Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the screening policy for prostate cancer on demand on GP appointments; what additional guidance and resources will be provided to GPs to support discussions with men who are not eligible for the programme but who request a PSA test; and whether additional funding will be made available to primary care to support that work.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's planned timetable is for securing private investment for Euston station; whether discussions have taken place with potential investors; and what contingency plans exist should sufficient private funding not be secured.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is exploring a public-private partnership (PPP) to support delivery of the HS2 Euston station. It is important that this work is completed thoroughly to support a robust commercial proposition.

We expect the timetable to be consistent with procurement timeframes, typical for this type of PPP model. Our focus over the next two years is to ensure that we are well-placed to run a successful competitive procurement.

It is essential that plans are market-tested before launching the procurement, allowing us to identify and address any concerns. To this end, the Department has conducted a preliminary market engagement earlier this year to raise awareness, and to gather feedback from potential investors and delivery partners, which has shown healthy levels of interest in our proposals.

A PPP will be subject to value for money and sufficient risk transfer. If private finance cannot be secured on acceptable terms, the Department will consider alternative delivery and funding options in discussion with HMT. In any scenario, we will be able to benefit from the preliminary technical work and the discipline it brings, including if we choose to revert to a different commercial procurement model (e.g. public procurement).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current contact tracing arrangements for rare imported infectious diseases in the context of the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak; how many people have been required to isolate as a result of the incident; what guidance has been issued to local authority Directors of Public Health and hon. Members where constituents are isolating; and whether compensation and financial support is available for individuals unable to work during extended isolation periods.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The United Kingdom’s response to this complex incident is being led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) working closely with the World Health Organization, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS High Consequence Infectious Disease Network, the Home Office, the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, the devolved administrations of the UK, and international partners. Collectively, they are doing everything possible to protect the safety and well-being of British nationals, and to provide reassurance to UK citizens.

Contacts have been asked to isolate for the duration of the incubation period, with regular testing and ongoing care provided by UKHSA and National Health Service teams. There are 85 people isolating in the UK and UK overseas territories.

UKHSA has notified local authority directors of public health and individual Members of Parliament where a person had been requested to isolate in their constituency and will continue to do so when people leave to complete their isolation period in their homes.

The Department has agreed to fund additional self-isolation support provided by local authorities to eligible British Nationals from the MV Hondius via regular routes. This includes a one-off payment to individuals facing financial hardship due to loss of income as a result of isolating.

The Government will review lessons learned following the conclusion of the response as the situation remains ongoing and fluid.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to the taxation of foreign branch profits on (a) tax revenues, (b) investment, (c) employment and (d) business activity in the UK oil and gas sector; how many companies are expected to be affected; and if she will publish the analysis commissioned to support her Department's estimate of the potential impact of the those reforms on revenue.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

These reforms will ensure that profit attributable to UK activities is effectively taxed in the UK.

They are expected to raise hundreds of millions of pounds per year - helping to fund a package of economic support for households and businesses – while at the same time maintaining a highly competitive UK tax regime for UK companies operating overseas. This change will not impact the tax treatment of extractive activity in the UK Continental Shelf.

The government will undertake a technical consultation shortly, with draft legislation due to be published in the summer, ahead of final legislation in Finance Bill 2026-27.

A full Tax Information and Impact Note will be published at Budget 2026; along with a full policy costing as part of the fiscal and economic forecast undertaken by The Office for Budget Responsibility.

A policy paper published on 21 May 2026 sets out further detail on this reform.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the current banking hub assessment process takes account of (a) public transport availability, (b) journey times, (c) geographic barriers, (d) seasonal population changes and (e) the cumulative impact of multiple bank branch closures in neighbouring communities; and whether she plans to make changes to those factors following the independent review of access to banking services.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences. However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. Of these, 70 are temporary hubs. Temporary hubs offer the same services as permanent hubs.

LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, is responsible for assessing a community’s access to cash needs and does not consider bank service provision. When asked to carry out a cash access assessment, LINK takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population, existing and remaining cash access facilities and the number of shops. Specifically, LINK takes into consideration population demographics, seasonal population change, public transport times and cost, geographic barriers, and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities.

LINK uses a catchment area of 3 miles in rural locations and 1 mile in urban areas and considers if there is a significant impact on nearby towns. As part of its assessments, LINK will consider the available services in a community, including existing ATM provision, and recommend additional solutions if it is deemed necessary to ensure reasonable access to cash.

Where a hub is recommended by LINK following a planned branch closure, the branch cannot close until a suitable replacement service is in place. The average time to open a hub driven by the closure of the last bank in a town is under 12 months. Where a hub is recommended following a community request, Cash Access UK aims to provide a temporary solution within three months. FCA rules also require that, where additional services are needed, a solution must be put in place within 12 weeks, which may initially be a temporary service ahead of a permanent hub.

The provision of a bank’s services is a commercial decision for the firm, and the Government does not intervene in these decisions. However, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable.

