Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Remote Gaming Duty tax on reducing gambling related harm.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Budget 2025, the government announced a package of changes to gambling duties which will raise over £1 billion per year to support the public finances and forms part of our ambition to create a fair, modern and sustainable tax system.

Evidence shows that online slots and casino games have much higher proportions of problem gamblers. In recognition of this associated level of harm, the rate for Remote Gaming Duty will increase from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026. The objective is to reduce the incentive for gambling operators to invest in or push people towards these more harmful forms of gambling.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues and the Northern Irish Government on using funds raised by the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime to support maritime decarbonisation projects in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Revenue raised through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme support the Government’s wider priorities, including spending that helps deliver decarbonisation.

The Government is providing funding to support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, including in Northern Ireland.

For example, the first phase of funding for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions saw £19 million provided to businesses and projects based in Northern Ireland.

This includes a project to demonstrate a fully electric crew transfer vessel in Belfast Harbour and feasibility studies for a zero-emission shipping corridor between Northern Ireland and England, involving trials at Larne Harbour.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what analysis her Department has undertaken on the potential impact of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme expansion to maritime on the competitiveness of Northern Irish ports in attracting cruise business.

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

The domestic expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will only include emissions from international journeys, including cruises, produced while at berth in UK ports. This means, as outlined in the UK ETS expansion to domestic maritime Impact Assessment, that there is not expected to be any net loss of competitiveness for international cruise visits to UK ports relative to ports in the European Economic Area, where these emissions are already in scope of the EU ETS. As such, the impact is expected to be minimal.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the proposed expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to international maritime voyages is not in addition to the International Maritime Organisation’s expected rules.

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

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government firmly supported adoption of a global market-based measure, the IMO Net-Zero Framework, last autumn and is disappointed the decision has been postponed. We continue to work with other IMO Member States to secure adoption.

The Government also wants to ensure decarbonisation continues here in the UK and has proposed to expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to emissions from international voyages from 2028. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, the Government will review the scope of the UK ETS to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators as set out in the consultation on the proposed expansion of UK ETS to emissions from international voyages from 2028 published in November 2025.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has contingency plans for alternate support measures to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for refineries.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that the sector is facing challenges and continues to engage with the fuel industry to explore what steps can be taken to support the sector. The Government continues to work at pace to consider the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

The Government is also supporting the refining sector transition to net zero by driving forward with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. In addition, the Government continues to provide financial support for decarbonisation projects, including for the deployment of CCUS and competition funding for hydrogen and low carbon fuels production.

On 23 February 2026, the Government launched a call for evidence that will shape the UK’s long-term strategy for the downstream oil sector. This will gather industry views on the opportunities and barriers to transition, issues and risks to energy security and what Government support may be needed to promote a managed transition.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the refining sector not being included in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or a similar support measure on trends in the level of growth of that sector.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23^rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector.

As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in future.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which body is responsible for monitoring the outcomes of environmental regulation; and what corrective mechanisms are in place when environmental targets are not met.

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

The outcomes of environmental regulation are monitored by independent scrutiny bodies, including the Office for Environmental Protection and the National Audit Office. Defra and its regulators review the effectiveness of their regulatory activity, supported by periodic external reviews and monitoring of key plans and targets, including the Environmental Improvement Plan and Environment Act targets.

We are committed to meeting our environmental targets and will refine our delivery plans where needed, in response to emerging evidence, policy evaluation and stakeholder feedback.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of environmental regulation since 2010 on trends in environmental outcomes, including the condition of protected sites, species recovery and wildfire incidence.

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

The England and UK Biodiversity Indicators are published annually and the latest annual update (England) was published on 2 December 2025.

Figures on the condition and extent of protected areas and trends since 2016 can be found here while those those for species can be found here.

On 22 January 2026 Defra published its 2019-24 Habitat Regulations implementation report for England. It evaluates how conservation measures have supported the protection and restoration of biodiversity. It succeeds the reporting obligation previously required under the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives respectively.

Defra does not hold details on wildfire incidence. MHCLG is responsible for fire policy and operations.

Museum online sales to Northern Ireland

75th anniversary of Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 2026

Securing the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

NHS access to medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy

90th anniversary of the Spitfire

Armed exports to the United Arab Emirates and the situation in Sudan

British couple detained in Iran

Rape gang overseas trafficking

UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

Gambling harms

Sinking of SS Tilawa

British forces on the front line in Afghanistan

Found: Jessica Morden MP Ben Obese-Jecty MP Rebecca Paul MP John Slinger MP Mark Tami MP Sammy Wilson

Found: (Conservative; Reigate) John Slinger (Labour; Rugby) Sir Mark Tami (Labour; Alyn and Deeside) Sammy Wilson

Found: (Conservative; Reigate) John Slinger (Labour; Rugby) Sir Mark Tami (Labour; Alyn and Deeside) Sammy Wilson

Found: Cotswolds) Blake Stephenson (Conservative; Mid Bedfordshire) John Whitby (Labour; Derbyshire Dales) Sammy Wilson

Found: Hobhouse MP AOC0537 Ben Lake MP AOC0538 Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP AOC0539 Anonymous submitted by Sammy Wilson

Found: Chris Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; John Whitby; Sammy Wilson

Found: Chris Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; John Whitby; Sammy Wilson

Submit Evidence (by 6 Apr 2026)

Data centres are regarded by ministers as being central to UK economic growth and were designated critical national infrastructure (CNI) in September 2024, offering them more legal protections. But their electricity consumption is expected to quadruple by 2030, according to the National Energy System Operator, raising concerns about their sustainability