Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the (a) establishment and (b) ongoing administration of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office will lay IBCA's annual reports and accounts before Parliament in the usual way. The Cabinet Office will expect to be consulted by IBCA where there is a risk that IBCA will breach its administrative cost controls, or vary significantly from the agreed business plan.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the funding allocated to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is drawn from the £11.8 billion set aside by the Government for infected blood compensation or provided from a separate budget.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

In the Autumn Budget, the Government announced £11.8 billion in compensation to people who were infected and affected as a result of the Infected Blood scandal.

This is separate to the funding allocated to the administrative costs of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the equality impact assessments undertaken in relation to the development of regulations on infected blood compensation.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025 Equalities Impact Assessment can be found here:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348268843/pdfs/ukdsipes_9780348268843_en_001.pdf.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that crypto asset businesses have access to banking systems.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is aware that cryptoasset firms are facing challenges associated with access to banking services, and it is engaged with the sector on these matters.

Whilst the Government recognises that access to banking decisions are largely commercial in nature, we expect business to be treated fairly. That is why the Government has already taken action in this space, including bringing forward legislation to enhance relevant protections in cases where a business has their bank account terminated by their provider.

The Government is also currently finalising legislation to create a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK. Under this regime, firms will need to be licensed by the FCA to provide relevant cryptoasset services in or to the UK, and the Government would not expect such licensed firms to be subject to restrictions by banking services providers simply because of the sector they belong to.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is planning to take to (a) consult further with the infected blood community and (b) involve that community in the development of the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

This Government is committed to engaging openly and transparently, and taking on board feedback from the infected blood community. The Cabinet Office regularly engages with over 30 key representatives and organisations in the community. I have met with a number of these representatives several times and will continue to do so.

The Government will consider the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Additional Report carefully, and respond in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the practice by video game publishers of remotely disabling access to games that consumers have legally purchased on consumer rights.

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

The Government is aware of concerns relating to the continued access to video games, including licensed, online-only video games, and we appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has responded to a recent petition on this issue.

There are no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs), giving clear advice to consumers. Video game sellers must not omit or hide material information, or provide it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to take steps to protect digital ownership.

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

The Government is taking steps to protect digital ownership by introducing the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill. This Bill confirms that digital assets such as crypto-tokens can be recognised as personal property under the law of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. This clearer legal recognition will provide greater certainty and legal protection for individuals and businesses who hold or transact with these assets, including in cases of theft, insolvency, inheritance, and when used as security for loans.

Justice is a devolved matter in Scotland, which has a distinct legal tradition in property law. The Scottish Government has been consulting separately on the recognition of digital assets as property under Scots law.

David Maxwell Fyfe

British companies and the transportation of Russian liquefied natural gas

Found: Kelly Foy (Labour; City of Durham) Gill Furniss (Labour; Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough) Tracy Gilbert

Found: Kelly Foy (Labour; City of Durham) Gill Furniss (Labour; Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough) Tracy Gilbert

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Submit Evidence (by 25 Aug 2025)

Nigeria was the sixth largest recipient of UK Official Development Assistance in 2023 with over £100m allocated. This was a reduction from third place in 2022 when it received £110m. As of 2024, Nigeria had by far the largest population in Africa and one of the highest population growth rates. Nigeria is the fourth largest economy in Africa and has a diaspora numbering hundreds of thousands living in the UK.