In addition to bank branches and banking hubs, the Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and pay bills at more than 10,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Government protects the Post Office network by setting minimum access criteria. These include ensuring that 99 per cent of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office and 90 per cent of the population within one mile.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking can continue to access essential services. That is why on 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects. The Review will consider access to in-person banking services for both personal and business customers.

The Call for Evidence has been published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/access-to-banking-services-review-call-for-evidence. It will run for 6 weeks and will close on 20 July.

Responses to the Call for Evidence can be submitted online via: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/accesstobankingservices . Those wishing to submit via email, including supplementary evidence, research or data can do so at accesstobankingservices@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of LINK and Cash Access UK in delivering banking hubs; how many recommended banking hubs are currently operating from temporary premises; what the average time is between a hub being recommended and a permanent facility opening; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that approved banking hubs are delivered within a reasonable timeframe.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences. However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. Of these, 70 are temporary hubs. Temporary hubs offer the same services as permanent hubs.

LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, is responsible for assessing a community’s access to cash needs and does not consider bank service provision. When asked to carry out a cash access assessment, LINK takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population, existing and remaining cash access facilities and the number of shops. Specifically, LINK takes into consideration population demographics, seasonal population change, public transport times and cost, geographic barriers, and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities.

LINK uses a catchment area of 3 miles in rural locations and 1 mile in urban areas and considers if there is a significant impact on nearby towns. As part of its assessments, LINK will consider the available services in a community, including existing ATM provision, and recommend additional solutions if it is deemed necessary to ensure reasonable access to cash.

Where a hub is recommended by LINK following a planned branch closure, the branch cannot close until a suitable replacement service is in place. The average time to open a hub driven by the closure of the last bank in a town is under 12 months. Where a hub is recommended following a community request, Cash Access UK aims to provide a temporary solution within three months. FCA rules also require that, where additional services are needed, a solution must be put in place within 12 weeks, which may initially be a temporary service ahead of a permanent hub.

The provision of a bank’s services is a commercial decision for the firm, and the Government does not intervene in these decisions. However, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable.

In addition to bank branches and banking hubs, the Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and pay bills at more than 10,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Government protects the Post Office network by setting minimum access criteria. These include ensuring that 99 per cent of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office and 90 per cent of the population within one mile.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking can continue to access essential services. That is why on 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects. The Review will consider access to in-person banking services for both personal and business customers.

The Call for Evidence has been published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/access-to-banking-services-review-call-for-evidence. It will run for 6 weeks and will close on 20 July.

Responses to the Call for Evidence can be submitted online via: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/accesstobankingservices . Those wishing to submit via email, including supplementary evidence, research or data can do so at accesstobankingservices@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government’s commitment to establish 350 banking hubs will be sufficient to replace access to banking services lost through bank branch closures; how many communities have lost their final bank branch since 2020; and what estimate she has made of the number of communities that currently lack reasonable access to in-person banking services.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences. However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. Of these, 70 are temporary hubs. Temporary hubs offer the same services as permanent hubs.

LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, is responsible for assessing a community’s access to cash needs and does not consider bank service provision. When asked to carry out a cash access assessment, LINK takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population, existing and remaining cash access facilities and the number of shops. Specifically, LINK takes into consideration population demographics, seasonal population change, public transport times and cost, geographic barriers, and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities.

LINK uses a catchment area of 3 miles in rural locations and 1 mile in urban areas and considers if there is a significant impact on nearby towns. As part of its assessments, LINK will consider the available services in a community, including existing ATM provision, and recommend additional solutions if it is deemed necessary to ensure reasonable access to cash.

Where a hub is recommended by LINK following a planned branch closure, the branch cannot close until a suitable replacement service is in place. The average time to open a hub driven by the closure of the last bank in a town is under 12 months. Where a hub is recommended following a community request, Cash Access UK aims to provide a temporary solution within three months. FCA rules also require that, where additional services are needed, a solution must be put in place within 12 weeks, which may initially be a temporary service ahead of a permanent hub.

The provision of a bank’s services is a commercial decision for the firm, and the Government does not intervene in these decisions. However, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable.

In addition to bank branches and banking hubs, the Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and pay bills at more than 10,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Government protects the Post Office network by setting minimum access criteria. These include ensuring that 99 per cent of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office and 90 per cent of the population within one mile.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking can continue to access essential services. That is why on 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects. The Review will consider access to in-person banking services for both personal and business customers.

The Call for Evidence has been published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/access-to-banking-services-review-call-for-evidence. It will run for 6 weeks and will close on 20 July.

Responses to the Call for Evidence can be submitted online via: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/accesstobankingservices . Those wishing to submit via email, including supplementary evidence, research or data can do so at accesstobankingservices@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of men who will be eligible for the new targeted prostate cancer screening programme, (b) the number expected to participate in screening annually, (c) the proportion of prostate cancer cases that occur outside the eligibility criteria for the programme and (d) the number of additional prostate cancer diagnoses expected as a result of the programme in each of the first five years of operation.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Through the introduction of England's first ever targeted prostate cancer screening programme, and through the major package of investment of over £20 million to expand research and improve treatment announced on 2 June 2026, the Government is taking an important step forward in tackling the most common cancer in men.

