Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with car insurance companies on the affordability of compulsory car insurance for drivers who require larger vehicles for disability-related mobility needs.

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

My officials meet motor insurers and their representative bodies such as the Association of British Insurers periodically to discuss a range of motor insurance issues.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy will include (a) objectives and (b) targets beyond the initial 10-year framework to ensure sustained progress in reducing child poverty in (i) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (ii) Hertfordshire and (iii) England.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish its strategy as soon as possible and we are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.

Our focus is on bringing about an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, thereby reversing the trend that is seeing forecasts of child poverty continuing to increase. More details, including on the time horizon, will be set out in the strategy publication.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase the uptake of means-tested benefits among households with children in poverty in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department provides extensive information on Universal Credit including on GOV.UK that supports customers to identify what support may be available. Additionally, we signpost potential customers to external benefit calculators where they can identify what they are likely to be eligible for. We also work closely with Citizens Advice who provide Help to Claim support by phone and on-line for customers to apply for Universal Credit.

Tackling child poverty is an urgent priority for this government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy as soon as possible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing in-ovo sexing technologies within UK hatcheries.

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

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.

In its 2024 ‘Opinion on alternatives to culling newly hatched chicks in the egg and poultry industries’, the Animal Welfare Committee considered a range of technologies that could help end the routine culling of male chicks by identifying or determining the sex of chick embryos before hatching. In recent years there has been rapid global progress in the development of these technologies, and we welcome the UK egg industry’s interest in the development of day zero sexing technology.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the off-payroll working reforms on self-employed individuals.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the Hon. Member for North Cornwall on 26 March 2025:

Self-employed and Small Businesses: Off-payroll Working

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to consult on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 to 64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.

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

Draft regulations to commence sections 61 – 64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 are currently subject to a technical consultation. The consultation, which launched on 7 May and is open until 23.59 on 2 July 2025, can be found on the gov.uk website.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what comparative assessment she has made of the (a) rights and (b) protections available to (i) residential boaters that rent moorings in marinas and (ii) land-based tenants.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22356 on 17 January 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of potential benefits of including landlords of residential boats in the proposed Private Rented Sector database.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22356 on 17 January 2025.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to establish (a) a timetable and (b) interim targets for the replacement of dogs in regulatory scientific procedures; and if he will make it his policy to publish that timetable before the end of the 2025-26 session.

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

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year, which will set out clear objectives and measurable milestones. Any work to phase out animal testing, including the use of dogs in regulatory scientific procedures, must be science-led and in lock step with partners including regulators, so we will not be setting interim targets or arbitrary timelines for reducing their use.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help increase levels of access to legal aid for people in rural areas in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

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

It is vital that those who need legal aid, some of the most vulnerable people in our society, can access it wherever they live. We are funding provisions such as Advicenow, which is an online provision.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.

Procurement for legal aid contracts is now operated under the ‘always on principle’ so that the procurement remains open during the life of the contract. This is a significant change from the previous approach where firms could only bid to join at the initial tender of what typically was a five-year contract term. This new approach enables new entrants to apply for a contract at any time and for existing providers to expand their services. It is a more flexible approach removing hard deadlines and maximising the available supply of services.

The LAA is satisfied that there is adequate access to legal aid services in Harpenden and Berkhamsted across all categories of legal aid. Provision includes local services such as duty solicitor schemes and national services such as early legal advice under the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service and advice relating to housing, debt, education and discrimination via the Civil Legal Advice telephone service.

The Ministry of Justice has recently concluded a consultation on uplifts to civil legal aid fees (which once fully implemented, would inject an additional £20 million into the sector each year), and is currently consulting on funding of up to £92 million more a year for criminal legal aid solicitors.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to tackle backlogs in the courts in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

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

This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog. For this financial year (25/26), this Government is funding a record allocation of Crown Court sitting days to deliver swifter justice for victims – 110,000 sitting days this year, 4,000 higher than the previous Government funded. However, the scale of the challenge is beyond what increasing sitting days can achieve. In civil justice, courts and tribunals are sitting at, or close to maximum judicial capacity in every jurisdiction.

