Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children injured in Gaza as a result of the conflict have been brought to the UK for medical treatment; and what steps he is taking to support other Palestinian children who may benefit from receiving treatment in the UK.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Members to My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s Written Statement to the House on 1 September 2025, available at the following link:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-09-01/hcws899

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 3 September 2025, Official Report, column 166WH, what the (a) cost, (b) terms of reference, (c) delivery schedule and (d) contractor was for the research she has commissioned on pavement parking.

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

My officials are in discussion with suppliers to determine the terms of reference for the current work in accordance with Government procurement requirements. They expect to issue the formal specification shortly. Given there are no existing measures of pavement parking, I anticipate this will include preparatory work to create the data-collection methods to be used, followed by a second phase which will be the data-collection fieldwork itself. Costs, and timelines will be finalised during the procurement process. Findings will be published as early as possible and no later than 12 weeks after the final outputs from the data collection stage are agreed in accordance with the Government Social Research Publication Protocol.

This research seeks to measure the extent of pavement parking and its impacts and provide a baseline so that whichever policy we implement can be evaluated. It will not delay any policy announcement nor the publication of my Department’s formal response to the previous Government’s 2020 consultation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to expand the provision of high occupancy vehicle lanes in England.

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

Decisions on the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes in England are a matter for individual local highway authorities, and the Government currently has no plans to expand or encourage their use.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to further restrict the (a) sale or (b) use of (i)perfluorooctanoic acid and (ii) products which contain it.

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

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and related compounds are already banned in the UK under the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation 2019/1021, as amended. That legislation prohibits the manufacturing, placing on the market and use of POPs, including PFOA.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated cost of maintaining the freeze on fuel duty is in (a) 2024-2025 and (b) the five-year Parliamentary term.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, fuel duty was frozen at the current rate of 52.95 pence per litre for 2025/26, at a projected cost of £3,015m in 2025/26. The OBR estimated in its March 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook that if the duty rate were to remain unchanged at its current level throughout the forecast period it would reduce receipts, on average, by £3.8 billion a year between 2026/27 and 2029/30.

Fuel duty was also frozen for 2024/25 by the previous government at Spring Budget 2024, at a projected cost of £3,090m in 2024/25.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61693 on Driving Licences: Health, what the DVLA’s planned timeframe is for the introduction of the new strategic system to process medical cases.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s new system to process medical cases is being delivered in three phases and is scheduled to be fully operational by March 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of wealth taxes on national economies in countries where they exist.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.

According to the latest OECD data, the UK raises more from taxing wealth both in revenue, and as a proportion of its tax base, than Spain, Switzerland, and Norway.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has had discussions with private pension schemes on ensuring that people who have made contributions to defined benefit private pensions are able to benefit from a pension surplus.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department for Work and Pensions consulted on surplus release from defined benefit pensions schemes last year. Throughout the consultation, and in developing the consultation response and the Pension Schemes Bill, the Department has engaged with pension schemes, representatives of their members, sponsoring employers and trustees. We recognise the valuable perspectives of stakeholder groups.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Pensions Regulator on the effectiveness of the steps it is taking to ensure the independence of pensions trustee bodies.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department works closely with the Pensions Regulator (TPR) to ensure that pension scheme trustees always act in the interests of all beneficiaries.

All pension scheme trustees have the same duties and responsibilities and must comply with the law and the rules of their scheme. All pension schemes are required by legislation and the Regulator’s General Code of Practice to have processes in place to identify and manage conflicts of interest.

TPR’s corporate plan outlines the importance of good governance as a foundation of the pensions system and their priority to raise standards of trusteeship. The plan outlines their core delivery objectives in 2025 to 2026 to develop a new strategy for raising the standards of trusteeship and expand their market oversight to the largest professional trustee firms. DWP continues to regularly review TPR’s delivery against its corporate plan through its sponsorship arrangements.

The Government recognises the vital role trustees play in running occupational pension schemes and will consult on matters to improve trusteeship and governance later this year.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of gambling legislation in protecting young people from gambling-related harm.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We are committed to implementing gambling white paper legislative measures and to evaluating these measures effectively. As part of this, we introduced a £2 online slots stake limit for 18-24 year olds in May this year, a targeted-harm reduction measure for a high risk product. We have committed to review these measures within five years, or earlier if there is evidence to do so.

We have also introduced a statutory gambling levy. 30% of levy funding will be allocated to prevention activity, including education and early intervention to help protect young people from gambling-related harm.

We are also assessing white paper measures through an ongoing evaluation, and will publish the final report on the impact of these measures in due course. In parallel we will continue to monitor the best available evidence to inform how we protect young people from gambling harm amongst children and young people.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what meetings he has held with the offshore energy sector to discuss incentivising investment in the UK.

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

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of UK's offshore energy regulatory framework on levels of investment.