The targeted screening programme, rolling out in 2027, will screen men between the ages of 45 and 61 years old who have a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of prostate, breast, pancreatic, or ovarian cancer. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has assessed that a targeted screening programme for men who meet these criteria is justified on the basis that prostate cancer occurs more often, at a younger age, and more aggressively for men in this group than for other men. This means that, for this group, the benefits of early detection and treatment would outweigh the harms associated with overdiagnosis and treatment side effects.

It is estimated that approximately 1,500 men in England will be eligible for the targeted prostate cancer screening programme. Based on similar programmes for people with genetic risk factors, uptake is expected to be high.

As approximately 58,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in England, it is expected that the majority of prostate cancer cases will occur outside of the screening programme.

This is a new programme which will potentially increase early diagnosis rates and survival in the eligible population, who, particularly at younger ages, have an increased risk of prostate cancer, with studies suggesting risks approximately five to seven times higher than average.

The introduction of this new screening programme is not expected to have an impact on the diagnosis or survival rates of men who are not eligible for the screening programme. The Government has published an equality impact assessment which sets out the potential impact on health inequalities and any mitigations, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-cancer-screening-equality-impact-assessment/equality-impact-assessment-introduction-of-a-targeted-prostate-cancer-screening-programme#intended-aims-of-the-programme

As the number of people eligible for the targeted prostate cancer screening programme is small, any extra demand on National Health Services is expected to be limited.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of restricting routine screening to men with a BRCA2 gene variant and relevant family history on (a) early diagnosis rates, (b) cancer survival rates and (c) health inequalities among men who are at elevated risk of prostate cancer but who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the programme.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Through the introduction of England's first ever targeted prostate cancer screening programme, and through the major package of investment of over £20 million to expand research and improve treatment announced on 2 June 2026, the Government is taking an important step forward in tackling the most common cancer in men.

The targeted screening programme, rolling out in 2027, will screen men between the ages of 45 and 61 years old who have a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of prostate, breast, pancreatic, or ovarian cancer. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has assessed that a targeted screening programme for men who meet these criteria is justified on the basis that prostate cancer occurs more often, at a younger age, and more aggressively for men in this group than for other men. This means that, for this group, the benefits of early detection and treatment would outweigh the harms associated with overdiagnosis and treatment side effects.

It is estimated that approximately 1,500 men in England will be eligible for the targeted prostate cancer screening programme. Based on similar programmes for people with genetic risk factors, uptake is expected to be high.

As approximately 58,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in England, it is expected that the majority of prostate cancer cases will occur outside of the screening programme.

This is a new programme which will potentially increase early diagnosis rates and survival in the eligible population, who, particularly at younger ages, have an increased risk of prostate cancer, with studies suggesting risks approximately five to seven times higher than average.

The introduction of this new screening programme is not expected to have an impact on the diagnosis or survival rates of men who are not eligible for the screening programme. The Government has published an equality impact assessment which sets out the potential impact on health inequalities and any mitigations, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-cancer-screening-equality-impact-assessment/equality-impact-assessment-introduction-of-a-targeted-prostate-cancer-screening-programme#intended-aims-of-the-programme

As the number of people eligible for the targeted prostate cancer screening programme is small, any extra demand on National Health Services is expected to be limited.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the targeted prostate cancer screening programme; how many additional (a) PSA tests, (b) MRI scans, (c) biopsies and (d) specialist urology appointments will be required; and what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient NHS diagnostic and treatment capacity is available ahead of the programme's rollout in 2027.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Through the introduction of England's first ever targeted prostate cancer screening programme, and through the major package of investment of over £20 million to expand research and improve treatment announced on 2 June 2026, the Government is taking an important step forward in tackling the most common cancer in men.

The targeted screening programme, rolling out in 2027, will screen men between the ages of 45 and 61 years old who have a BRCA2 gene variant and a family history of prostate, breast, pancreatic, or ovarian cancer. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has assessed that a targeted screening programme for men who meet these criteria is justified on the basis that prostate cancer occurs more often, at a younger age, and more aggressively for men in this group than for other men. This means that, for this group, the benefits of early detection and treatment would outweigh the harms associated with overdiagnosis and treatment side effects.

It is estimated that approximately 1,500 men in England will be eligible for the targeted prostate cancer screening programme. Based on similar programmes for people with genetic risk factors, uptake is expected to be high.

As approximately 58,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in England, it is expected that the majority of prostate cancer cases will occur outside of the screening programme.

This is a new programme which will potentially increase early diagnosis rates and survival in the eligible population, who, particularly at younger ages, have an increased risk of prostate cancer, with studies suggesting risks approximately five to seven times higher than average.