That is why we have commissioned Sir Brian Leveson to conduct a review of the courts that will propose once-in-a-generation reform to deliver swifter justice for victims.

In the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency:

Criminal Courts: 

• St Albans Crown Court has seen an increase in Circuit Judges, and an increase in courtrooms from 6 to 7. The open caseload at this court was reduced by 3% in 2024.

• In the magistrates’ court, additional Legal Advisors are being recruited. The open caseload in Herts area was reduced by 14% in 2024.

Family and Civil Courts: 

• Our focus across Hertfordshire is to progress the family and civil cases in as timely a way as possible whilst balancing the individual circumstances and needs of each case. The Designated Family and Civil Judges, along with HMCTS, have implemented a robust case progression initiative. Cases are reviewed and cases that are suitable for the hearing date to be brought forward are prioritised. This is achieved by utilising courtroom capacity that becomes available from other cases resolving.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to allocate additional funding through UK Research and Innovation for the validation of non‑animal new approach methodologies to help replace the use of dogs in safety testing; and if he will make it his policy to ring‑fence funding for human‑relevant, animal‑free technologies.

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

The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of investments that supports research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ-on-a-chip, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. UKRI also invests £10 million annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and is conducting a five-year funding review to guide future investment in this area.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department takes to ensure that reviews of Personal Independent Payment claims for people with complex and chronic health conditions consider the (a) overlap between multiple health issues and (b) the potential impact this overlap has on people's (i) mental health and (ii) ability to work.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment, at both new claim and award review, considers the impact of an individual’s health condition(s) or disability on their daily living and mobility rather than being based on the health condition itself. Individuals can be affected in different ways by the same condition, and be dealing with multiple health issues, so the outcome of a PIP claim depends very much on individual circumstances.

Health conditions may be physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive, or any combination of these, and the assessment has been designed to take a comprehensive approach to disability, reflecting the needs arising from the full range of conditions.

The assessment criteria are focused on an individual’s ability to carry out a series of key everyday activities which are fundamental to living an independent life. PIP is available whether an individual is in or out of work, education or training.

In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March I outlined plans to launch a review of the PIP assessment. Through the review, I want to make sure the PIP assessment is fair and fit for the future. This includes considering the PIP assessment criteria – including descriptors – and how the PIP assessment can play a role in unlocking wider support to enable better health, good work, higher living standards and greater independence. Additionally, the Government is legislating to encourage those on health benefits to try work by legislating to guarantee that work in and of itself will never lead to a reassessment.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority plans to review the methods used by car insurers to determine vehicle valuations in write-off settlements.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

How insurers value vehicles in write-off settlements are a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority who is operationally independent from the Government. The Financial Conduct Authority published its findings of a multi-firm review into insurers’ claims handling processes for valuing vehicles which have been stolen or written off in March 2024.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority plans to review the methods used by car insurers to assess vehicle value in write-off settlements.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

How insurers value vehicles in write-off settlements are a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority who is operationally independent from the Government. The Financial Conduct Authority published its findings of a multi-firm review into insurers’ claims handling processes for valuing vehicles which have been stolen or written off in March 2024.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to prevent motor insurers from raising premiums for vehicle theft victims making non-fault claims in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted, (b) Hertfordshire, and (c) the rest of England.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment on the likelihood of a claim being made and the cost of those claims. The Government does not set the terms, conditions, or prices for insurance policies. Motor insurance premiums have been affected by specific economic factors that increased the costs of claims, such as the rising cost of replacement car parts.

Last year, the Government launched a cross-Government taskforce on motor insurance. This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. The taskforce most recently met in April and the Government will provide further updates in due course.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator, is a member of the Taskforce. Last October, the FCA launched a package of work on the motor insurance market, including a market study on premium finance. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive) and has powers to take action against firms that don’t meet its requirements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the potential impact of changes to the costs of car insurance on vulnerable motorists.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment on the likelihood of a claim being made and the cost of those claims. The Government does not set the terms, conditions, or prices for insurance policies. Motor insurance premiums have been affected by specific economic factors that increased the costs of claims, such as the rising cost of replacement car parts.