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

The clean energy transition creates an opportunity for our expert offshore industry and workers to play a central role in the next generation of energy supply. Our commitments to deliver clean power by 2030 and to accelerate to net zero will guarantee our country’s energy security and create jobs, with gas continuing to play an important role in ensuring security of supply during the clean power transition.

Together, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and the upcoming response to 'Building the North Sea's Energy Future' consultation provide a clear mission to drive investment certainty. These plans ensure the UK becomes a global leader in clean energy innovation, supply chains, manufacturing and deployment.

We have directly responded to the investment and regulatory barriers prohibiting growth for the sector. Measures include £5.8bn National Wealth Fund for high-cost infrastructure and ports investment; Clean Industry Bonus expansion; £1bn GBE Supply Chain Fund, planning and consenting reform; and targeted R&D funding.

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 barriers to investment in offshore energy in the UK.

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

The clean energy transition creates an opportunity for our expert offshore industry and workers to play a central role in the next generation of energy supply. Our commitments to deliver clean power by 2030 and to accelerate to net zero will guarantee our country’s energy security and create jobs, with gas continuing to play an important role in ensuring security of supply during the clean power transition.

Together, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and the upcoming response to 'Building the North Sea's Energy Future' consultation provide a clear mission to drive investment certainty. These plans ensure the UK becomes a global leader in clean energy innovation, supply chains, manufacturing and deployment.

We have directly responded to the investment and regulatory barriers prohibiting growth for the sector. Measures include £5.8bn National Wealth Fund for high-cost infrastructure and ports investment; Clean Industry Bonus expansion; £1bn GBE Supply Chain Fund, planning and consenting reform; and targeted R&D funding.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what incentives he is considering to stimulate investment in the UK's offshore energy sector.

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

The clean energy transition creates an opportunity for our expert offshore industry and workers to play a central role in the next generation of energy supply. Our commitments to deliver clean power by 2030 and to accelerate to net zero will guarantee our country’s energy security and create jobs, with gas continuing to play an important role in ensuring security of supply during the clean power transition.

Together, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and the upcoming response to 'Building the North Sea's Energy Future' consultation provide a clear mission to drive investment certainty. These plans ensure the UK becomes a global leader in clean energy innovation, supply chains, manufacturing and deployment.

We have directly responded to the investment and regulatory barriers prohibiting growth for the sector. Measures include £5.8bn National Wealth Fund for high-cost infrastructure and ports investment; Clean Industry Bonus expansion; £1bn GBE Supply Chain Fund, planning and consenting reform; and targeted R&D funding.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with open access passenger service operators on the potential impact of the Railway Bill on their operating model.

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

DfT officials have regularly engaged Open Access operators, alongside other stakeholders, to provide both updates regarding proposed reforms and to invite their feedback. This includes engagement around the recent consultation on the Railways Bill, and the Department is now considering the responses received.

It should also be noted that my Department remains committed to a role for Open Access in the reformed rail sector, providing competition to Great British Railways and choice for passengers. However, Open Access must genuinely add value and not simply inhibit the efficient operation of the network or divert revenue from existing operators – all of which are currently supported by the taxpayer in some form.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with freight operators on the potential impact of the Railway Bill on their operating model.

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

The Rail Minister meets regularly with the freight operators and the Railways Bill has been a subject of discussion on a number of occasions. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the Gov.uk website via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-transparency-data#meetings.

In addition, officials meet regularly with the freight operators and have provided updates on the Bill. There have also been workshops for operators on specific aspects of the Bill.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans she has to replace fuel duty.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Fuel duty is projected to raise £24.4bn in 2025/26 and will continue to remain in place. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned increase in line with inflation for 2025/26.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of workers residing in the country without legal permission or valid immigration status employed by food delivery companies.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not hold an estimate of the number of people working illegally in the gig economy. The recent joint work between the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office explains the complexities: Measuring illegal migration: our current view - Office for National Statistics.

The government takes illegal working very seriously, and we are determined to clamp down on the employment of individuals with no right to work in the UK.

In July 2025, the Home Office announced a new operational partnership with key food delivery companies to tackle illegal working in the gig economy, particularly among food delivery riders.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Royal Norwegian Navy's decision to procure 5 Type 26 frigates from the UK on Scotland's economy.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Norway’s decision to procure five Type 26 frigates from the UK will deliver a significant economic boost to Scotland. The historic £10 billion deal cements Scotland’s position as a world leader in naval shipbuilding and strengthens our strategic partnership with a key NATO ally.

The deal will secure around 2,000 highly skilled jobs at BAE Systems in Glasgow, with a further 2,000 roles sustained across the wider UK supply chain until the late 2030s. More than 100 Scottish businesses, including over 50 small and medium sized enterprises, are expected to benefit from this major partnership.

