Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on (a) the annual increase in the cost of mobile data for consumers, (b) the consumer protections available in relation to such increases and (c) the impact of flat-rate price increases on consumers on lower-priced tariffs.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Government engages regularly with Ofcom on consumer issues. This includes, most recently, on Ofcom’s recent changes to annual in-contract price increases rules.

Under Ofcom’s rules, providers must set out clearly, before a contract is agreed, how and when any price changes will occur, and that this must be in plain English and presented pounds-and-pence terms. If prices rise by more than was agreed at the point of sale, consumers can end the contract without penalty

On 31 October, the Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom setting out the government’s expectations on transparency, consumer empowerment and support for those who may be struggling with telecoms costs. Ofcom has agreed to undertake an interim review of the January 2025 pounds-and-pence rules, ahead of a full review in 2027.

Government recognises that the impact of flat‑rate price increases on lower‑priced tariffs increases can have a proportionately greater effect on consumers. We continue to engage with Ofcom and industry on how pricing can be made as transparent as possible, and on how consumers can be supported to make informed choices, and switch more easily at the end of their contracts. If a customer does want to move to another provider, under One Touch Switching, this is now easier, including through text‑to‑switch.

We continue to engage with Ofcom and monitor the market.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people were unemployed for over last 12 months in (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of those people were unemployed for 18 months or more in each month.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 30th January is attached.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what outcome measures will be used to assess the first phase of the Job Guarantee rollout, and when the Department plans to publish the results.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

As a part of our recent publication on the Jobs Guarantee, the department has published a draft Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) which outlines expected outcome measures that will be used to assess grants administered under phase one of the scheme.

Schedule 4, Part B of this draft GFA outlines the expected outputs and outcomes that may be assessed in Phase One of the scheme. Final outputs and outcomes will form part of final grant funding agreements made with successful grant applicants.

We will monitor performance throughout the first phase to inform the delivery of the national roll out later in 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce clinical guidance on pica.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Topics for new or updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance are considered through an established prioritisation process. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by a prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s chief medical officer.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out how his Department will ensure that jobs under the Jobs Guarantee scheme are additional, including whether they represent newly created roles or existing vacancies.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Eligible young people participating in the scheme are likely to have multiple barriers and complex needs which may have prevented them from securing employment. The scheme will break the cycle of unemployment by guaranteeing meaningful paid employment opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

It is a requirement of the Jobs Guarantee scheme that jobs created or sourced under the scheme do not cause existing employees or contractors to be displaced, dismissed, or to have their hours reduced.

Scottish Opera founder Sir Alexander Gibson's 100th birthday

Deregistration of international non-governmental organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

150th anniversary of Partick Thistle Football Club

90th anniversary of the Spitfire

Buying community energy locally

Found: Maureen Burke; Harriet Cross; Dave Doogan; Lillian Jones; Mr Angus MacDonald; Douglas McAllister; Susan Murray