Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an estimate of the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in fossil fuel-related holdings; and what plans she has to (a) encourage phased divestment from fossil fuels and (b) promote greater investment in climate solutions through the Pension Schemes Bill.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

While the Department does not hold data on the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in fossil fuels, our largest pension schemes are mandated to conduct climate scenario analysis and report on their climate-related financial risks, including those related to fossil fuels. This is done under the framework of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published guidance on climate-related reporting, reviewed how schemes are addressing climate risks, and provided feedback to the industry on areas for improvement. TPR reports that the UK pension sector is increasingly playing a role in tackling climate change, with many schemes setting net-zero targets and actively engaging with companies to reduce emissions.

This government is however not complacent and is determined to make the UK a clean energy superpower and meet our net zero goals. The government is currently consulting on the development of UK Sustainability Reporting Standards and our Transition Plans manifesto commitment. These measures aim to improve transparency and accountability across the economy, helping investors—including pension schemes—understand how climate and nature-related issues affect their portfolios. To support this, the Department for Work and Pensions is to undertake a review of the effectiveness of the climate reporting requirements this year considering feedback from stakeholders.

The reforms outlined in the Pensions Scheme Bill do not include a general requirement for pension schemes to divest from certain assets or industries. The larger, more consolidated system, for which we will legislate, will however be better equipped to manage systemic risks, as well as invest more in projects and businesses that support the shift towards a more sustainable and lower-carbon future.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of employment protections for individuals engaged on zero-hour contracts.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government does not believe that individuals engaged on zero-hours contracts currently benefit from sufficient employment protections.

The Government is addressing this through the Employment Rights Bill, by ensuring that employers have to offer qualifying workers guaranteed hours. The Bill will also require employers to offer shifts with reasonable notice and make cancellation payments if they cancel, move or curtail shifts at short notice.

This Government is introducing other landmark reforms in the Employment Rights Bill, including day one protection from unfair dismissal, better protection from sexual harassment and improved Statutory Sick Pay.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 5 March 2025 from the hon. Member for Mid Dunbartonshire, case reference CMPT12025-20534.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department aims to respond to all correspondences within 20 working days, but there may be instances where there is additional information needed that may cause delays. We are sorry for the length of time it has taken to reply to the Hon. Member. The response to their letter was sent on 18 July.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) devolved authorities and (b) regulatory bodies on the cross-border movement of industrial waste for land reclamation purposes.

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

Defra officials continue to engage with their counterparts in the devolved authorities on matters including the movement of waste. I recently met with Gillian Martain MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in the Scottish Government to discuss reports suggesting waste sent to landfill in Scotland may be diverted to landfill in England.

There are no additional controls on the movement of waste between England and the devolved nations, to those that apply to movements within the individual nations. In England and Wales, waste must be managed in accordance with the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice. Similar Codes of Practice apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Waste can only be transferred to a site that has the appropriate authorisation (eg. permit or exemption) to receive, treat or dispose of the waste.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of Liraglutide for patients with type 2 diabetes; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with a clinical need for GLP-1 agonists are able to access appropriate treatment when first-line options are unsuitable.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

One brand of liraglutide, Victoza, was discontinued in December 2024, although liraglutide injections remain available from other suppliers, who can support the full demand of the United Kingdom.

The Department was aware of supply issues with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including liraglutide, which have now been resolved. During this time, the Department worked intensively with the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and others in the supply chain to resolve these issues. We continue to monitor the supply of GLP-1 RAs closely to ensure these medicines remain available for patients.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza following the partial resumption of border crossings on 19 May 2025; and what steps the Government is taking to increase (a) access and (b) scale of aid.

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

We are appalled by the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine is now unfolding, as confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) on 29 July. This is unacceptable. We urge Israel to lift restrictions on aid access, as we stated to the UN Security Council on 16 July. While the Israeli Defence Force's "tactical pauses" are a necessary step, they are long overdue. Alongside 30 partners, we reiterated this call in a UK-led joint statement on 21 July. The Foreign Secretary emphasized to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 22 July the urgent need for safe, large-scale aid delivery and condemned civilian deaths at aid sites.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent decisions with his Israeli counterpart on the extension of the internment of Dr Abu Safiya.

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

I remain deeply disturbed by the ongoing detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and other medical staff from Gaza. We continue to call on Israel to clarify the reasons for the detention of Dr Abu Safiya and other medical personnel, and to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities.

I have specifically raised Dr Hussam Abu Safiya's case with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's ambassador to the UK. We are urging Israel to clarify the reasons for his detention, to allow medical workers to carry out their work safely and without hindrance, and to provide detainees with access to legal representation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any of the UK Government’s pledged aid to Syria in 2025 will be directed specifically to support (a) humanitarian or (b) reconstruction efforts in the Homs region.

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

The UK is committed to supporting those affected by humanitarian crises in Syria. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population are living in poverty. The UK works in close co-operation with other donors and the UN on assessments and analysis of humanitarian needs across Syria. We currently support humanitarian programmes in Homs through UK contributions to a UN pooled fund.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian needs in Homs, Syria; and whether any UK-funded aid programmes are currently operating in that region.

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

The UK is committed to supporting those affected by humanitarian crises in Syria. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population are living in poverty. The UK works in close co-operation with other donors and the UN on assessments and analysis of humanitarian needs across Syria. We currently support humanitarian programmes in Homs through UK contributions to a UN pooled fund.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to (a) his Israeli counterpart and (b) international humanitarian agencies on the entry of medical infant formula into Gaza.

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

We remain gravely concerned by the lack of adequate medical care in Gaza; nearly all Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed according to the World Health Organization. Humanitarian workers must be protected and medical and aid workers must be able to do their jobs safely. On 19 May, the UK released a joint donors statement with 26 other signatories on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for a full resumption of aid into Gaza and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 22 June to press Israel to restore humanitarian access. UK support has enabled the delivery of 1.3 million items of life-saving medicines, over 70,000 wound care packs and more than 500,000 patient consultations delivered through UK-Med. We have and will continue to press Israel to allow the entry of all necessary medical and nutritional supplies.

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

Found: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Dave Doogan; Lillian Jones; Mr Angus MacDonald; Douglas McAllister; Susan Murray

Found: Democrat; Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire) Douglas McAllister (Labour; West Dunbartonshire) Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: REPORT STAGE Wednesday 23 July 2025 2 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Wednesday 23 July 2025 4 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 18 July 2025 4 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 18 July 2025 2 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Thursday 17 July 2025 4 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Thursday 17 July 2025 2 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: REPORT STAGE Wednesday 16 July 2025 4 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Wednesday 16 July 2025 2 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: REPORT STAGE Tuesday 15 July 2025 4 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Tuesday 15 July 2025 2 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: Perteghella Luke Taylor Alison Bennett Dr Danny Chambers Mr Lee Dillon Mr Paul Kohler Ian Roome Susan Murray

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 11 July 2025 4 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 11 July 2025 2 _NC3 Mr Joshua Reynolds Pippa Heylings Susan Murray Rachel Gilmour

Found: Sarah Dyke Sorcha Eastwood Liz Jarvis Bell Ribeiro-Addy Martin Wrigley Manuela Perteghella Susan Murray