The introduction of this new screening programme is not expected to have an impact on the diagnosis or survival rates of men who are not eligible for the screening programme. The Government has published an equality impact assessment which sets out the potential impact on health inequalities and any mitigations, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-cancer-screening-equality-impact-assessment/equality-impact-assessment-introduction-of-a-targeted-prostate-cancer-screening-programme#intended-aims-of-the-programme

As the number of people eligible for the targeted prostate cancer screening programme is small, any extra demand on National Health Services is expected to be limited.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of regional variations in access to prostate cancer diagnostics and treatment; whether the new £2.8 million investment in focal therapy will be distributed across all regions of England; and what steps he is taking to ensure that men diagnosed through screening have equitable access to the most effective treatments regardless of where they live.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise that the provision of cancer services varies significantly across the country.

The NHS Cancer Programme commissions a series of cancer audits, including one on prostate cancer. The audits are a key way in which the Cancer Programme highlights and addresses variation, with priority recommendations adopted for action by Cancer Alliances.

On 9 January 2025, the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre published the latest prostate cancer audit report, and the next audit report is due for publication in October 2026. Cancer Alliances working with National Health Service trusts are identified as the target audience for audit recommendations, and responding to audit findings will be further facilitated by the implementation of Quality Improvement Collaboratives as outlined in the National Cancer Plan.

We are agreeing a new contract for the National Cancer Audit Collaboration centre starting in October 2027. As part of this, we plan to increase the specific focus on variation in access to the best treatment as opposed to early diagnosis and operational performance, both of which have considerable focus through other work of the cancer programme and in the National Cancer Plan.

The National Cancer Plan for England, published earlier this year, sets out how we will end this variation and ensure that everybody, no matter their postcode, has access to high-quality cancer care. Cancer Alliances up and down the country are already working with their local systems on this.

The recently announced investment of up to £2.8 million in focal therapies will strengthen existing provision in line with the expansion of the TRANSFORM trial for prostate cancer screening. Initial funding will support existing focal therapy sites to expand their focal therapy offer to ensure they can treat all suitable localised prostate cancers, irrespective of their location in the prostate.

All future expansion of focal therapy provision to new sites will include appropriate clinical and market engagement, and geographic inequalities will be taken into account.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the temporary suspension of tariffs on imported food products on (a) food prices, (b) household grocery bills, (c) domestic food producers and (d) British farmers; what consultation she has undertaken with representatives of the agricultural and food manufacturing sectors; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure that any savings are passed on to consumers.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The two packages of agri-food tariff suspensions will reduce import costs for the included items and bear down on consumer costs. The benefit to consumers is estimated to be around a combined £330m to £770m annually for the initial package which has been implemented and the second package which is currently being consulted on.

The list of products for which tariff suspensions are proposed takes account of domestic production and food security and does not include any significant UK primary agriculture production. The list of products is subject to further engagement with the farming industry, food manufacturers and other stakeholders. This call for input is due to close on 24^th June.

The UK grocery market is highly competitive, and we expect that retailers will pass on the full cost savings.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consultation was undertaken with downstream steel-using industries before the decision to reduce tariff-free steel import quotas and increase safeguard tariffs from 1 July 2026; whether a full economic impact assessment was produced; and if he will publish any analysis of the expected effects on manufacturing output, business investment and employment.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government held extensive consultations with both primary steel producers and downstream users to inform development of the trade measure, including a Call for Evidence in July 2025. We will continue engaging regularly with companies across the supply chain, through Ministerial and official level engagement, and will monitor implementation of the measure. This includes conducting a review after 12 months to ensure it remains effective and that the balance is right for both producers and downstream users.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the recent announcement of changes to steel safeguard measures due to take effect on 1 July 2026, what assessment he has made of the availability of specialist steel grades and alloys that are not currently produced in the UK; what categories of steel products will remain exempt from the revised quotas and tariffs; and whether he plans to introduce further exemptions where no domestic alternative exists.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The new steel trade measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply for downstream users, including the makeup and length of the transitional arrangement to ease short term impacts. It is not possible to give an estimate of the volume and value of steel subject to contractual commitments before 14 March 2026 given that information is held by individual businesses. However, our measure design has been informed by last year’s Call for Evidence which attracted 100 responses from industry.

The measure has also been designed to only cover steel requirements that can be met in the UK. Where this is not feasible for technical reasons, for example where product codes contain both steel products that can be made in the UK and products that cannot be made, quotas sizes are being set with the aim of allowing continued availability of goods to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs. We will continue to monitor the impact of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure the balance is right between producers and downstream users.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the volume and value of steel imports that were subject to contractual commitments before the announcement of revised safeguard measures on 14 March 2026; what transitional arrangements will apply to such contracts after 1 July 2026; and whether he will consider extending the implementation period to avoid financial penalties for businesses that entered into agreements before the policy was announced.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The new steel trade measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply for downstream users, including the makeup and length of the transitional arrangement to ease short term impacts. It is not possible to give an estimate of the volume and value of steel subject to contractual commitments before 14 March 2026 given that information is held by individual businesses. However, our measure design has been informed by last year’s Call for Evidence which attracted 100 responses from industry.