Last year, the Government launched a cross-Government taskforce on motor insurance. This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. The taskforce most recently met in April and the Government will provide further updates in due course.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator, is a member of the Taskforce. Last October, the FCA launched a package of work on the motor insurance market, including a market study on premium finance. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive) and has powers to take action against firms that don’t meet its requirements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support social landlords to gain equitable access to building safety remediation funding in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Across England, social landlords can apply to government remediation funds (Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme). They can apply for funding equivalent to (1) the amount which the social landlord would otherwise be entitled to pass on to leaseholders; or (2) the full cost of remedial works where paying those costs would render the social landlord financially unviable.

As of 30 April 2025, government has committed £606m to support remediation of social housing through government schemes.

Social landlords face barriers to accelerating remediation, including access to upfront capital. From April 2025, we have increased funding for social landlords applying for government remediation funding so that remedial works can start sooner and we will this year announce a long-term strategy for accelerating social housing remediation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State in response to the question from the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted of 2 May 2025, Official Report, column 11, if her Department will lay out further information on the strategy to target scams generated by AI.

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

The Home Office is absolutely committed to tackling the threat of fraud, which is why this Government has committed to publishing a new and enhanced Fraud Strategy that addresses the full range of harm that UK citizens face from fraud, including AI enabled fraud.

The Home Office is also working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to identify and respond to the threats that AI poses across a broad range of harms, including fraud, and with the AI Security Institute on their work to evaluate the potential risks posed by advanced AI systems.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation on the steps needed to tackle AI scams in the form of phishing emails.

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

The Home Office is absolutely committed to tackling the threat of fraud, which is why this Government has committed to publishing a new and enhanced Fraud Strategy that addresses the full range of harm that UK citizens face from fraud, including AI enabled fraud.

The Home Office is also working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to identify and respond to the threats that AI poses across a broad range of harms, including fraud, and with the AI Security Institute on their work to evaluate the potential risks posed by advanced AI systems.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for ADHD treatment.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including providing access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment and treatment, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support, with the report expected in the summer.

For the first time, NHS England published management information on ADHD waits at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan; it will soon release technical guidance to ICBs to improve recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waits data. NHS England has also captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure people in mental health crises receive adequate support in emergency services in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board commissions mental health services to meet the needs of its population, including for people living in Harpenden and Berkhamsted. The integrated care board continues to monitor the effectiveness and quality of these services.

The National Health Service, local councils, police, and experts by experience continue to work together through Hertfordshire’s Crisis Care Concordat, to implement service and pathway improvements to ensure that people experiencing a mental health crisis receive timely, effective, and appropriate support.

This includes implementing the Right Care, Right Person approach which minimises the involvement of police in the care of people with mental health needs, where this is appropriate.

The integrated care board has developed a range of services to support people in mental health crisis. A new mental health urgent care centre has opened in Stevenage, which offers a safe space and a multidisciplinary team to provide support. Options for a similar model in West Hertfordshire are being explored. Nightlight services, delivered by the Herts Mind Network, provide emotional support, advice, and sanctuary space for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Additionally, mental health response vehicles are being rolled out across the country. Each vehicle is staffed by a paramedic with enhanced medical training and a registered mental health practitioner, enabling expert care to be delivered directly at the scene.

People of all ages in England who are experiencing a mental health crisis can speak to a trained NHS professional at any time of the day via the NHS 111 service. This service gives people the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure that planned upgrades to Markyate Sewage Treatment Works go ahead, in the context of Thames Water’s financial position and (b) to prevent further sewage discharge into the River Ver.

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

We expect the company to meet their statutory and regulatory obligations.

Thames Water’s current Asset Management Plan includes commitments to both maintain Markyate Wastewater Treatment Works and enhance its performance.

