Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with universities on reports of discussions on handling students' Gaza protests with BAE Systems.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department and the Office for Students (OfS) are aware of reports relating to discussions between universities and BAE Systems on student protests.
Universities are responsible for ensuring that their disciplinary, security and governance arrangements are lawful, and that their duties to secure freedom of speech within the law, including lawful protest, are met. Decisions affecting lawful speech or protest should be reached independently, proportionately and in accordance with the law.
The government believes that both BAE Systems and other defence companies should be welcomed onto campuses on occasions such as careers fairs and that students and staff have the right to protest lawfully about their activity.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the efficacy of NHS Hospital Trusts using services such as the Consultant Connect platform.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment of this has been made by the Department.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether cash will remain the default way in which PIP is provided to all claimants following the Timms Review, and that any non-cash-support will be accessed voluntarily.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Timms Review steering group is considering its recommendations ahead of the final report's publication in autumn.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will consider the findings before deciding any next steps.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of enabling local authorities to buy properties to increase the supply of council house stock.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is supportive of local authorities buying properties to increase the supply of council housing.
The Social and Affordable Homes Programme permits local authorities to acquire homes.
In addition, the Local Authority Housing Fund enables local authorities to purchase homes, with homes initially to be used as temporary accommodation or to provide housing for the Afghan Resettlement Programme thus providing local authorities with a lasting council home for the future.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to introduce primary legislation to ban trail hunting in the next parliamentary session.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Legislation is planned to be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to implement Defra’s commitment to embed and increase animal welfare in everyday farming practices as outlined in the Government's Farming Roadmap 2050.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
To deliver this commitment, we are taking a range of actions through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway and Animal Welfare Strategy, working with farmers, vets and industry to develop practical, evidence-based measures. Examples include preventative animal health measures, proposals to improve laying hen and lamb welfare, and work to improve resilience to climate change.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional business rates relief to businesses that make a demonstrable positive contribution to public health and local communities, including gyms and physical activity facilities.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the important contribution that gyms and physical activity facilities make to the health and wellbeing of local communities and local economies.
The Government has introduced new permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These lower multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties, including gyms and fitness centres.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of rateable-value thresholds for business rates relief on space-intensive businesses that provide preventative health and community services, including gyms and physical activity facilities.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the important contribution that gyms and physical activity facilities make to the health and wellbeing of local communities and local economies.
The Government has introduced new permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These lower multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties, including gyms and fitness centres.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the practice of paying (a) Pension Credit and (b) Housing Benefit to those over State Pension Age who are in polygamous marriages.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June 2026 to Question UIN 4347
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals over State Pension Age and in a polygamous marriage are currently entitled to additional payments of (a) Pension Credit and (b) Housing Benefit.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June 2026 to Question UIN 4347