Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken any recent work with (a) her Department, (b) Heathrow Airport, (c) Network Rail and (d) others to make progress on the construction of a Western Rail Link to Heathrow.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since plans for expansion were paused in 2020, the CAA has not conducted any work in relation to a Western Rail link to Heathrow. Should any such plans emerge as part of fresh proposals for Heathrow expansion, the CAA would review the elements of those plans relevant to its role as economic regulator of Heathrow in accordance with its statutory duties.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK retains steelmaking capacity.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

National security is a top priority for this government. DBT are working closely with MOD and other Government Departments as we develop the Plan for Steel, the Defence Industrial Strategy, and the Strategic Defence Review respectively, to ensure that key government priorities are reflected across these strategies.

At the recent Business and Trade Committee on 26 March, along with the Minister for Defence, I emphasised the importance of retaining steelmaking capabilities in the UK with the Government providing up to £2.5bn for steel through the National Wealth Fund and other routes.

This is why we continue to work tirelessly to safeguard the future of Scunthorpe and protect its workers. We have made a generous offer to British Steel designed to achieve that.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the potential national security implications arising from the planned closure of Scunthorpe steelworks.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

National security is a top priority for this government. DBT are working closely with MOD and other Government Departments as we develop the Plan for Steel, the Defence Industrial Strategy, and the Strategic Defence Review respectively, to ensure that key government priorities are reflected across these strategies.

At the recent Business and Trade Committee on 26 March, along with the Minister for Defence, I emphasised the importance of retaining steelmaking capabilities in the UK with the Government providing up to £2.5bn for steel through the National Wealth Fund and other routes.

This is why we continue to work tirelessly to safeguard the future of Scunthorpe and protect its workers. We have made a generous offer to British Steel designed to achieve that.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing applicants to apply for lasting power of attorney without a (a) passport (b) driving license or (c) blue badge.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The current lasting power of attorney (LPA) system has significant safeguards but does not require identity verification. The Government plans to modernise the system and will introduce additional safeguards which include enabling the Office of the Public Guardian to carry out identity checks for the person making the LPA and their certificate provider. This aims to reduce the risk that an unknown party could obtain an LPA in another person’s name without their knowledge.

We are exploring a range of identity verification options to ensure access to LPAs for everyone eligible to make one. A passport or driving licence are examples of the documentation we are considering. Blue Badges are issued by Local Authorities and the lack of a central database of verified data means they are not appropriate for use as a means to prove identity.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40651 on Wales Office: Computers, what the median age is of computers issued to officials in the Wales Office.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

We are unable to provide the median age of laptop and desktop computers in the Wales Office due to the disproportionate amount of time it would take to calculate. However, our policy is to refresh laptops and desktop computers issued to officials every 4-5 years.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the median age is of computers issued to officials in their Department.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The median age of devices, since deployment, issued by Defra’s IT team to officials working in Defra, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Climate Change Committee, Environment Agency, Marine Management Organisation, Natural England and Rural Payments Agency is 3.2 years.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with universities on (a) support and (b) accommodations for students who receive a cancer diagnosis during their studies.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Slough to the answer of 29 March 2025 to Question 34303.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of recent trends in the levels of welding training courses available.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department supports learners who wish to have a career in welding through our technical education offer, with a range of high-quality qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities available at all levels. This includes the level 2 welder apprenticeship standard and the plate welder and pipe welder apprenticeship standards at level 3.

T Levels in engineering, manufacturing, processing and control are now being taught across the country, providing students with the core knowledge and skills in fabrication and welding technologies.

Welding is predominately a level 2 occupational entry point and, at level 1 and 2, there are seventeen qualifications in welding available to young people and adults, including two new reformed level 2 technical qualifications approved for funding from 1 August 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the enforcement of legislation relating to managed service companies on chartered providers of accountancy services.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The managed service companies legislation tackles specific tax avoidance arrangements that disguise employment in order to not pay the right tax. Ordinary tax advisory and accountancy services do not come within scope of these rules.

In November 2024, HMRC published Spotlight 67 explaining how the legislation works and what activities fall outside its scope.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on its enforcement powers relating to the non-consensual posting of intimate images.

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

The DSIT Secretary of State and officials regularly meet with Ofcom to discuss the Online Safety Act and enforcement.

The Online Safety Act gives platforms new duties to proactively tackle the most harmful content on their services. This includes intimate image abuse, which is a priority harm under the regulations. Ofcom has robust enforcement powers to sanction companies who do not comply with these new duties. It can require companies to take measures to return to compliance, impose substantial fines, or apply to the courts for business disruption measures.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on their role in delivering economic growth.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I meet with the Chair and the Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regularly to discuss a range of topics, including the role of the CAA in delivering economic growth. The government’s new Action Plan for regulators contains six regulatory pledges from the CAA, alongside the commitments the CAA made in their letter to the Prime Minister in January 2025. The CAA will also play an important role in the planned expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to help prevent online intimate image abuse.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in all of its forms, including when it takes place online, is a top priority for this Government. This is why we have set out an unprecedented ambition to halve it in a decade.

As of 17 March 2025, online platforms have new legal duties to assess the risk of illegal harms on their services and to take additional steps to tackle priority offences. These priority offences include sharing and threatening to share intimate images including 'deepfake' pornography without consent.