Capital maintenance includes a Groundwater Impacted System Management Plan to reduce infiltration, together with a Wastewater Asset Assurance Programme to avoid pollution incidents and ensure permit compliance.

Under the Water Industry National Environment Programme, Thames Water will deliver an improvement to reduce storm overflow spills at Markyate to an average of 10 spills. They must investigate whether the storm overflow at Markyate is having a local adverse ecological impact, which may drive the spill count of the delivered improvement below an average of 10 spills if it is identified as necessary.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) help tackle midwifery shortages and (b) improve recruitment and retention in the NHS in (i) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (ii) Hertfordshire and (c) England.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to tackling the issues facing the maternity workforce, to make sure we have the right people in the right place at the right time. NHS England is leading a range of initiatives to boost retention of existing staff and to ensure that the National Health Service remains an attractive career choice for new recruits. This includes building a compassionate and inclusive culture, supporting staff wellbeing, and promoting flexible working opportunities.

NHS England has invested in a range of measures, such as unit-based retention leads, a midwifery and nursing retention self-assessment tool, mentoring schemes, and investment in workforce capacity. This has resulted in an increase in retention and a reduction in vacancy, leaver, and turnover rates. As of March 2025, there are a record 25,000 full time equivalent midwives in post, which is over 1,400, or 6.1%, more full-time equivalent midwives in the maternity.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to hold an independent judge-led public inquiry into the 1994 RAF Chinook Helicopter crash.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

In 2010, the Mull of Kintyre independent judge-led review was carried out by Lord Philips and the findings were fully accepted by the Ministry of Defence. The review found that the evidence did not make it possible to reach conclusions on potential technical causes for the crash.

We have carefully considered calls for a public inquiry and we have now received legal representations from the Chinook Justice Campaign and we are considering our response to the points they have raised.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority plans to review the methods used by car insurers to determine vehicle valuations in write-off settlements.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to the answer contained in PQ UIN 56497.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) school-aged girls and (b) young women can access help on public transport if they are concerned for their safety.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is committed to ensuring everyone, including women and girls, is safe on the transport network. As part of our aim to reduce Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by half over the next decade, we have an ambitious, evidence-based programme to help tackle VAWG on transport. This includes proposals in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, such as staff training on how to recognise and respond to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

The Department is also working across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry and local authorities, to ensure that everyone feels and is safe when travelling.

For example, in line with their zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and sexual offences on the railway, the BTP deploy a range of policing techniques to pursue offenders on the rail network to ensure it remains a safe environment and encourage reporting of incidents via the 61016-text number or 999 in an emergency. They also have a range of innovative awareness campaigns to encourage reporting and bystander intervention in response to sexual offences. This includes the successful ‘Speak Up Interrupt’, encouraging bystanders to support or intervene to help victims.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to orchestral tax relief on touring orchestras’ ability to fund UK charity concerts and community programmes.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK provides world-leading support for orchestras: at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government confirmed that from 1 April 2025, the rate of Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) will be set at the generous rate of 45%.

From April 2024, qualifying expenditure is expenditure incurred on goods or services that are ‘used or consumed in the UK’, replacing the previous rule that qualifying costs were those incurred on goods and services provided from the UK or EEA.  To ease the transition to the new rule, orchestras with concerts in train on 1 April 2024 were permitted to continue claiming relief on goods and services provided from within the EEA until 31 March 2025.

It is appropriate to refocus orchestra tax relief on UK expenditure now that the UK has left the EU. Under the new rule, the relief incentivises activity within the UK, rather than the UK and the EEA. This does not prevent qualifying productions from touring in the EEA (nor elsewhere).

As with all tax policy changes, a Tax Information and Impact Note was published in 2023 which can be found here: Administrative changes to the creative industry tax reliefs - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to protect girls and young women from the impact of sexualised AI deepfakes.

