHS Healthy Start programme; and what his Department's planned timeline is for completing that communication.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), who delivers the scheme on behalf of the Department, has created a public toolkit specifically for retailers, inclusive of independent shopkeepers and convenience store staff, to help them promote the scheme to shoppers.

The toolkit is regularly updated and contains a range of materials, including point of sale stickers, posters, banners, digital screens, and social media content featuring “shop with your NHS Healthy Start card here” messaging, and has so far received more than 2,000 views. Retailers can also find out more about the scheme and how it works on the NHSBSA website, at the following link:

https://media.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/media-library/63e8e5ac-3f5f-4c00-a626-27f4accd7fdd/guide-for-retailers-nhs-healthy-start-03-26

Retailers can also sign up for regular stakeholder newsletters.

The Department continues to work with the NHSBSA on ways to encourage those eligible to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme to apply.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the NHS Business Services Authority is taking to ensure independent shopkeepers and convenience store staff (a) are aware of NHS Healthy Start cards and (b) enable all eligible families to use their cards in these stores.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), who delivers the scheme on behalf of the Department, has created a public toolkit specifically for retailers, inclusive of independent shopkeepers and convenience store staff, to help them promote the scheme to shoppers.

The toolkit is regularly updated and contains a range of materials, including point of sale stickers, posters, banners, digital screens, and social media content featuring “shop with your NHS Healthy Start card here” messaging, and has so far received more than 2,000 views. Retailers can also find out more about the scheme and how it works on the NHSBSA website, at the following link:

https://media.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/media-library/63e8e5ac-3f5f-4c00-a626-27f4accd7fdd/guide-for-retailers-nhs-healthy-start-03-26

Retailers can also sign up for regular stakeholder newsletters.

The Department continues to work with the NHSBSA on ways to encourage those eligible to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme to apply.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when her Department intends to publish its response to the consultation entitled Information sharing for public service delivery: expanding the information sharing powers in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support passported benefits and reduce fuel poverty, published on 29 July 2025.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to safe and responsible data sharing across the public sector to improve public service delivery across the country. The consultation on expanding the information sharing powers for public service delivery in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support education-related passported benefits and energy debt relief measures closed on the 23rd of September 2025. The Government response will be published in due course to allow for further policy consideration and assessment of any wider implications.

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 proportion of claimants who have migrated from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit under managed migration who have had the calculations on their claim overturned upon challenge or appeal.

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

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

Trophy hunting imports

Retirement of Tracy Thirlwall

National Emergency Briefing

Ban on industrial action by prison officers

Trade union support for Durham Pride

Burnhope Miners' Gala Centenary Celebration

Sporting integrity in the EFL Championship play-offs

125th anniversary of the birth of Speaker Horace Maybray-King

Found: Tuesday 5 November 2024 Members present Bob Blackman, in the Chair Jack Abbott Mary Glindon Alison

Found: Charalambous (Labour; Southgate and Wood Green) Alberto Costa (Conservative; South Leicestershire) Mary Glindon

No description available