Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Fifty-seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on AEA Technology Pension Case, HC 1005, published on 14 June 2023, and the Third Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of 2023-24 on Defined benefit pension schemes, HC 144, published on 26 March 2024, whether he plans to provide redress for AEA Technology pension scheme members.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The issues raised by the AEA Technology pension case have been extensively considered, including by Parliamentary committees, in debates in Parliament, and by Government.

AEAT members receive compensation through the Pension Protection Fund, which provides a statutory safety net for members of eligible private sector defined benefit schemes following employer insolvency.

The Government is also introducing prospective increases on compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme on pensions built up before 6 April 1997. These will be Consumer Price Index-linked (capped at 2.5%) and apply prospectively (i.e. to payments going forward) for members whose former schemes provided for these increases. AEAT members with pre‑1997 accrual will benefit from these increases.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason The Pensions Ombudsman and The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman were unable to investigate the information on pension options provided by the Government and its agents to AEA Technology pension scheme members in 1996.

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

The Pensions Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman may only investigate matters within the statutory jurisdictions set by Parliament.

Decisions on which bodies may investigate pension matters reflect deliberate Parliamentary choices to ensure clear roles and an effective system of redress. In the case of the AEA Technology pension scheme, specific issues have been considered by both Ombudsmen.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to implement regulations required in the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Slough, on 26 February 2026 to PQ UIN 114064.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how her Department is ensuring that peer-to-peer car sharing remains part of the UK’s wider strategy for decarbonisation and reducing congestion.

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

The Government understands the value of shared transport, including car sharing schemes, to reduce emissions and congestion, improve air quality and supports efforts to make it available to more people in the UK.

The Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the commitment made by the Minister for Roads and Buses in topical questions on 11 September 2025, col 1034, when she plans to reinstate the Car Clubs: Local authority toolkit, withdrawn on 15 May 2025.

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

The Department is considering how best to support local authorities in ensuring a supportive environment for car sharing services in their local areas and more information will follow in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what actions were taken as a result of the peer-to-peer car sharing roundtable, chaired by the Minister for Local Transport on 10th November 2025.

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

Following the November roundtable, the Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector. This includes the role of local authorities in creating a positive environment for car sharing services in their local areas and how government can best support this.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help support the peer-to-peer car sharing sector.

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

The Minister for Local Transport met with the car sharing sector in November to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how Government can help create a supportive environment for car sharing services for people across the UK.

The Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector, including peer-to-peer car sharing services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department intends to review the policy framework for peer-to-peer car sharing.

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

The Minister for Local Transport met with the car sharing sector in November to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how Government can help create a supportive environment for car sharing services for people across the UK.

While there is currently no national car sharing policy framework, the Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector, including peer-to-peer car sharing services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the car insurance taskforce’s recommendations on reducing premiums for consumers.

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

The cross-government taskforce on motor insurance was formed in October 2024, to fulfil the government’s commitment to tackling the soaring cost of motor insurance in the UK.

The taskforce worked across government, bringing together departments and independent regulators to understand the complexities of the market and to agree a set of actions.

Government departments and regulators are acting to address the broader factors that contribute to the cost of claims, such as vehicle theft and the cost of repairs. Though the taskforce has now concluded, the government will continue its work to deliver against the actions set out in the report.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024, if he will make an estimate of the potential (a) cost; and (b) mechanisms available to provide compensation to impacted women in Didcot and Wantage.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has made its decision on this case based on due process and careful consideration of the body of evidence. The detailed reasons for this decision have been placed in the House library.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of regulatory and insurance barriers facing peer-to-peer car sharing platforms in the UK on the viability of those platforms.

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

I met with the car sharing sector in November to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how the Government can help create a supportive environment for car sharing services for people across the UK. As part of this, I heard about the barriers facing different kinds of car sharing services, including peer-to-peer services. My Department is actively considering the experiences shared by stakeholders along with the wider evidence base to develop appropriate measures to support the sector.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long before the commencement of publicly funded works on the Lower Thames Crossing will the Full Business Case be published.

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

Construction enabling works for the Lower Thames Crossing have now begun on both sides of the River Thames. Ground works are underway to create haul roads and site compounds. Site compounds are under construction and utility works have commenced with connections to these. Ecological and archaeological works are also ongoing, as are extensive pre-construction surveys.

The project continues to progress through the required assurance and governance processes. The next iteration of the business case will be developed ahead of seeking private sector investment.

The project follows the standard Five Case Business Case model used for government projects. Funding decisions continue to undergo rigorous scrutiny and appraisal in line with Department for Transport standards and HM Treasury Green Book principles. The economic dimension of the business case will keep assessing Value for Money alongside the other four dimensions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much it is costing the police to house dogs that have been confiscated under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

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

The Home Office does not hold data on the total cost to policing for housing dogs confiscated under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

I would refer the hon member to the response previously provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UIN: 74382.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of providing funding for water, sanitation and hygiene services in maternity facilities on levels of (a) maternal and newborn mortality and (b) anti-microbial resistance.

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

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through its international development programmes to reduce maternal sepsis linked to poor hygiene conditions during childbirth.

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

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene in maternity and delivery facilities in low and middle-income countries.

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

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services in healthcare facilities on gender equality.

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

The UK recognises the vital role that improving access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities plays in preventing maternal and infant deaths, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and safeguarding women and girls.

We work with a range of international partners on this agenda, from our long-standing partnership with the World Bank on its Water Strategy Implementation Plan to supporting individual governments overseas to improve access to WASH in healthcare facilities. Details of our total WASH sector spend for 2025 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the monthly average waiting time was for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre and zone for each month since April 2015.

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

The answers to Questions 6462 on 9 October 2024, and 89574 on 11 November 2025, provide data covering April 2015 to October 2025 respectively. The attached spreadsheet shows the monthly average waiting time for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre, and zone, for each month between November 2025, and February 2026.

Please note, some driving test centres no longer conduct car tests or have closed. There are also some driving test centres that did not conduct car tests in some individual months.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the proposed creation of new permitted development rights.

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

The government recently amended existing permitted development rights in respect of electric vehicle (EV) charging points through the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025.

The Department for Transport recently consulted on a series of other changes to various permitted development rights for EV charging. That consultation can be found on gov.uk here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with operators of integrated retirement communities on ensuring older people from all income groups can access the sector.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

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 with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of housing with care for older people in the Government's social care strategy.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, entitled Religious Persecution of Palestinian Muslims, published on 13 March 2026.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of Israeli settlers carrying out attacks on mosques during Ramadan in the occupied West Bank.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to secure the immediate re-opening of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications fir her policies if the impact of Israeli restrictions on access to religious sites on Palestinian Muslims in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

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 Israeli counterparts on restrictions on access to religious sites for Palestinian Muslims in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world, including in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. We condemn the record levels of settler violence in the West Bank, and we are carefully monitoring restrictions on movement and access that affect holy sites.

GP access

Democracy and human rights in Myanmar

King's Guard's ceremonial bearskin caps

Impact of the Iran war on transport costs

Online abuse and exploitation of Ukrainian refugees

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

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

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Olly Glover; Alex Mayer; Baggy

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Olly Glover; Alex Mayer; Baggy

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