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

Sharing or threatening to share a deepfake intimate image without consent is illegal. Synthetically created content is regulated by the Online Safety Act where it is shared on an in-scope service and is illegal content or content harmful to children. Government is also legislating to ban the non-consensual creation of sexualised deepfakes in the Data (Use and Access) Bill.

Where a sexualised deepfake is of a child this is child sexual abuse material and is illegal, and Government has introduced an offence in the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise AI models optimised to create this content.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department conducted a Disability Impact Assessment of the Public Switched Telephone Network migration.

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

The Department has not conducted a Disability Impact Assessment. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration is an industry-led programme and does not result from a government decision.

The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the PSTN to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK. In November 2024, at Government’s behest, all major communication providers agreed additional safeguards to protect vulnerable customers, including for people living with disabilities.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of preserving full funding for Level Seven apprenticeships for (a) people from disadvantaged backgrounds, (b) career changers and (c) people returning to work after career breaks.

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

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity. From January 2026, the government will no longer fund level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, or those aged 22 to 24 who have an education, health and care plan or have been in local authority care. This will enable apprenticeship opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers.

This decision was informed by a wide range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s analysis found that level 7 apprenticeships have a higher proportion of older learners than other apprenticeships, a higher proportion of learners who already hold higher level qualifications, and a significant proportion are less likely to be deprived than those in apprenticeships at lower levels. It also suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding.

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7, including non-apprenticeship routes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of removing funding for Level Seven apprenticeships for people aged 22 and above on (a) gender equality and (b) social mobility.

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

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity. That is why we are moving funding away from level 7 apprenticeships for learners aged 22 and over, to ensure that funding is prioritised for learners at lower levels, who need the skills and training to progress in their careers.

This decision was informed by a wide range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding, and alternative routes are well supplied. A significant proportion of level 7 apprentices are from non-deprived backgrounds and are significantly less likely to be deprived than apprentices at lower levels.

Women are slightly less likely to be represented in the 16 to 21-year-old cohort of level 7 apprenticeships starts than those aged 22 and over. This is likely to be due to the recruitment norms in the standards that have a higher proportion of starts in the 16-21 age group, such as accountancy. The department will monitor trends over time and consider how this gap could be narrowed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that commercial properties have reached the minimum requirement of EPC Grade B by 2030.

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

The Government consulted on strengthening the non-domestic, which includes commercial properties, Private Rented Sector Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to EPC C by 1 April 2027, and EPC B by 1 April 2030. We are currently reviewing the policy design, including the timelines for introduction, to ensure that it remains fair and proportionate for landlords and tenants. Until the response is published, and the Government position on any future standards confirmed, only the EPC E Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard applies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Home Office on protecting (a) elderly and (b) vulnerable people against AI-generated scams in the form of deepfake content.

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

DSIT regularly engages with Home Office on ongoing efforts to protect users from online harms, including AI-Generated scams. AI generated content is regulated by the Online Safety Act where it is shared on an in-scope service and constitutes either illegal content or content which is harmful to children.

In March this year the Act’s illegal harms duties came into force, with fraud captured as a priority offence. User-to-user services must take preventative measures to stop fraudulent content from appearing and swiftly remove it where it does. Search services must minimise fraudulent content from appearing in results. This includes AI generated deepfake scams.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to include Parkinson’s disease in the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are currently no plans to include Parkinson’s disease in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).

The indicators included in QOF are developed in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and are underpinned by a robust evidence base. The QOF is reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with NICE guidelines.

For the 2025/26 contract year, 32 out of 76 QOF indicators were retired to streamline the scheme and reduce the administrative burden on general practice.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial incentives to employers to support the employment of people with severe mental illnesses.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There is a strong evidence base showing that work is generally good for physical and mental health and well-being. The right type of joined-up work and health support can prevent people falling out of work and support people to return, ensuring they gain the physical and mental benefits of employment. Therefore, we actively engage in collaborative action with a range of stakeholders, including employers, welfare systems and health services, to open opportunities for individuals to engage in good work, fostering a healthier, more inclusive nation.