The measure has also been designed to only cover steel requirements that can be met in the UK. Where this is not feasible for technical reasons, for example where product codes contain both steel products that can be made in the UK and products that cannot be made, quotas sizes are being set with the aim of allowing continued availability of goods to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs. We will continue to monitor the impact of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure the balance is right between producers and downstream users.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost to the Exchequer and expected economic impact on families of the temporary reduction in VAT on children's meals and summer attractions; what categories of business and attraction will be eligible for the scheme; what assessment she has made of the proportion of the tax reduction likely to be passed on through lower prices; and whether the Government intends to publish an evaluation of the scheme following its conclusion.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

From 25 June to 1 September the Government is introducing a temporary reduced rate of VAT on children's menu meals and eligible family attractions.

This is a targeted and temporary scheme to reduce the costs of children’s meals in restaurants, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and tickets for everyone for attractions like soft play, adventure centres, and theme parks, helping families enjoy a day out for less. Individual businesses should consult HMRC’s guidance to determine how the rules apply in their circumstances.

The temporary reduced rate is estimated to cost about £300m. All costings will be subject to certification in the next OBR forecast in the usual way.

The Government expects participating businesses to pass savings on to families by lowering the prices people pay on eligible children's meals and tickets, so the VAT cut is reflected directly at the till.

The impact of the measure will be kept under review through communication with affected taxpayer groups.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of revised steel safeguard measures due to take effect on 1 July 2026 on defence procurement programmes, including the AUKUS submarine programme; and whether he has raised concerns with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the availability and cost of specialist steel products required for defence manufacturing.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The new steel trade measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply so the UK can meet its defence and critical national infrastructure needs. I have engaged closely with my counterparts in other departments, including in the Ministry of Defence, in designing the measure.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is committed in principle to extending high-speed rail infrastructure beyond Birmingham in the future.

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

The Northern Growth Strategy set out the Government’s intention to ultimately deliver a full North-South new line between Birmingham and Manchester. We will conduct feasibility work, working with local partners on what will be delivered, when, and to what specifications.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many individuals identified in the Lovegrove report remain employed by (a) the Department for Transport, (b) HS2 Ltd and (c) other public bodies.

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

Sir Steven Lovegrove did not identify specific individuals in his review.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in tariff-free import quotas and increase in safeguard tariffs from 1 July 2026 on the number of businesses reliant on imported specialist steel products relocating production overseas; and whether his Department has modelled the potential impact on UK manufacturing capacity and exports.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government has held extensive consultations with industry to inform development of the new steel trade measure, including a Call for Evidence in July 2025, and will continue to engage with companies across the supply chain. The measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply so the UK can meet its defence and critical national infrastructure needs. We will continue to monitor the impact of the measure and review it after 12 months to ensure the balance is right between producers and downstream users.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of rolling stock continuing to be leased from private rolling stock companies following the transfer of train operators into public ownership on the public purse; whether alternative ownership structures are under consideration as part of the development of Great British Railways; and what discussions have taken place with the Office for National Statistics regarding the future accounting treatment of rolling stock leases in the National Accounts.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is considering these issues as part of the development of the Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy, to be published later this year. It will set out how we will secure rolling stock that supports consistent, reliable services for passengers, while reducing the net subsidy of the railway to provide value for money for the taxpayer.

Following the transfer of train operations into public ownership, existing rolling stock lease arrangements will continue in place ensuring the continuity of services. We recognise the significant investment that the private sector has brought to the rolling stock market.

The Department engages with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on classification matters in the usual way. However, classification decisions are made independently by the ONS.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has agreements, memoranda of understanding, or governance frameworks setting out the role of regional transport authorities in decisions relating to rail service levels, fleet allocation, or rolling stock transfers under public ownership; and whether her Department has plans to standardise arrangements across combined authorities as part of the establishment of Great British Railways.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There are no generic agreements, memoranda of understanding, or governance frameworks covering the subject set out in the question, although individual rail devolution agreements that existed prior to public ownership (such as with West Midlands Rail Executive) have continued for the time being.

Great British Railways (GBR) will agree partnerships with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) to enable closer joint working on rail and wider transport priorities, giving Mayors genuine influence over outcomes while maintaining national integration.

The GBR Mayoral Partnership Framework, included in the Railways Bill consultation in February 2025, offers a range of options for MSAs to exercise their statutory roles, in partnership with GBR. This includes new statutory roles proposed by the Railways Bill.

