Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations they have made to the government of Algeria regarding restrictions on the freedom of worship of the Ahmadiyya Muslims.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 October 2025 in response to Question 83261.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support international monitoring and accountability mechanisms on freedom of religion or belief in Afghanistan.

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

Afghanistan is a focus country in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's approach to freedom of religion or belief, announced on 8 July 2025, and officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans. We work with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions, including on freedom of religion or belief. We continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur and his mandate to document human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Upholding human rights and basic freedoms are not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive and prosperous country for all Afghans. Without inclusive governance that reflects Afghanistan's religious, ethnic, gender and cultural diversity, we will never see an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposals for the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the UK oil refining sector.

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

At present, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism does not include refined oil products .

In December 2025 the European Commission published further detail on their future plans for the CBAM, including the possibility of including refined products in scope at a future date. The UK Government committed in November 2025 to considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the UK CBAM in future.

We continue to monitor the progress of the EU CBAM closely and encourage the EU to continue to engage with affected businesses to minimise the impact on trade, and to recognise and support industries working hard to decarbonise.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to include the UK oil refining sector in the scope of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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. The government recognises that refineries play a role in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. Government Ministers are holding a roundtable with the refining sector this month and will also publish a call for evidence on the fuel sector shortly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made on considering the feasibility and impact of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

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. The government recognises that refineries play a role in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. Government Ministers are holding a roundtable with the refining sector this month and will also publish a call for evidence on the fuel sector shortly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government response to the Improving biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development consultation will set out plans for addressing concerns regarding misapplication of the de minimis exemption.

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

A full consultation response and impact assessment to the Biodiversity Net Gain small, medium and brownfield development consultation will be published soon. This will set out whether any changes will be made to the de minimis exemption alongside the introduction of the new 0.2-hectare area exemption.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of misapplication of the de minimis exemption on the rollout of biodiversity net gain obligations.

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

A full consultation response and impact assessment to the Biodiversity Net Gain small, medium and brownfield development consultation will be published soon. This will set out whether any changes will be made to the de minimis exemption alongside the introduction of the new 0.2-hectare area exemption.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of false applications for the de minimis exemption on delays within the planning system.

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

A full consultation response and impact assessment to the Biodiversity Net Gain small, medium and brownfield development consultation will be published soon. This will set out whether any changes will be made to the de minimis exemption alongside the introduction of the new 0.2-hectare area exemption.

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.

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

Grok AI generation and dissemination of sexually explicit and non-consensual images of women and children on X

Newborn bloodspot screening for spinal muscular atrophy

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

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

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

Found: Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Blake Stephenson; 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