Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to encourage the use of UK‑produced steel (a) across central government, (b) within the wider public sector, (c) by private sector companies in receipt of government procurement contracts and (d) across the rest of the private sector.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government’s Steel Strategy sets out our ambition to see much more UK-made steel used across public and private projects, whilst respecting our legal obligations.
For central government procurement, it is now a requirement that UK made steel is considered, as procurers must consult a digital catalogue of UK made steel products before making decisions. We also publish a steel pipeline annually, which provides a signal to the market by highlighting future opportunities in central government projects.
For offshore wind projects, we have reformed the Clean Industry Bonus to create new incentives for manufacturers to invest in UK steel in domestic wind turbines and wind farms.
We continue to work with other government departments to identify more opportunities for the use of UK made steel.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he will respond to Question 109579 tabled on 29 January 2026.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
A response has been issued here.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he will respond to Question 109580 tabled on 29 January 2026.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
A response has been issued here.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to increase the domestic production of silicon computer chips; and if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for national security of current levels of domestic computer chip production.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises that computer chips are vital to our economy, critical sectors, and national security. However, the complexity and variety of semiconductors make it impossible for any one country to achieve supply chain autonomy.
Through the Industrial Strategy, we are taking targeted action to support the UK semiconductor sector where we have internationally recognised strengths to promote growth, enhance national security, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Given the global nature of supply chains, the UK works closely with international partners, both bilaterally and through multilateral fora, to ensure the UK has access to the critical chips it requires.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her department last assessed the financial penalty for driving without insurance; and what assessment was made of the costs of purchasing insurance relative to the costs of paying a fine.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government recognises that motor insurance premiums have increased, while the fines for driving uninsured have remained the same.
We want to ensure that there are the right incentives in place, and that is why, as part of our new Road Safety Strategy we are consulting on changes to the motoring offences including consideration of whether the minimum penalties for the offence of driving uninsured should be increased.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving all of the UK-wide Protection Command responsibilities of the Metropolitan Police into the new National Police Service.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” sets out the Government’s proposals on the National Police Service. Further details will be set out in legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential merits of incorporating the Civil Nuclear Constabulary into the National Police Service.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” sets out the Government’s proposals on the National Police Service. Further details will be set out in legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent legislative steps she has taken to protect marine life.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to protecting and improving the marine environment at home and internationally to meet the global commitment to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.
The Government introduced legislation on 10 September 2025 to enable the UK to implement its obligations under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and move towards ratification. The Act received Royal Assent on 12 February. Further secondary legislation will be required before the BBNJ Agreement can be ratified by the UK. This will happen when the parliamentary timetable allows. Under the BBNJ Agreement, the Conference of the Parties can establish area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas, in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Once we have ratified the Agreement, as a Party the UK will be able to participate fully in decisions on the establishment of such tools.
We continue to take legislative and non-legislative steps to protect our domestic marine environments.
The Marine Recovery Fund was established on 17 December 2025 with secondary legislation laid on the same date. The MRF’s aim is to help accelerate decision-making within the planning and consenting process for offshore wind, while delivering effective compensation to protect the marine environment. Government has also laid secondary legislation on 26 February to create a more flexible approach to environmental compensation for offshore wind, whilst also unlocking opportunities for nature recovery at scale.
In June 2025, the Marine Management Organisation launched a consultation proposing plans to limit bottom trawling in a further 41 MPAs, covering 30,000 sq km of England’s waters. Defra also launched a consultation on proposed changes to the marine licensing process. Defra and the Marine Management Organisation are carefully considering all responses received before making any decisions on future legislation.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Resilience Action Plan sets out the government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Officials from the department regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national security and defence.
The department is actively supporting this work. Officials in the department are in regular discussions with the Ministry of Defence and other government departments about the critical role children and young people play.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel, who were serving as of 01 January 2026, had legacy accruals under (a) AFPS75 and (b) AFPS05.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As of 1 January 2026, 22,600 Armed Forces personnel had legacy pension accruals under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS75), and 38,115 had accruals under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS05).