The detail of specific partnerships will vary and will ultimately be for GBR to agree with respective MSAs. This will ensure that they can meet the differing ambitions of mayors for the local rail network in their areas.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether formal risk assessments undertaken ahead of the transfer of West Midlands Trains into public ownership identified risks relating to service frequency, fleet availability, or passenger performance; how frequently such risks are reviewed under the Public Ownership Programme; and whether Ministers have received advice regarding the potential impact of future rolling stock reallocations on passenger fares and overcrowding in the West Midlands.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A formal risk review process was undertaken on a four-weekly basis ahead of the transfer of West Midlands Trains into public ownership, but these reviews related to the safe, secure and legal delivery of the transfer, rather than risks relating to service frequency, fleet availability, or passenger performance, because the intention of each transfer to public ownership is that there is no immediate change to the day to day operation.

No advice has been received by Ministers regarding the potential impact of future rolling stock reallocations on passenger fares and overcrowding in the West Midlands, as there are no plans to change such allocations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the total cost of transferring West Midlands Trains into public ownership, including legal, consultancy, procurement, and transition management costs; what estimate she has made of any additional annual operating costs arising from public ownership compared with the previous operator model; and whether she plans to publish an aggregated transition cost assessment.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since the start of the pandemic, the net costs of operating franchised passenger services have been borne by taxpayers, not by private train operators. The transfer of West Midlands Trains’ services into public ownership is expected to reduce the Government’s financial exposure, as a result of savings in the fees currently paid to privately-owned train operating companies. Once all services currently delivered under contract with the Department have transferred, public ownership will save taxpayers an estimated £110 million to £150 million every year.

The Department and DFTO have no current plans to publish an aggregated transition cost assessment for West Midlands Trains.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish (a) targets and (b) measurable outcomes as part of the Mental Health Strategy for England.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The new Mental Health Strategy for England will aim to transform mental health care into a system that provides timely support that matches people’s needs and circumstances, reduces waiting times for support, and responds earlier before distress escalates. A key aim will be to reorient the mental health system towards greater emphasis on participation in areas such as education, employment, and community life.

The strategy will be informed by the findings and recommendations from the independent review into prevalence and support for mental health, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism, which is due to publish a final report in summer. It will also be informed by the responses to the Call for Evidence, which is currently open for eight weeks and will close on 10 July.

The Call for Evidence invites views from service providers, clinicians, academics, and advocacy groups, asking for practical examples and implementation evidence to on how to implement improvements in outcomes across the life course. In particular, it asks how data can be used more innovatively to improve mental health and wider societal outcomes.

Through developing the strategy, we will engage with stakeholders, experts, and people with lived experience on how to track progress of the strategy, including potential targets.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of additional mental health professionals required to deliver the proposed Mental Health Strategy for England; how he plans to improve recruitment and retention across psychiatry, mental health nursing and psychological therapies; and whether he plans to further expand training places.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government has already made significant progress in strengthening the mental health workforce, including by delivering our commitment to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health staff three years ahead of schedule, which will help to ease pressure on services and expand access to care.

We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. We will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

But there is much more to do. That is why we are developing the new cross-Government mental health strategy for England which will aim to transform mental health care into a system that responds earlier, reduces waiting times for support, and intervenes before distress escalates to diagnosis or crisis. Transforming the system will take time, but we are committed to delivering a different approach.

We have not made an estimate of the number of additional mental health professionals required to deliver the strategy. The strategy reflects the need for a new approach to mental health, where support better matches people’s needs and circumstances, including through support delivered within and beyond the NHS.

The Call for Evidence, which is open until 10 July, invites views on the main enablers that are needed for delivering services and this vision, such as workforce.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the cost of delivering HS2 Euston station; how much of that cost is included within the £87.7 billion to £102.7 billion cost range announced on 19 May 2026; and what proportion of the station cost the Government expects to be funded through private investment.

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

Drawing on lessons learned from previous experience, the Department is taking the time to complete the necessary work to establish a robust baseline before seeking to set budgets for Euston.

Our private finance and funding package for Euston includes options to use a public-private partnership (PPP) to deliver the HS2 station, a Tax Increment Financing mechanism for local infrastructure upgrades, and development proceeds from government land holdings. The precise amounts that can be raised from these sources will depend on commercial negotiations, market appetite and development quantum.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Mental Health Strategy for England on waiting times for mental health services; what steps he is taking to ensure that a shift towards earlier intervention and community-based support does not result in reduced access to specialist clinical treatment for those with severe mental illness; and whether he plans to publish modelling on projected workforce and funding requirements arising from the strategy.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The new cross-Government mental health strategy for England will aim to transform mental health care into a system that responds earlier, reduces waiting times for support, and intervenes before distress escalates to diagnosis or crisis. This includes a shift towards more community-based and preventative support, alongside improving how services are delivered.

We are clear that this shift must go hand in hand with high-quality treatment for those with the most severe and complex needs. There will always be a need for specialist inpatient care, which should be safe, high-quality, recovery-focused, and delivered in the least restrictive way possible.

The strategy will align closely with the reformed Mental Health Act 2025 and the Modern Service Framework for severe mental illness, which will set consistency in quality standards across the country so that patients and families get the best quality, evidence-based treatment and support.

