Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment they have made of the reasons for delays in processing applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Settlement Protection route for Syrian nationals.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

On 11 December 2024, the Home Office paused all decisions on Settlement Protection applications from Syrian nationals whilst we assessed the country situation.

This was a necessary step while there was no stable, objective information available to make robust assessments of risk on return to Syria. We resumed decision-making on 14 July 2025, following the publication of updated country information.

It has been a long-standing position that safe return reviews must be conducted when considering settlement protection applications. The Home Office is in the process of writing out to applicants to gather further evidence where it is required. Applications are being considered in chronological order based on the date of application. Due to the substantial cohort of cases, approximately 3,500 in total, the department requires some time to address the outstanding applications.

The Home Office is considering applications based on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.  Due to the significant change in the country’s situation, there could be instances where further evidence may need to be gathered to assess these applications and determine if there is an ongoing need for protection.

Applicants may be required to complete an interview, in order to provide information to progress claims and support a decision.  In a small number of cases, applicants who have completed their interview may be required to provide additional information, where insufficient evidence upon which to make a decision is available.

In line with our international obligations, we will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member York Central, PQ UIN 116174.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member York Central, PQ UIN 116174.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average study set-up time was for (a) all dementia clinical studies, (b) commercial dementia studies and (c) non-commercial dementia studies supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research in the most recent reporting year.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK Clinical Research Delivery key performance indicators report brings together data to monitor the delivery of globally competitive clinical research across the United Kingdom. This report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-clinical-research-delivery-key-performance-indicators-data-to-march-2026/uk-clinical-research-delivery-key-performance-indicators-data-to-march-2026

The report includes several indicators relating to study set-up. Indicator 3 measures the time it takes to open studies after they have received approval from the Health Research Authority, or via an equivalent process used by the devolved administrations. Indicator 4 measures the time it takes studies to recruit their first participant after they have opened to recruitment. The information requested is shown in the following tables, as an unpublished subset of the statistics that were published on 15 April 2026. The information is taken from studies held on the NIHR Research Delivery Network’s Central Portfolio Management System. The following table shows the average number of days taken for dementia studies to open to recruitment from Health Research Authority approval letter or equivalent process used by the devolved administrations:

Studies are included where approval was granted between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. In addition, the following table shows the average number of days taken for dementia studies to recruit their first participant from opening to recruitment:

Studies are included where the opening date was between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and delivering better patient care, to make the UK a world-leading destination for clinical research. We are working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of medicines and therapies of the future, including treatments for dementia.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the department is taking to reduce regional disparities in dementia diagnosis rates.

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

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.

To reduce variation in diagnosis rates, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Dementia Intelligence Network has developed a tool for local systems, which includes an assessment of population characteristics such as rurality and socio-economic deprivation. This enables systems to investigate local variation in diagnosis and take informed action to enhance their diagnosis rates. The tool has been released and is available via the NHS Futures Collaboration platform.

We will deliver the first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the department is taking to ensure early diagnosis for individuals with dementia.

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

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.

We will deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework to deliver rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, which is expected this year. The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, it will set national standards for dementia care, and will redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to phase out the use of CO2 gas chambers in slaughterhouses.

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

As set out in this Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for astronomy and space science.

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

I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 21st April 2026 to question UIN 126553.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a process to allow Atomic Energy Authority Technology pension scheme closed section members to leave the Pension Protection Fund and re-join a public sector pension scheme, including the UK Atomic Energy Authority scheme.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Pension Protection Fund is a compensation scheme, and its operating structure reflects this. The Pension Protection Fund does not operate as a segregated fund, where individual schemes contributions are ringfenced. Once a scheme transfers to the Pension Protection Fund, the scheme does not exist anymore.

Through the Pension Schemes Act, we have taken action by introducing legislation to provide annual increases on compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund on pensions built up before 6 April 1997, where schemes provided for this. We are now focusing on the implementation of this change, and I can confirm that AEAT members with pre-97 accrual will benefit.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has considered requesting that the Government Actuary’s Department publish the calculations behind the sum transferred to the AEAT pension scheme at the time of privatisation.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department for Work and Pensions was not involved in the privatisation of Atomic Energy Authority Technology in 1996.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on AEAT pension arrangements.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

This matter was discussed with parliamentarians during the passage of the Pension Schemes Act.

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 improve timely diagnosis for people living with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

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

Through the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, NHS England supports local integrated care boards (ICBs) to help deliver high-quality, timely services, including for people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The GIRFT programme on gastroenterology aims to reduce variations in care, and to increase early diagnosis and proactive management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

The GIRFT gastroenterology report recommends measures such as rapid access to specialist review within four weeks, personalised care plans, and expanded endoscopy capacity. These changes aim to cut emergency admissions, improve quality of life, and ensure equitable access to specialist nurses and multidisciplinary support across the country.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding is being allocated to alternatives to animal testing, such as the advanced use of human cells.

