Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on whether women and girls are more likely to experience abuse and harassment while (a) walking and (b) cycling, compared to using public transport.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The ‘Personal Safety on Transport’ survey research was published in February this year.

The findings are based on a survey of 4,900 adults across Great Britain and show the proportion of public transport users who experienced things that undermine personal safety on the transport network. In the 12 months before the survey, 28% of public transport users experienced sexual harassment or unwanted behaviour overall, rising to 54% of females aged 18 to 34. Also 14% of public transport users had experienced force, violence (or threats of), physical intimidation, verbal abuse, and theft (or attempted) and again these experiences were more common for females aged 18-34.

While the Department does not hold data on whether women and girls are more likely to experience abuse and harassment while walking, cycling or using public transport, the research did examine how safe people feel getting to, waiting for and travelling on the transport network. It found that 32% of females felt safe walking and 34% felt safe cycling to public transport stops after dark. This compares with around half of females who feel safe travelling on a train (52%) or bus (51%) after dark.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 60mph default speed limit on rural roads on safety; and whether she plans to review this default.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department for Transport keeps speed limit policy under review as part of its wider road safety work. As set out in the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Department is updating the Setting Local Speed Limits guidance, to support authorities to make the best decisions about managing speed on the roads they are responsible for.

In addition, the Department is undertaking work on rural road categorisation to better reflect the range of road types currently covered by the definition of rural.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of high service charges and low resale prices of inherited retirement flats on people living in those flats.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 4726 on 8 June 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional support her Department is providing to teachers in response to the increased number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in early years settings.

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

The department recognises the increasing demand for support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in early years settings.

We are investing in workforce development through our Best Start in Life strategy and wider SEND reform, including additional funding for an inclusion practitioner in Best Start Family Hubs to support early identification of needs and enable families to navigate support systems, and delivering a new Early Years SEND continuing professional development (CPD) programme as part of the government’s £200 million SEND and inclusion training package, to ensure all early years practitioners can access high-quality training.

Alongside this, we are expanding the Early Years SENCO training programme, with up to 9,500 funded places between 2026 and 2028, to strengthen early identification and support.

Practitioners can also access Early Years Child Development training, a free online programme including a SEND‑focused module covering legislation, referrals and inclusive environments.

We are also investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and Integrated Care Boards, to develop an Experts at Hand offer, improving access to health and education specialist support in early years settings, schools and colleges. Over £40 million is being invested in the specialist workforce, including £26 million to train more educational psychologists and £15 million to support more speech and language therapists.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential long-term impact of the funding cuts of £162 million proposed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on the astronomy and space science sectors.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is not seeing an overall cut to funding, its budget will be maintained from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30. In addition, applicant-led research grants in STFC will rise from £83 million in 26/27 to £90 million in 29/30.

Due to cost pressures from rising energy, inflation, foreign exchange, and ambitious commitments from the previous SR, STFC needs to find savings relative to forecast operational costs. STFC is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.

DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of previous research grant cuts on UK space research and development.

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

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is not seeing an overall cut to funding, its budget will be maintained from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30. In addition, applicant-led research grants in STFC will rise from £83 million in 26/27 to £90 million in 29/30.

Due to cost pressures from rising energy, inflation, foreign exchange, and ambitious commitments from the previous SR, STFC needs to find savings relative to forecast operational costs. STFC is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.

DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to retain specialist staff in the space research and development sector.

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

The UK Space Agency, as part of DSIT, supports the retention of specialist staff in the space research and development sector through programme funding and enabling long-term international collaborations, including participation in ESA programmes and with other space agencies around the world. This attracts, trains and provides continuity of employment for highly skilled teams across academia and industry, helping to sustain specialist scientific and engineering roles and maintaining critical capabilities within UK R&D teams. In addition, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supports space-related scientific research and skills across UK universities and research organisations. The Government's wider approach to supporting and nurturing growth and capability development in the sector is set out in the Space Industrial Plan.

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on communication of changes to women’s state pension age

Seven-year anniversary of the mixed-aged couples’ rule

Social Care and Community Integrated Care’s Unfair to Care Report 2026

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

Risk of AI chatbots to children

Found: extraordinary statement from MHCLG and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to Olly Glover

Found: Olly Glover MP was asked by a constituent to ask MHC&LG ‘When a statement will be published as to how

Found: present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Mrs Elsie Blundell; Jacob Collier; Olly Glover

Found: Elsie Blundell (Labour; Heywood and Middleton North) Jacob Collier (Labour; Burton and Uttoxeter) Olly Glover

Submit Evidence (by 23 Jul 2026)

The Government has published a draft of the National Policy Statement (NPS) that would be used as the basis for making a decision on whether to grant planning consent for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.