National Health Service mental health spending is forecast to increase to a record £16.1 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, and the Government has met its commitment to hire an extra 8,500 mental health workers, three years ahead of schedule. The Call for Evidence therefore seeks feedback on how we can better maximise the impact of our existing policies, such as mental health support teams and community-based mental health services. It also invites views on the main factors that are needed for delivering services, such as workforce.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what eligibility criteria will apply to the £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund and the £120 million ceramics support package; what estimate he has made of the number of businesses and jobs that will benefit from each scheme; how funding will be allocated between capital investment, energy efficiency and other support measures; and when applications for support will open.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government is working to determine the scope of these funds and will provide further detail on this and the application process in due course. It is Government’s intent to open these funds to applications in summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to recover public money from contractors and suppliers whose actions contributed to cost overruns identified in the Lovegrove report.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Sir Steven Lovegrove's review contains a number of recommendations that the government will give due consideration, as it did with James Stewart’s review. The Lovegrove Review's terms of reference were not to duplicate prior inquiries but to take them as a starting point and to consider the implications for the Civil Service and the wider public sector. As such, it didn’t identify any new cost overruns.

As part of the ongoing HS2 Programme Reset, HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild is reviewing contracts to ensure the right incentives are in place to drive delivery and has tightened spending controls with new specialist roles scrutinising every payment to contractors and suppliers. That’s an approach that’s paying off, with six major construction milestones achieved ahead of their target date in 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any (a) current or former Ministers, (b) senior civil servants, (c) HS2 Ltd executives and (d) HS2 Ltd contractors have been referred for (i) disciplinary action, (ii) misconduct proceedings and (iii) investigation as a result of the findings of the Lovegrove report.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Sir Steven Lovegrove's review contains a number of recommendations that the government will give due consideration, as it did with James Stewart’s review, and will respond in due course. The government has already acted decisively to turn the tide on past mismanagement by fundamentally resetting how the programme is governed and delivered.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what budget has been allocated to the feasibility study into future rail connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester; what options will be considered; whether construction of a new high-speed railway will be included among those options; and when the Government expects to publish its conclusions.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The budget for feasibility work on future rail connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester will draw on provision made for future network planning work. The Government has made it clear however that we will not be bringing back HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester. The feasibility work is expected to conclude in 2028.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of schools and colleges on delivering the proposed Mental Health Strategy for England; what additional funding and guidance will be provided to education settings to support mental health provision; and how he plans to ensure consistency in the availability and quality of Mental Health Support Teams across different regions.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The new mental health strategy for England will aim to transform mental health care, including through intervening earlier before distress escalates to diagnosis or crisis, and by supporting children and young people to remain active and engaged in education, family and community life.

The strategy will consider the important role of schools and other education settings, alongside the voluntary sector, local government, and other partners, in delivering a whole-system approach beyond the National Health Service that responds proportionately to children and young people’s mental health needs as they emerge. We also want to promote positive mental health and strengthen psychoeducation so that children, young people, and families are better supported through a whole-school and whole-college approach.

We are also taking action to ensure consistency in the availability and quality of Mental Health Support Teams. We are accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges to reach full national coverage by 2029. The independent evaluation of Mental Health Support Teams has provided important evidence on what supports effective delivery, and those findings are being used to inform implementation as rollout continues. We are also investing £13 million to pilot enhanced training for staff, so that they can offer more support to young people with complex needs, such as trauma, neurodivergence, and disordered eating.

The Call for Evidence, which is open for eight weeks and will close on 10 July, invites views on practical, implementation evidence when it comes to preventing and responding to mental ill health and distress in settings beyond the NHS, including in school settings.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria were used to determine departmental ODA allocations set out in the Spending Review 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 May in response to Questions 1966-69.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the £1 billion climate initiative announced at the Global Partnerships Conference will be funded from existing ODA budgets; and how much will constitute new expenditure.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

British International Investment (BII) will invest over £1 billion over the next five years through a new climate initiative called British Climate Partners (BCP), expected to unlock an additional £3.5 billion in private capital over the lifetime of the investments.

This initiative will mobilise investment to support the clean energy transition in high emitting emerging markets with an initial focus on Asia. The majority of funding for the initiative will come from BII's existing assets, although Official Development Assistance funding to BII will also support it.

On other matters the Rt Hon Member asked about, details of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) portfolio and its anticipated impact can be found on the Dev Tracker website and in the GRTD Approach Paper published on GOV.UK; and Communities of Expertise activities are embedded within wider programme and research spending - rather than managed under a standalone budget line or business case - which enables UK and global experts to be brought together to respond to partner country priorities, as and when required.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of private capital expected to be mobilised annually through the climate initiative announced at the Global Partnerships Conference.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

British International Investment (BII) will invest over £1 billion over the next five years through a new climate initiative called British Climate Partners (BCP), expected to unlock an additional £3.5 billion in private capital over the lifetime of the investments.

This initiative will mobilise investment to support the clean energy transition in high emitting emerging markets with an initial focus on Asia. The majority of funding for the initiative will come from BII's existing assets, although Official Development Assistance funding to BII will also support it.