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

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests to support research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ-on-a-chip, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. These are categorised as basic research, so calculating funding for New Approach Methodologies specifically is not possible. The Government has announced £75m of funding to accelerate alternatives and innovation, with new capabilities being developed across the UK. UKRI also invests in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how her department is contributing to assessments on local government reorganisation.

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

While the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the lead department on local government reorganisation, my department has provided input to them on transport impacts at both interim and final plan stages.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the legal framework that pavement delivery robots operate within.

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

The Government does not have any involvement, and has not approved, any pavement delivery robot operations in the UK.

The Government recognises that the current legal framework does not provide the certainty businesses need to invest, which is why we have committed to introduce a new Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle category to regulate micromobility vehicles, including pavement robots, when parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has approved the use of pavement delivery robots to operate in urban areas.

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

The Government does not have any involvement, and has not approved, any pavement delivery robot operations in the UK.

The Government recognises that the current legal framework does not provide the certainty businesses need to invest, which is why we have committed to introduce a new Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle category to regulate micromobility vehicles, including pavement robots, when parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what vehicle type are pavement delivery robots classified as in legislation.

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

The Government does not have any involvement, and has not approved, any pavement delivery robot operations in the UK.

The Government recognises that the current legal framework does not provide the certainty businesses need to invest, which is why we have committed to introduce a new Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle category to regulate micromobility vehicles, including pavement robots, when parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many beagles have been approved for use in scientific research over the a) past five years and b) each year within.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes non-technical summaries for each project licence granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These are published quarterly and include information on the species and the approved number of animals expected to be used over the lifetime of the project licence. These are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/non-technical-summaries-of-projects-granted-under-aspa.

The Home Office also publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science as Accredited Official Statistics. These contain information on the number of procedures conducted, including breakdowns by species of animals (including beagles) and by purpose. The statistics report both the total number of procedures conducted and the number of animals used for the first time in a given year. The statistics are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals.

This Government remains firmly committed to working towards the phasing out of animals in science. The strategy, ‘Replacing animals in science’, sets specific targets to reduce the use of dogs by 2030, while ensuring the UK continues to support safe and effective scientific and medical research.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support high street businesses.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Our Plan for Small and Medium Sized Businesses places high streets at the centre of economic renewal, recognising them as vital centres of growth and employment.

We are reforming licensing laws and making high streets safer from retail crime and money laundering and making it easier to access business support through our Business Growth Service.

The government is working with local partners and businesses to develop a new MHCLG-led High Streets Strategy that will set out how we will support communities to create vibrant high streets.

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 providing compensation at Level 4 of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman scale in the last 12 months.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department estimates that the cost of providing compensation at Level 4 of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman scale was approximately £2,800 in the last 12 months, relating to a single PHSO investigation. Details of PHSO investigations involving the Department are published on the Ombudsman’s website at www.ombudsman.org.uk.

The Department does not provide guidance to other Government departments on responding to recommendations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) involving financial redress. For recommendations made to DWP, the Department follows the Ombudsman’s Principles for Remedy, with compensation decisions made on a case‑by‑case basis, taking account of the specific circumstances of each case.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department provides to Government departments on responding to recommendations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman involving financial redress.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department estimates that the cost of providing compensation at Level 4 of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman scale was approximately £2,800 in the last 12 months, relating to a single PHSO investigation. Details of PHSO investigations involving the Department are published on the Ombudsman’s website at www.ombudsman.org.uk.

The Department does not provide guidance to other Government departments on responding to recommendations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) involving financial redress. For recommendations made to DWP, the Department follows the Ombudsman’s Principles for Remedy, with compensation decisions made on a case‑by‑case basis, taking account of the specific circumstances of each case.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much weight is given to protecting (a) businesses and (b) national infrastructure when directing resources in flood risk assessments.

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

This Government is investing £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences, protecting communities from the devastating impacts of climate change.

On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Projects will be prioritised by their benefit-to-cost ratios to drive value for money. Protecting business and national infrastructure are both included within the overall economic benefits calculation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether loss of revenue from user charges at the Dartford Crossings is accounted for in the Department's finances.