We have also announced our intention to legislate to make the creation of intimate images, including sexually explicit deepfake images, a criminal offence. In addition, Ofcom are required to produce guidance setting out how providers can take action on harmful content and activity that disproportionately affects women and girls. The consultation on their draft guidance is currently open and closes on 23 May 2025.

The Government is also funding the Revenge Porn Helpline. The helpline provides high-quality support and advice to victims of intimate image abuse, engages with law enforcement and other stakeholders to improve processes to respond to intimate image abuse, and raises awareness of the nature of intimate image abuse and the harm that it can cause.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence takes all aspects of security very seriously, and our AI and Security teams are working closely to ensure that the impact of AI on our work is positive and does not adversely affect security. We do not comment on details of security.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of AI in his Department on security.

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

Within the Department for Business and Trade we have produced an AI governance framework for how we use AI both internally and externally to ensure safe and effective use of AI. On our departmental risk register we have identified a number of risks associated with the use of AI in particular in relation to leakage of sensitive information or incorrect decisions being made on the back of outputs from AI outputs. Our mitigations to these risks include blocking non-approved AI tools and guidance to staff that all outputs from AI should be checked for accuracy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Use of AI in the Department for Transport falls into a number of categories, each with different security assessment requirements.

Where AI tools and services have been procured from third parties, the department’s supply chain assurance process ensures that security risks are considered and appropriately addressed.

For AI tools and services developed internally, these are deployed in a secure environment following review by data protection, information assurance and performance evaluation specialists.

In line with the Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government, staff in DfT are encouraged to make use of AI technology but DfT does not rely on AI for decision making. The 10 core principles outlined in this playbook ensure the appropriate use of AI within the OFFICIAL tier of government information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of constructing a western rail link to Heathrow Airport on (a) railway capacity on the Great Western Mainline between Paddington and Iver, (b) passenger numbers at Paddington station and (c) car use.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Any assessment of the impacts described would need to be carried out by the promoters of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow if it were to be required to support the expansion of the airport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential impact of constructing a western rail link to Heathrow airport on the Government's net zero targets.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I am advised that no discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero relating to the construction of a western rail link to Heathrow.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK government is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance public services safely and securely. The AI Playbook for the UK Government security section (p. 74) includes an assessment of the risks coming from the use of AI. The Playbook includes worked scenarios for AI use which detail potential impacts for the different types of risk. All AI services must adhere to Secure by Design principles and conduct risk assessments, including Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). The FCDO is working to ensure that it has appropriate security controls, policies, culture and capabilities to protect our information and our ability to operate and to develop these as the technology and the threat landscape evolves.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will transform diplomatic practice and FCDO's delivery, enhancing our diplomatic impact and increasing individual productivity and corporate efficiency. However, it will also create new and enhance existing cyber security threats. The FCDO is working to ensure that it has appropriate security controls, policies, culture and capabilities to protect our information and our ability to operate and to develop these as the technology and the threat landscape evolves. The FCDO has a dedicated and continuously evolving Risk Management capability within its Information and Cyber Security function.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of AI in his Department on security.

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

The UK government is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance public services securely. The AI Playbook for the UK Government (p. 74) includes an assessment of the risks coming from the use of AI. The Playbook includes worked scenarios for AI use which detail potential risk impacts. All AI services must adhere to Secure by Design principles and conduct risk assessments, including Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).

The Government Digital Service consults the AI Security Institute within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for specialist guidance when evaluating the security of AI-based tools.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to help increase the number of tourists from Canada.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The UK Government is committed to strengthening tourism ties with Canada, recognising its importance as a key inbound market. Travellers from Canada made 37.2 million outbound visits in 2023, with a total international tourism expenditure of US$38.3 billion. In 2023, the UK welcomed a record 1.0 million visits from Canada. During the travellers’ visits, their total expenditure was a record £969.6 million, with an average spend of £966 per visit.

DCMS works closely with VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, to promote the UK as a top destination for Canadian visitors. For example, VisitBritain has launched a new international marketing campaign this year - Starring Great Britain - to ensure that tourism remains a key driver of economic growth across the country.

Additionally, the UK’s expansion of the Youth Mobility Scheme with Canada from 2024 allows more young Canadians to live and work in the UK, generating deeper cultural connections and encouraging repeat visits.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK government is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance public services safely and securely. The AI Playbook for the UK Government security section (p. 74) includes an assessment of the risks coming from the use of AI. The Playbook includes worked scenarios for AI use which detail potential impacts for the different types of risk. All AI services must adhere to Secure by Design principles and conduct risk assessments, including Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).

All use of AI in the department is considered carefully. We conduct assurance of AI tools in line with industry guidance and regulatory standards for AI, including HMG AI frameworks.

The department has completed a range of assessments against various AI solutions based on a robust risk and assurance process. Where risks have been identified, the department has put appropriate adjustments in place to minimise those risks.

Found: Abrahams; Tonia Antoniazzi; Ruth Cadbury; Sarah Champion; Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown; Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

Found: Current membership Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour; Slough) (Chair) Mr Calvin Bailey (Labour; Leyton

Found: Current membership Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour; Slough) (Chair) Mr Calvin Bailey (Labour; Leyton

Found: Clifton-Brown (Conservative; North Cotswolds) Alberto Costa (Conservative; South Leicestershire) Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Mr Calvin Bailey; Alex Baker;

Found: raised during second reading, is set out in section 5.111 The then Shadow Transport Minister, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi