Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she plans to take to include children’s perspectives in the policymaking process for generative AI.

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

This year, the government will be supporting a summit at Wilton Park on the impact of AI on childhood. This will bring together experts, technology companies, civil society and young people to explore how AI can benefit children without exposing them to harm.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how she will support children, parents and carers to understand the safe use and risks of generative AI tools.

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

Protecting children from harm online is a top priority for this government.

This year, the government will be supporting a NSPCC summit at Wilton Park on the impact of AI on childhood. This will bring together experts, technology companies, civil society and young people to explore how AI can benefit children without exposing them to harm.

Media literacy is also a key part of our approach, helping children and adults develop critical thinking skills to navigate the growing presence of AI-generated content. DSIT is working with the Department for Education to develop an online ‘parent hub’ providing guidance on media literacy and online safety.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans she has to fund (a) digital inclusion organisations and (b) community-based AI literacy programmes to support people who lack the skills or confidence to use AI-powered services; and what plans her Department has for funding lifelong learning programmes to support transitions towards increased AI use across workplaces.

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

Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world — from saving on everyday bills to finding better jobs and accessing vital services like the NHS.

That is why – as part of the First Steps confirmed in the Digital Inclusion Action Plan – we launched the £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to help more people across the UK get the access, skills and confidence to get online. This included 85 community led projects in England.

Numerous projects are supporting people to build AI skills, such as the Age UK Westminster project improving AI literacy for older people, and Aston University and FutureDotNow delivering projects that support youth employability through digital inclusion.

This Fund will conclude by 31 March 2026.

More broadly, reducing the AI skills gap is critical for increasing the UK’s productivity and delivering long-term growth. That is why we are working with DfE and Skills England to assess the AI skills gap and map pathways to fill it, and last year announced a joint commitment with industry to upskill 7.5 million workers with vital AI skills.

Alongside this, DSIT is delivering the £187 million TechFirst programme that will support over 4,000 domestic graduates, researchers and innovators and engage 1 million students in digital skills and AI learning.

Lastly, following the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report last year, national curriculum will be updated to prepare young people for life and work in a changing world. The Government will embed digital, media and AI literacy across the curriculum, introduce a refreshed, broader computing GCSE, and integrate digital content into other subjects.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department plans to use to decide whether to commence Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010; and when she expects to make that decision.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). In December 2024, we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to support increased delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems.

The department is now consulting on a revised National Planning Policy Framework – including for flood risk and Sustainable Drainage Systems – and, separately, on proposals to increase adoption of shared amenities, with planned guidance to ensure lifetime maintenance.

In June 2025, the Government introduced new national standards. Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. A final decision on this matter will be made in due course.

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 Ofcom’s capacity to effectively implement the Online Safety Act 2023 in the context of the recent creation and publication of illegal explicit images and child sexual abuse material on X by xAI’s chatbot, Grok.

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

The government is clear that no one should have to go through the ordeal of these horrendous images online. There are no excuses not to act, and services must deal with this.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety and is responsible for scrutinising platforms’ risk assessments, requiring safety mitigations, and enforcing safety duties.

Ofcom has confirmed that they have opened an investigation into X and have our full backing to take necessary enforcement action.

Government meets Ofcom regularly to discuss online safety, and we continue to monitor outcomes through our joint evaluation programme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to update the Cash Access Policy Statement issued on 18 August 2023, in the context of the role of Banking Hubs and the provision of in-person services linked to current accounts.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current accounts. It also requires HMT to produce a Cash Access Policy Statement concerning cash deposit and withdrawal services, which the FCA must have regard to when designing its rules for access to cash. In line with its legal obligation to do so, HMT keeps the Cash Access policy statement under review.

Under the FCA’s rules, an assessment is triggered upon the closure or material alteration of a cash access facility or upon a community request. When carrying out a cash access assessment, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network and designated operator of cash access co-ordination arrangements, takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location. These include whether a bank branch remains, existing cash access points, population size and vulnerability, the number of shops in the area, and the practicality of travelling to nearby facilities, including public transport links, travel times, and local demographics. Where LINK determines that a community requires additional cash services, Cash Access UK (CAUK) will provide the appropriate shared solution, such as a deposit service or a banking hub, for cash users in that community.

In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 200 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment, including through regular ministerial engagement.

Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.

The Government continues to work with the banking industry to improve the breadth and availability of services available in banking hubs and I recently chaired a roundtable with banks, CAUK and UK Finance to discuss services provided in banking hubs. CAUK member banks have already made significant progress in bringing the services offered by community bankers in hubs closer to those available in a traditional bank branch. For example, over the past year, all original CAUK member banks have ensured that customers can use hub services even if they do not have access to a personal digital device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. A full list of services provided by each bank for both personal and business customers is publicly available to view via CAUK’s website.

The Government keeps the effectiveness of these arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry, LINK and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of services provided within Banking Hubs; and what steps she is taking to develop minimum standards for those Hubs.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current accounts. It also requires HMT to produce a Cash Access Policy Statement concerning cash deposit and withdrawal services, which the FCA must have regard to when designing its rules for access to cash. In line with its legal obligation to do so, HMT keeps the Cash Access policy statement under review.

Under the FCA’s rules, an assessment is triggered upon the closure or material alteration of a cash access facility or upon a community request. When carrying out a cash access assessment, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network and designated operator of cash access co-ordination arrangements, takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location. These include whether a bank branch remains, existing cash access points, population size and vulnerability, the number of shops in the area, and the practicality of travelling to nearby facilities, including public transport links, travel times, and local demographics. Where LINK determines that a community requires additional cash services, Cash Access UK (CAUK) will provide the appropriate shared solution, such as a deposit service or a banking hub, for cash users in that community.

In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 200 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment, including through regular ministerial engagement.

Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.

The Government continues to work with the banking industry to improve the breadth and availability of services available in banking hubs and I recently chaired a roundtable with banks, CAUK and UK Finance to discuss services provided in banking hubs. CAUK member banks have already made significant progress in bringing the services offered by community bankers in hubs closer to those available in a traditional bank branch. For example, over the past year, all original CAUK member banks have ensured that customers can use hub services even if they do not have access to a personal digital device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. A full list of services provided by each bank for both personal and business customers is publicly available to view via CAUK’s website.

The Government keeps the effectiveness of these arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry, LINK and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the criteria applied by LINK when recommending Banking Hub locations on towns where a single provider remains; and whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of those criteria for community need, business cash usage and consumer choice.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current accounts. It also requires HMT to produce a Cash Access Policy Statement concerning cash deposit and withdrawal services, which the FCA must have regard to when designing its rules for access to cash. In line with its legal obligation to do so, HMT keeps the Cash Access policy statement under review.

Under the FCA’s rules, an assessment is triggered upon the closure or material alteration of a cash access facility or upon a community request. When carrying out a cash access assessment, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network and designated operator of cash access co-ordination arrangements, takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location. These include whether a bank branch remains, existing cash access points, population size and vulnerability, the number of shops in the area, and the practicality of travelling to nearby facilities, including public transport links, travel times, and local demographics. Where LINK determines that a community requires additional cash services, Cash Access UK (CAUK) will provide the appropriate shared solution, such as a deposit service or a banking hub, for cash users in that community.

In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 200 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment, including through regular ministerial engagement.

Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services.

The Government continues to work with the banking industry to improve the breadth and availability of services available in banking hubs and I recently chaired a roundtable with banks, CAUK and UK Finance to discuss services provided in banking hubs. CAUK member banks have already made significant progress in bringing the services offered by community bankers in hubs closer to those available in a traditional bank branch. For example, over the past year, all original CAUK member banks have ensured that customers can use hub services even if they do not have access to a personal digital device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. A full list of services provided by each bank for both personal and business customers is publicly available to view via CAUK’s website.

The Government keeps the effectiveness of these arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry, LINK and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce annual increases in household water bills in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it. I meet water companies frequently to discuss a range of issues, including customer bills.

As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years. Ofwat published the results of the 2024 Price Review in December 2024, this sets out company expenditure and customer bills for the next five years, up to 2030. These price controls came into effect on 01 April 2025.

Price Review 2024 will deliver substantial improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector - the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation. The average annual bill rise over the next 5 years will be £31 (or 36%). This will vary across households depending on their circumstances. Information on bills for each water company is available on Ofwat’s website.

All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported.

The Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme which supports low-income households with high essential water use due to having a medical condition or three or more children living at home and has consulted on extending the list of qualifying benefits to include non-means tested disability benefits. This proposal is designed to provide better support for low-income households where a medical condition leads to high essential water use.

The proposed reforms would also increase support for existing households and update the regulations to reflect best practice adopted across the water sector. The department will publish the response to the consultation in the coming months.

Bill increases are necessary to make up for years of under-investment and make sure water companies can deliver a good service to customers and protect the environment.

The Government is also bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for billpayers and restore trust and accountability. This includes the creation of a powerful new consolidated regulator, which will work to ensure water company bills are fair and affordable for customers. These reforms are detailed in the Government’s Water White Paper.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce water bills for households in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it. I meet water companies frequently to discuss a range of issues, including customer bills.

As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years. Ofwat published the results of the 2024 Price Review in December 2024, this sets out company expenditure and customer bills for the next five years, up to 2030. These price controls came into effect on 01 April 2025.

Price Review 2024 will deliver substantial improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector - the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation. The average annual bill rise over the next 5 years will be £31 (or 36%). This will vary across households depending on their circumstances. Information on bills for each water company is available on Ofwat’s website.

All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported.

The Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme which supports low-income households with high essential water use due to having a medical condition or three or more children living at home and has consulted on extending the list of qualifying benefits to include non-means tested disability benefits. This proposal is designed to provide better support for low-income households where a medical condition leads to high essential water use.

The proposed reforms would also increase support for existing households and update the regulations to reflect best practice adopted across the water sector. The department will publish the response to the consultation in the coming months.

Bill increases are necessary to make up for years of under-investment and make sure water companies can deliver a good service to customers and protect the environment.

The Government is also bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for billpayers and restore trust and accountability. This includes the creation of a powerful new consolidated regulator, which will work to ensure water company bills are fair and affordable for customers. These reforms are detailed in the Government’s Water White Paper.

Artificial Intelligence chatbots

Public toilet provision

Future of Ospreys rugby club

Gambling harms

Improving equestrian road safety awareness

Review into breast cancer screening

Commemorating National Care Leaver’s Month November 2025

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

Nuclear Regulatory Review and habitats regulations

Pavement parking consultation response