This contract represents another 'defence dividend' for Scotland, supporting thousands of jobs and reinforcing Scotland's vital contribution to UK prosperity and security. The deal shows that when we back Scottish industry, it delivers for communities, workers, our economy and our allies.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he had with the Royal Norwegian Navy before it announced its decision to procure 5 Type 26 frigates from the UK.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Norway's decision to choose Scottish-built Type 26 frigates demonstrates the success of our shipbuilding industry and the world-class skills and expertise of the workforce on the Clyde. This is the defence dividend in action for Scotland.

The Scotland Office has actively supported the Type 26 campaign both at home and abroad. Last year, the previous Secretary of State for Scotland attended a meeting with the Norwegian Defence Minister, hosted by my Rt Hon Friend the Defence Secretary, and invited the Norwegian Ambassador and Defence Attache to join him at the RAF Distinguished Visitors Day onboard HMS Prince of Wales, observing the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and visited Oslo to meet Norwegian Ministers and the defence contractor Kongsberg.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I will continue to proudly champion Scotland’s world-class shipbuilding and wider defence sector, ensuring it remains central to both the UK’s defence capability and wider economic growth.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the increased use of Car Clubs.

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

Officials have met with Car Clubs as part of wider engagement on the Motor Insurance Taskforce. The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (VETS) Order offers bonus ZEV Mandate credits to vehicle manufacturers who sell zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) to car clubs. The Government is driving forward the expansion of public charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can confidently make the switch to an electric vehicle. The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. And we are continuing to invest, with £400m announced at the spending review to support EV infrastructure out to 2030.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help increase the return on investment from pension savings.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

This house legislated to auto-enrol millions of employees into pension saving and the onus is on us to ensure they get the best possible returns.

The Pension Schemes Bill will do exactly that, via bigger, better pension schemes, a value for money framework and tackling small pots.

Average earner savings over their working life could have their pension pot boosted by £29,000.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of government funding for Global Citizenship Education in England on the provision of Global Citizenship Education programmes.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The Scottish Government is responsible for schools and teaching in Scotland, including any decisions about Global Citizenship Education programmes.

In England the national curriculum for citizenship education covers democracy, justice and human rights; media and financial literacy; and how citizens can influence decisions.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which seeks to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that equips young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive in life and work. The Review will publish its final report in autumn 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the membership and terms of reference of the Rail Engagement Group.

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

As part of our manifesto commitment to reset industrial relations, the Government is looking to establish the Rail Engagement Group (REG). It is intended that the REG will bring together leaders from the Department for Transport, rail industry and trade unions for strategic discussions about the railway, as we move towards establishing Great British Railways.

Individuals have recently been invited to join the REG. The group’s membership will be published on gov.uk after it has been confirmed. The terms of reference will be published once agreed by the REG.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to ensure that rail workers maintain their (a) pay and (b) working conditions when their rail company is moved into public ownership.

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

As rail passenger services are transferred into public ownership, staff employed by the privately-owned operator transfer to the public sector operator in accordance with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations, protecting their contractual terms and conditions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she plans to have discussions with unions ahead of rail companies being taken into public ownership.

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

The Department and DFT Operator have regular discussions with trade unions on a range of topics, including the public ownership programme. Officials engage with trade unions throughout the transfer process, from the point of confirming when a train operator’s services will transfer into public ownership through to the transfer date and beyond.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure UK companies are not involved in the E1 Settlement Plan for the Occupied West Bank.

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

I refer the honourable Member to the answer provided on 3 September to Question 71442.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the increased use of (a) car-pooling and (b) lift sharing.

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

I am carefully considering how we can support and promote car club and car-sharing schemes. The Government already supports car clubs with bonus credits in the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate and guidance for local authorities on charging for car clubs. As I set out in response to a topical question from the Member for Brentford and Isleworth on 11 September, I will hold a roundtable with industry stakeholders in the near future to inform these considerations.

Bobcat Alpacas' fundraising for Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh

First Hailes Quarry junior parkrun

City Cabs 100th anniversary

20th anniversary of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust

University of St Andrews support for the Blue Carbon Action Plan

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Olly Glover

Found: (Labour; Brentford and Isleworth) (Chair) Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat; North Norfolk) Dr Scott Arthur

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Mrs Elsie

Found: Questions 1-17 Representations made I: Dr Scott Arthur, Laurence Turner, Ruth Cadbury, Steff Aquarone

Found: Parliamentlive.tv - Transport Committee Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur

Found: _NC46 Alex Mayer Ruth Cadbury Siân Berry Dr Scott Arthur Steff Aquarone .

Found: _NC46 Alex Mayer Ruth Cadbury Siân Berry Dr Scott Arthur Steff Aquarone 27 REPORT STAGE Wednesday 10

Found: Not called_NC46 Alex Mayer Ruth Cadbury Siân Berry Dr Scott Arthur Steff Aquarone 27 REPORT STAGE Wednesday