Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with her international counterparts to tackle the sharing of illegal pornographic material online.

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

We are committed to working closely with our international partners on approaches to ensure tech companies are held to account for addressing illegal and harmful content online. We have a number of bilateral agreements which include online safety. In particular, the online safety and security memorandum of understanding with Australia commits us to increasing cooperation between our respective law enforcement agencies and regulators to enhance detection and enforcement capabilities. We will continue to identify opportunities to advance multilateral cooperation, including through the OECD and G7.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Lithuanian counterpart on the decision of that country to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has not raised the proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with Lithuania's Minister for Foreign Affairs. We do not comment on whether a specific organisation is or is not being considered for proscription. We have sanctioned the IRGC in its entirety and will continue work to identify further ways to counter it at home and abroad.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9237 on Pensioners: Tax Rates and Bands, for what reason does Government not publish this data.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Winter Fuel Payment continues to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. This means that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low income pensioners who need it. This was a tough decision, but the right decision given the public finances.

The Winter Fuel Payment is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions on a household basis whereas taxpayer information is held by HMRC on individual basis. As such HMT does not hold this data at a household level.

DWP does however publish data on pensioner incomes; this can be found at Pensioners' Incomes Series: Financial year 2021 to 2022.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each (a) integrated care board and (b) hospital.

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

The Department does not hold data on how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each integrated care board and hospital. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines sits with local systems.

Cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer on time and treating it faster, so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system. We will address the challenges in diagnostic waiting times, providing the number of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other tests that are needed to reduce elective and cancer waits.

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 help improve waiting times for radiotherapy treatment.

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

The Department does not hold data on how many and what proportion of radiotherapy machines are beyond their recommended working life in each integrated care board and hospital. From April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines sits with local systems.

Cancer patients are waiting too long for treatment. We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer on time and treating it faster, so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system. We will address the challenges in diagnostic waiting times, providing the number of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other tests that are needed to reduce elective and cancer waits.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of people no longer eligible for the winter fuel allowance are higher or additional rate taxpayers.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Winter Fuel Payment continues to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit . This means that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low income pensioners who need it. Winter Fuel Payments are paid on a household basis whereas taxpayer status is on an individual basis.

455,000 individuals over the state pension age are estimated to pay higher rate income tax, and 39,300 additional rate income tax.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making (a) rozanolixizumab, (b) zilucoplan and (c) efgartigimod available to NHS patients with myasthenia gravis (MG); and what (i) representations his Department has received from and (ii) meetings his Department has had with MG patients on that matter.

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

The Department has made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE is currently evaluating rozanolixizumab, zilucoplan, and efgartigimod within their licensed indications for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, and has not yet published final guidance.

The Department has received correspondence letters from constituents via their Member of Parliament regarding myasthenia gravis and the treatment for this condition, but there have not been any recent meetings between Ministers and patients with this condition.

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 adequacy of the criteria for auto-enrolment for workplace pensions in the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Security in retirement is a key priority for this Government

We are undertaking a landmark Pensions Review, the second phase of which will consider further steps to improve pension outcomes, including assessing pension adequacy. This will consider options to build on the success of Automatic Enrolment, which has turned millions of people into pension savers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are not able to have contact with the public due to ongoing misconduct investigations in each police force; and for how long the ten police officers who have not been able to have contact with the public for the longest period have been in this position.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not routinely collect data on the number of police officers who are prevented from having contact with the public due to on-going misconduct investigations, nor the length of time such restrictions have been in place

The number of police officers subject to misconduct investigations in the financial year is published on an annual basis within the ‘Police misconduct, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics

In addition, the number of officers who are suspended as at the 31 March in each financial year is published within the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues to police forces on expressions of support for Hezbollah during protests.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government takes proscription offences extremely seriously. Hezbollah is proscribed in its entirety and once an organisation is proscribed, it is an offence to express support for the organisation. It is for the police to determine if an offence has been committed.

The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance to frontline officers to ensure all officers have the latest information, advice and support to deal with proscription offences. The College of Policing are operationally independent from Government.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues to police forces on expressions of support for Hamas during protests.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government takes proscription offences extremely seriously. Hezbollah is proscribed in its entirety and once an organisation is proscribed, it is an offence to express support for the organisation. It is for the police to determine if an offence has been committed.