On other matters the Rt Hon Member asked about, details of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) portfolio and its anticipated impact can be found on the Dev Tracker website and in the GRTD Approach Paper published on GOV.UK; and Communities of Expertise activities are embedded within wider programme and research spending - rather than managed under a standalone budget line or business case - which enables UK and global experts to be brought together to respond to partner country priorities, as and when required.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to publish the (a) business case and (b) expected development impact of the Global Research and Technology Development portfolio announced at the Global Partnerships Conference.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

British International Investment (BII) will invest over £1 billion over the next five years through a new climate initiative called British Climate Partners (BCP), expected to unlock an additional £3.5 billion in private capital over the lifetime of the investments.

This initiative will mobilise investment to support the clean energy transition in high emitting emerging markets with an initial focus on Asia. The majority of funding for the initiative will come from BII's existing assets, although Official Development Assistance funding to BII will also support it.

On other matters the Rt Hon Member asked about, details of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) portfolio and its anticipated impact can be found on the Dev Tracker website and in the GRTD Approach Paper published on GOV.UK; and Communities of Expertise activities are embedded within wider programme and research spending - rather than managed under a standalone budget line or business case - which enables UK and global experts to be brought together to respond to partner country priorities, as and when required.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what budget has been allocated to the Communities of Expertise established following the Global Partnerships Conference in each financial year to 2029-30.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

British International Investment (BII) will invest over £1 billion over the next five years through a new climate initiative called British Climate Partners (BCP), expected to unlock an additional £3.5 billion in private capital over the lifetime of the investments.

This initiative will mobilise investment to support the clean energy transition in high emitting emerging markets with an initial focus on Asia. The majority of funding for the initiative will come from BII's existing assets, although Official Development Assistance funding to BII will also support it.

On other matters the Rt Hon Member asked about, details of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) portfolio and its anticipated impact can be found on the Dev Tracker website and in the GRTD Approach Paper published on GOV.UK; and Communities of Expertise activities are embedded within wider programme and research spending - rather than managed under a standalone budget line or business case - which enables UK and global experts to be brought together to respond to partner country priorities, as and when required.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of the UK's ODA budget is allocated to locally led development initiatives in each year from 2025-26 to 2027-28.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations set out on 19 March 2026 (HCWS1425) reflect how the Government is modernising and improving our approach to international development. Guided by the four essential shifts underpinning the modern development approach, we are working with partners to ensure ODA is localised in a contextually fitting manner throughout the spending review period, and we will continually monitor the impact of these changes to ensure they are working effectively as intended.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to measure the effectiveness of the Government's new partnership-based and locally led approach to development.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations set out on 19 March 2026 (HCWS1425) reflect how the Government is modernising and improving our approach to international development. Guided by the four essential shifts underpinning the modern development approach, we are working with partners to ensure ODA is localised in a contextually fitting manner throughout the spending review period, and we will continually monitor the impact of these changes to ensure they are working effectively as intended.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that Sudanese women-led organisations are involved in the design and delivery of the new programme addressing conflict-related sexual violence; and whether safeguards will be in place to prevent international organisations from dominating decision-making in that programme.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers provided on 29 April in response to Question 128991, on 21 April in response to Question 127491, and on 23 March in response to Question HL15438, as well as the many statements and debates in both Houses where these issues have been discussed in recent months. We will set out further updates on our work in this area in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what risk assessments have been carried out to ensure that FCDO-funded services can safely reach survivors in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas of Sudan; and what steps the Department is taking to mitigate the risks of aid diversion or harm to beneficiaries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers provided on 29 April in response to Question 128991, on 21 April in response to Question 127491, and on 23 March in response to Question HL15438, as well as the many statements and debates in both Houses where these issues have been discussed in recent months. We will set out further updates on our work in this area in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent violence against women and girls in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers provided on 29 April in response to Question 128991, on 21 April in response to Question 127491, and on 23 March in response to Question HL15438, as well as the many statements and debates in both Houses where these issues have been discussed in recent months. We will set out further updates on our work in this area in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of media freedom in Belarus; and what steps she is taking to support independent journalists and media organisations operating in and reporting on that country.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Media freedom in Belarus remains severely restricted, with recent steps such as the designation of BBC Russian‑language content as "extremist material" underlining the ongoing deterioration. The UK supports independent journalists and media organisations through our wider work on human rights and media freedom, including engagement with civil society and support for organisations in exile.

We also raise our concerns in international fora, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and UN, and support programmes to strengthen media resilience and the safety of journalists, including through our wider work as current co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition.

The Prime Minister and I met Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya this month to reiterate UK support for the democratic rights of the Belarusian people.

Independent Rape Gang Inquiry Report

Houses in multiple occupation

Found: (Liberal Democrat, Chichester) (added 13 Nov 2024; removed 13 Nov 2025) 27 of 36 (75.0%) Wendy Morton