Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has made of the potential impact of moving to a volunteer-with-expenses model for Coastguard Rescue Officers from September 2026 on recruitment, retention and operational readiness in Northern Ireland.

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

Plans to move the Coastguard Rescue Service to an expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead.

We will now take time to gather the robust information required to understand the full operational implications of future decisions, as well as the impact on individual Coastguard Rescue Officers (CRO) and the choices they will make. This will involve engaging with CROs directly and ensuring that their views inform the decisions that we will take on the shape of the Coastguard Rescue Service.

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 potential financial impact of not uprating the State Pension for recipients living in countries without a reciprocal social security agreement on pensioners in those countries; and whether he plans to review this policy.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no plans to change this policy.

National Insurance contributions and credits determine whether, and at what level, a person is entitled to State Pension. They do not determine whether a State Pension paid overseas is uprated each year. Overseas uprating depends on the country in which the pensioner lives and whether the UK has a legal basis for uprating there.

Uprating is based on levels of earnings growth and price inflation in the UK which has no direct relevance where the pensioner is resident overseas.

This approach has been supported by successive governments, over many years with priority given to those living in the UK when drawing up expenditure plans for pensioner benefits, and this policy has been upheld in courts.

Information about the impact on State Pensions of moving abroad is available on Gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the equity of applying different State Pension uprating rules to pensioners based on country of residence for identical levels of National Insurance contributions.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. There are no plans to change this policy.

National Insurance contributions and credits determine whether, and at what level, a person is entitled to State Pension. They do not determine whether a State Pension paid overseas is uprated each year. Overseas uprating depends on the country in which the pensioner lives and whether the UK has a legal basis for uprating there.

Uprating is based on levels of earnings growth and price inflation in the UK which has no direct relevance where the pensioner is resident overseas.

This approach has been supported by successive governments, over many years with priority given to those living in the UK when drawing up expenditure plans for pensioner benefits, and this policy has been upheld in courts.

Information about the impact on State Pensions of moving abroad is available on Gov.uk.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the £10 million England fund to cover the travel costs of children with cancer was calculated; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the fund across the UK.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she received on 10 February in response to Question 110553, and I repeat that the Department continues to work closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations to share expertise in this area, and identify new opportunities to improve health and social care delivery across the United Kingdom.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether families in Northern Ireland are eligible for the £10 million cancer travel fund for children.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she received on 10 February in response to Question 110553, and I repeat that the Department continues to work closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations to share expertise in this area, and identify new opportunities to improve health and social care delivery across the United Kingdom.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on providing Barnett consequential funding to the Northern Ireland Executive to support a domestic heat pump scheme comparable to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, including for air-to-air technology.

Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)

The NI Executive will be provided with Barnett consequential funding as a result of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Any additional Barnett from this or other funding measures will be confirmed at the Autumn Budget.

It is for the Executive to decide how they allocate this additional funding in line with their strategic priorities.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of issues with the identity verification process with Companies House, particularly the impact on charities.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The identity verification requirements introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 apply only to charities that are incorporated as companies limited by guarantee. In these circumstances, trustees are required to verify their identity as company directors.

Companies House provides support to assist individuals in completing the identity verification process, including trustees of charitable companies, and monitor user insight to inform continuous improvement of their guidance and services.

Trustees of Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) are not required to verify their identity for Companies House purposes, as CIOs are not incorporated or registered under the Companies Act framework.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he is taking steps to streamline the identity verification process with Companies House.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Companies House designed its identity verification process to enable individuals to meet the requirements of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 while minimising burdens on business wherever possible.

Identity verification is generally a one-off process, as the unique personal code received can be reused to confirm the verified status across multiple roles and appointments.

Companies House has continued to improve its digital services and customer guidance in response to user feedback and insight. It is working closely with GOV.UK One Login, which is exploring new ways for individuals to prove their identity using a wider range of evidence.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department's recognition of air-to-air heat pumps as a qualifying technology under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will be reflected in (a) guidance and (b) encouragement to devolved governments to adopt a similarly technology-neutral approach to domestic heat pump support.

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

The Warm Homes Plan set out measures to support the deployment of air-to-air heat pumps, including providing grants under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and removing other barriers to uptake. The BUS is only available to eligible properties in England and Wales.

Each of the devolved governments have developed their own strategies that will contribute to the UK meeting its Net Zero emissions targets. Individual Net Zero targets have also been set in legislation by the devolved governments.

The UK Government will continue working closely with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, recognising their different needs and responsibilities.

Stem cell transplant policy

Political donations and campaign finance regulation

Prohibiting Members of Parliament from having paid second jobs

Cancer and access to travel insurance

Moratorium on new AI data centres

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Chris Bloore; Sorcha Eastwood; Simon Hoare

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Chris Bloore; Sorcha Eastwood; Simon Hoare

Found: Current membership Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour; Gower) (Chair) Chris Bloore (Labour; Redditch) Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Current membership Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour; Gower) (Chair) Chris Bloore (Labour; Redditch) Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Sorcha Eastwood; Claire Hanna; Simon Hoare

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Sorcha Eastwood; Claire Hanna; Simon Hoare