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

The Government's preferred financing option at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under the RAB model, ownership and operations of the Dartford Crossing would transfer to a new regulated private sector entity, which would be responsible for operating and maintaining both the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing, ensuring a consistent and reliable service. This entity will be overseen by a regulator to ensure it performs and protects users. Charges from the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing would be received by the regulated entity under this model. This means charges will be used to meet the costs of providing and operating the Crossings. This approach brings in private capital to fund the majority of construction, which will deliver value for taxpayers and reduce the overall pressure on public budgets. The Department has built the effect of this into its financial forecasts.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the funding required by Network Rail for the control period 2029 to 2034 to recover the average asset age to 2015 levels across key asset categories.

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

Funding decisions for the next Funding Period (April 2029 to March 2034), including developing the evidence base for these decisions and appropriate baselines, will take place as part of Funding Period Review 2029.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed changes in average asset age and percentage asset life used across major railway infrastructure asset categories since 2015.

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

Yes, since CP6 a number of improvements have been made to the measures used by Network Rail to monitor asset condition.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of Network Rail's funding from 2024 to 2029 to prevent average asset deterioration of the railway network by maintaining the average asset (a) age and (b) percentage life used for key asset groups.

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

The settlement for Network Rail in its current funding period was provided as part of a detailed process run by the independent rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. This process included consideration of forecast asset age and the affordability of this within funding constraints and a determination tied to this, therefore the funding settlement is intended to deliver a defined series of outputs rather than maintain asset condition.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recent update to NICE guideline on ovarian cancer, what consideration he has given to implementing dual testing using CA125 and ultrasound at the same time for women of all ages.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The recent update to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on ovarian cancer included the consideration of the dual use of CA125 and ultrasound, and there was no evidence identified for this review question. The committee did not recommend dual testing and instead retained a sequential approach. For women aged 40 years old and over, this means measuring CA125 first and arranging an ultrasound where indicated. For those aged 39 years old and under, the guideline recommends ultrasound, as CA125 alone is not an accurate indicator of ovarian cancer risk in this age group. Full details are set out in NICE’s evidence review, at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12/evidence/b-dual-testing-with-serum-ca125-and-ultrasound-scan-compared-to-serum-ca125-alone-and-age-and-serum-pdf-15669144110

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help ensure that menopause-related workplace adjustments are consistently available across different sectors and roles, including non-desk-based occupations.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government is committed to tackling the challenges women face in the labour market at every stage of life, and with the right menopause workplace support, we can help unlock the full talent and creativity of women across the country.

On 1 April 2026, Mariella Frostrup was appointed as the government’s Women’s Employment Ambassador, building on her work over the past 18 months as Menopause Employment Ambassador, where she raised awareness and strengthened employer understanding of menopause in the workplace.

In this expanded role, she is championing women’s health across the life course, ensuring menopause remains a key priority, and working with employers to improve workplace support, raise awareness of key health issues and highlight women’s economic contribution.

As part of the Employment Rights Act 2025, the government committed to supporting women experiencing menopause in the workplace by encouraging employers with 250 or more employees to produce an action plan, from April 2026, covering the steps they are taking to support employees experiencing the menopause.

As part of the plan to Make Work Pay, the government also committed to publishing guidance, including for small employers, on measures relating to uniform and temperature, flexible working and recording menopause-related leave and absence. This is available on the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) website.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support employers in reducing stigma around menopause in the workplace.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government is committed to tackling the challenges women face in the labour market at every stage of life, and with the right menopause workplace support, we can help unlock the full talent and creativity of women across the country.

On 1 April 2026, Mariella Frostrup was appointed as the government’s Women’s Employment Ambassador, building on her work over the past 18 months as Menopause Employment Ambassador, where she raised awareness and strengthened employer understanding of menopause in the workplace.

In this expanded role, she is championing women’s health across the life course, ensuring menopause remains a key priority, and working with employers to improve workplace support, raise awareness of key health issues and highlight women’s economic contribution.

As part of the Employment Rights Act 2025, the government committed to supporting women experiencing menopause in the workplace by encouraging employers with 250 or more employees to produce an action plan, from April 2026, covering the steps they are taking to support employees experiencing the menopause.

As part of the plan to Make Work Pay, the government also committed to publishing guidance, including for small employers, on measures relating to uniform and temperature, flexible working and recording menopause-related leave and absence. This is available on the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) website.

Civil Service pensions

Medical Training and students

Carers Week 2026

Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day 2026

National Emergency Briefing

Two-state solution in Israel and Palestine

Reaching 3% of GDP on defence by 2030

Rebuilding UK defence ties with Europe

Holding Iran’s regime to account and proscribing the IRGC

EU Entry/Exit System and border delays for British travellers

A UK-EU customs union to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis

Protections for Hong Kongers

Approval for China’s new embassy

Supporting Ukraine and seizing Russia’s frozen assets

Israel death penalty

Found: Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Olly Glover moved amendment 147 to schedule 2.