The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance to frontline officers to ensure all officers have the latest information, advice and support to deal with proscription offences. The College of Policing are operationally independent from Government.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with international partners to help protect United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel from attacks by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

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

The UK Government condemns all threats to United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon's (UNIFIL) security and calls on all parties to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel at all times and to allow UNIFIL to continue carrying out its mandate. In a call on 16 October with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Foreign Secretary discussed the need for all parties to ensure freedom of movement for UNIFIL personnel. We are also calling on Hizballah to de-escalate immediately and urging Iran to stand down their proxy. Only a political solution, consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, can bring stability and security to South Lebanon. The UK continues to work in lockstep with our allies, including Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt to de-escalate the situation and we urge all parties to end this cycle of violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of alleged reports that Hezbollah plans to advance into Galilee in Israel on the UK's strategic interests.

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

The UK Government has not yet made an assessment on this specific issue. However, we have been clear that resolving the on-going conflict is key to regional security. The United Kingdom condemns Hizballah's attacks on Israel over the last 11 months, which have driven more than 60,000 people from their homes. These unjustified attacks have brought misery to ordinary people in Lebanon and Israel. They have done nothing to end the conflict in Gaza or secure Palestinian statehood. Hizballah has been proscribed in its entirety as a terrorist organisation since 2019. The UK has long had a no-contact policy with Hizballah. The UK does not provide any assistance or funding to Hizballah, Hizballah-led ministries or Hizballah-led institutions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of abolishing business rates.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high-street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

Autumn Budget 2024 announced the first steps including an intention to introduce permanently lower multipliers for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties from April 2026. To fund this sustainably the government also intends to introduce a higher multiplier on properties with Rateable Values (RV) of £500,000 or more.

During the interim period, for 2025-26, RHL properties will receive a 40% relief on business rates bills up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. The small business multiplier paid by properties with RVs below £51,000 will also be frozen for a further year.

The government published a discussion paper at Budget which sets out priority areas for further reform and invites stakeholders to a conversation about transforming the system over the Parliament.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to close down online websites and platforms that host illegal pornographic material.

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

The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to tackle illegal content on their services, including illegal pornography. Ofcom as the new regulator for this regime will have extensive enforcement powers if platforms fail to fulfil their duties. These include powers to impose heavy fines on services, and also to apply to the Courts for business disruption measures. These include orders that require third parties to restrict access to non-compliant services in the UK, e.g. blocking via internet access services or app stores.

Separate to provisions in the Online Safety Act, the Pornography Review, led by Independent Lead Reviewer Baroness Gabby Bertin, is exploring the effectiveness of regulation, legislation and the law enforcement response to pornography. The government expects the Review to present its final report by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to issue revised guidance to schools on requirements for developing individual health care plans for pupils with epilepsy.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Statutory guidance, ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’, recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. They can help schools support pupils with medical conditions, providing clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom. The school, healthcare professionals and parents should agree, based on evidence, when a healthcare plan would be appropriate. ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’ can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ce6a72e40f0b620a103bd53/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf.

The department will keep the statutory guidance under review as we take forward the commitment to delivering an inclusive mainstream system.

The department engages closely with school leaders and their representative organisations on a wide range of issues, including supporting pupils with medical conditions.

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 ensure the adequate supply of needles for (a) diabetic and (b) other healthcare provision.

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

NHS Supply Chain sources, delivers, and supplies healthcare products for National Health Service trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales, and also has robust measures in place to ensure the continuity of supply of medical products, including needles. This includes close collaboration with suppliers, and managing supply levels. As a result of a broad supply base within the syringes and needles framework agreement, NHS Supply Chain seeks to maintain adequate volumes to meet demand, whilst minimising the risk of supply gaps.

The Department has arrangements in place to help ensure the continuity of the supply of medical products, such as needles, in the event of disruption. This includes the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR), which acts as a single point of contact to the health and care system in the event of a supply issue. In the event a shortage does occur, the NSDR can work with the medical supply industry, the health and care system, and our system partners to put mitigations in place to help minimise any impact to patients and the provision of care.

Found: _1 Sir Gavin Williamson Joy Morrissey Mr Richard Holden Simon Hoare Nick Timothy Gareth Bacon

Found: _1 Sir Gavin Williamson Joy Morrissey Mr Richard Holden Simon Hoare Nick Timothy Gareth Bacon

Found: _1 Sir Gavin Williamson Joy Morrissey Mr Richard Holden Simon Hoare Nick Timothy Gareth Bacon

Found: Saqib Bhatti Sir Ashley Fox Rebecca Smith Charlie Dewhirst Patrick Spencer Lewis Cocking Mr Richard

Found: Saqib Bhatti Sir Ashley Fox Rebecca Smith Charlie Dewhirst Patrick Spencer Lewis Cocking Mr Richard

Written questions (WPQs) allow MPs to ask for information on the work, policy and activities of Government departments, related bodies, and the administration of Parliament.