We announced our Get Britain Working White Paper in November. Alongside funding for trailblazers and NHS ‘Health and Growth Accelerator’ in local areas to bring together and streamline work, health, and skills support for disabled people and people with long term health conditions, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review, considering how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence. Sir Charlie will deliver his final report in the autumn. Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce.

The Department has also developed a digital information service for employers which provides tailored guidance to businesses to support employees to remain in work. This includes guidance on health disclosures and having conversations about health, and continues to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme which provides practical support to encourage employers to recruit, retain and develop disabled people and people with health conditions​. This fosters inclusive workplaces, benefitting people’s health and wealth, as well as the UK economy through increased productivity and reduced economic inactivity.

UK Government recognition of the state of Palestine

Unpaid Care Dashboard

Women's health hubs

Press ownership by foreign states

Methanol poisoning, UK traveller safety and education in schools

Democracy in Hong Kong

Chinese Embassy

Harmful chemicals in period products

Support for farmers

Chronic urinary tract infections and women's health

Police officers

Open Doors 2025

Found: Tessa Munt Steff Aquarone Alison Bennett Chris Coghlan Mr Paul Kohler Steve Darling Sarah Dyke Victoria Collins

Found: Gibson Sam Rushworth Sarah Olney Vikki Slade Luke Taylor Steff Aquarone Mr Paul Kohler Victoria Collins

Found: Amanda Martin Will Stone Munira Wilson Steve Yemm Marie Goldman Lauren Edwards Lloyd Hatton Victoria Collins

Found: Snell Apsana Begum Freddie van Mierlo Sarah Green Josh Babarinde Will Stone Marie Goldman Victoria Collins

Found: Newbury Mike Martin Ian Sollom Dr Marie Tidball Natalie Fleet Calum Miller Luke Murphy Victoria Collins

Found: Dillon Graham Stringer Zöe Franklin Susan Murray Alice Macdonald Anna Dixon Nick Timothy Victoria Collins

Found: Amanda Hack Pam Cox Sam Carling Jeremy Corbyn Natalie Fleet Calum Miller Luke Murphy Victoria Collins

Found: Juliet Campbell Lewis Cocking Sarah Olney Rebecca Paul Mr Angus MacDonald Sarah Smith Victoria Collins

Found: Juliet Campbell Lewis Cocking Sarah Olney Rebecca Paul Mr Angus MacDonald Sarah Smith Victoria Collins

Found: Juliet Campbell Lewis Cocking Sarah Olney Rebecca Paul Mr Angus MacDonald Sarah Smith Victoria Collins

Found: Joe Powell Rosie Wrighting Amanda Hack Pam Cox Natalie Fleet Calum Miller Luke Murphy Victoria Collins

Found: Juliet Campbell Lewis Cocking Sarah Olney Rebecca Paul Mr Angus MacDonald Sarah Smith Victoria Collins

Found: Newbury Mike Martin Ian Sollom Dr Marie Tidball Natalie Fleet Calum Miller Luke Murphy Victoria Collins

Found: Juliet Campbell Lewis Cocking Sarah Olney Rebecca Paul Mr Angus MacDonald Sarah Smith Victoria Collins

Found: Newbury Mike Martin Ian Sollom Dr Marie Tidball Natalie Fleet Calum Miller Luke Murphy Victoria Collins

Found: Juliet Campbell Lewis Cocking Sarah Olney Rebecca Paul Mr Angus MacDonald Sarah Smith Victoria Collins

University APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Grouped Questions: 52350, 52351 APP UG WEEKLY UPDATE 10 Research: Higher Education Victoria Collins

University APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Source Teachers: Mental Health Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrats): To ask the Secretary of State

East of England APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: North Norfolk and Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford Rt Hon Richard Holden MP Victoria Collins

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: survivors of domestic abuse and violence against women through the criminal justice system – Victoria Collins

Energy Studies APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Graham Stuart MP Sir Chritopher Chope MP Marie Goldman MP Sojan Joseph MP Gideon Amos MP Victoria Collins