Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on expanding Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts, as recommended by the Independent Sentencing Review.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
This Government is committed to enhancing support for victims of domestic abuse and improving the criminal court’s response to domestic abuse cases.
In our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Government committed to rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders – our strongest order yet for domestic abuse - across England and Wales. We are also introducing a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases to enable police, prisons and probation to more consistently identify domestic abuse offenders. This Government has also made trauma-informed training available to all HMCTS court staff, helping them to better understand domestic abuse and apply trauma-informed practice in their interactions with victims.
We are actively considering how to expand the use of Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts in the criminal division as part of our wider work to improve outcomes for victims of domestic abuse, in response to recommendations made by the Independent Sentencing Review.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for publishing the eligibility requirements for the new named sponsorship routes.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The named community sponsorship route will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors later this autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards.
Further details of the new route, including eligibility requirements, will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value is of the Barnett consequential arising for the Northern Ireland Executive from the additional 20% business rates relief for pubs, clubs and live music venues announced on 23 July 2026.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Barnett formula applies when UK Government departmental DEL budgets formally change, not when new policy or funding is announced.
Any Barnett consequentials for the Northern Ireland Executive resulting from changes to business rates revenues in England will be confirmed when business rates forecasts change at the next fiscal event.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of AI data centres on the environment.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
DSIT engages regularly with DEFRA, the Environment Agency and DESNZ, to discuss the impact of AI data centres on the environment. Through the AI Energy Council, the Government is assessing and promoting energy efficiency and clean power solutions.
DSIT will also publish a National Policy Statement, which will establish clear expectations on the design and environmental considerations for data centres seeking development consent through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects planning process.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the development of AI data centres on local energy and water resources.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology engages regularly with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure the UK energy system supports the UK’s growing digital and AI‑driven demand. DSIT also engages closely with DEFRA and the Environment Agency, recognising the need to ensure AI infrastructure does not compromise the resilience of public water supplies.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the import and sale of plastic flying rings.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent plastic and other litter from reaching the ocean in the first place.
The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations. However, investigations of seal strandings conducted through the Government-funded Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) record and assess causes of seal injury and mortality, including cases involving marine litter. There have been no recorded instances of seal fatalities due to flying rings since routine seal mortality investigations were added into the CSIP in 2022.
Defra's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code for England provides guidance on how to act responsibly around marine wildlife when visiting the coast, including the need for the public to take all litter home with them.
We would encourage anyone who sees a sick, injured or entangled seal to contact the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546. To report a dead seal, contact the CSIP on 0800 652 0333.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent plastic and other litter from reaching the ocean in the first place.
The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations. However, investigations of seal strandings conducted through the Government-funded Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) record and assess causes of seal injury and mortality, including cases involving marine litter. There have been no recorded instances of seal fatalities due to flying rings since routine seal mortality investigations were added into the CSIP in 2022.
Defra's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code for England provides guidance on how to act responsibly around marine wildlife when visiting the coast, including the need for the public to take all litter home with them.
We would encourage anyone who sees a sick, injured or entangled seal to contact the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546. To report a dead seal, contact the CSIP on 0800 652 0333.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that charities for women and girls have updated their charitable purposes in line with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is working at pace to update its guidance for charities to ensure it aligns with the new code when it is published by Parliament. As charities can have any combination of charitable purposes or stated beneficiaries, detailed guidance on the intersection of charity law with equalities legislation will help trustees make lawful decisions in the best interests of their charity.
While the new code awaits Parliamentary approval, charities can assess its implications for their work and, if necessary, take legal advice on any action needed to ensure compliance with the law.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the absence of a registered Treaty of Union between the Republic of Cameroon and the Southern Cameroons under Article 102 of the UN Charter.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has historically recognised the outcome of the 1961 UN-organised plebiscite, in which the territories now forming the North-West and South-West regions voted to join the Republic of Cameroon, as endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1608(XV).
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the status of Southern Cameroon following the 2009 African Commission ruling in Gunme v Cameroon.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has historically recognised the outcome of the 1961 UN-organised plebiscite, in which the territories now forming the North-West and South-West regions voted to join the Republic of Cameroon, as endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1608(XV).