Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress her Department has made in delivering the TechFirst programme; and what discussions her Department has had with organisations in Ealing Central and Acton constituency on supporting TechFirst.

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

TechFirst has recently launched its expanded undergraduate scholarships programme, which will find and support promising young talent from across the country. The Department plans to shortly launch new programmes that support more home students access Master’s scholarships and PhD top-ups in digital and tech.

TechFirst supports local partnerships between industry, academia and third sector and will recruit regional partners to maximise impact – including a London partner. We encourage organisations based in Ealing Central and Acton to apply, as well as commit to regular opportunities for stakeholders, such as those from Ealing Central and Acton constituency, to engage and support TechFirst’s objectives.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what cross-Government work is being undertaken to help tackle identity fraud when no financial loss is incurred.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Home Office is working across Government to consider whether to include initiatives to prevent the misuse of stolen identities and to strengthen protections for the public through the Government’s upcoming Fraud Strategy.

We recognise the evolving nature and increasing prevalence of identity fraud and are taking additional proactive steps to address it. That is why the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences will consider whether a specific offence for identity theft is needed.

We have likewise announced a mandatory digital ID system which will enable people to prove their identity securely, without physical documents.

It is also important to empower the public to protect themselves and keep their identities safe. That is why we have introduced a checklist, providing advice and steps on how to prevent the misuse of identities: Identity fraud victims' checklist.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Pakistani counterparts on the attack on the Ahmadiyya community at Bait-ul-Mahdi Mosque in Rabwah on 10 October 2025.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 29 October to question 82128.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Iranian counterparts on recent reports of six Baha’i women facing imminent imprisonment for their beliefs in Hamadan, Iran.

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

The UK Government and our Ambassador in Iran regularly raise our human rights concerns directly with the Iranian Government and in international fora. We are deeply concerned by the heightened threat currently faced by Baha'is in Iran.

On 23 September 2025, at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), UK Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization and UN, Kumar Iyer, highlighted the recent targeting and scapegoating of marginalised groups during and following the 12-day war, including Baha'is. On 25 March 2025, at the UNHRC, we called out Iran's escalation in the arrest and detention of Baha'i women, which was an effort to suppress their religious identity and autonomy as women. We were integral to the delivery of an Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UNHRC on 3 April 2025, which renewed the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, and renewed and expanded the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission, to establish the facts, circumstances and structural causes of ongoing and recent human rights violations, including discrimination on grounds of religion or belief.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Pakistani counterpart on the destruction of two Ahmadiyya places of worship in Chahur Mughliyan and Chahur Kotli on 2 September 2025.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer on 29 October to question 83844.

Found: Samantha Dixon (Labour; Chester North and Neston) Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat; Guildford) Dr Rupa Huq