Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in the review of the visa brake on student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon; and whether any consideration is being given to the specific circumstances of women from Afghanistan in that review.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The visa brake is being kept under regular review. It is not intended to be permanent, and will be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so.
The government has no current plans to introduce any exceptions to the visa brake. However, the government has recently announced the development of new safe and legal routes to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution from around the world. We will ensure that these routes will be sustainable, well-managed and in line with UK capacity to support new refugees. It is expected that the student refugee route will be open for applications from Autumn 2026, with the first students arriving in Autumn 2027.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support vulnerable people to meet Public Health England's recommended minimum home temperatures.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has produced public-facing guidance on Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather which sets out who might be more vulnerable to cold weather and why, advice on how to keep homes warm, links to energy saving tips, energy efficiency measures, Government support available for those on low incomes, and links to further information from the Met Office, Age UK, and NHS England.
UKHSA has also produced guidance for those caring for and working with the most vulnerable during cold periods, including for adult social care managers and healthcare professionals. Action cards are available for commissioners, health and social care providers, and the voluntary and community sector.
UKHSA also holds winter preparedness webinars to support partners to assess risks to their most vulnerable residents and put measures in place to support them ahead of cold periods.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Public Health England's recommended minimum home temperatures for vulnerable people.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) brings together guidance and key actions for local and national partners to prepare, build, and respond to adverse weather events, including cold periods. It includes guidance for keeping homes warm in cold weather, and links to the UKHSA’s Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather guidance which recommends keeping commonly used rooms at a minimum of 18 degrees.
The plan is regularly reviewed based on the latest evidence, our experience in implementing the plan, feedback from users of the plan, and the recommendations of the AWHP reports.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure Scotland benefits fully from the delivery plan for the Seventh Carbon Budget.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government continues to pursue policies which deliver tangible improvements to the everyday lives of people across the whole of the United Kingdom, harnessing the benefits and opportunities of the transition. We work closely with the Devolved Governments in the development of these policies.
A delivery plan setting out how Carbon Budget 7 will be met will be published as soon as is reasonably practical, in line with the Climate Change Act 2008.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing legislation to prevent the carrying of crossbows in public buildings, including hospitals and educational institutions.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is an offence in England and Wales, under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, for any person to have with them in a public place any article made, or adapted, for causing an injury to a person without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. The maximum penalty, on conviction or indictment, is four years in prison, a fine or both.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Human Rights report on Transnational Repression in the UK, and whether Sikh and Punjabi communities are explicitly reflected in transnational repression guidance and risk assessments.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Government carefully considered the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ report on transnational repression (TNR) and responded formally on 30 October 2025.
The Government’s approach to TNR is designed to capture the full range of behaviours and victims, ensuring flexibility in responding to the threat and avoiding the risk of stigmatising communities. The Government agrees that the approach to TNR must remain responsive to the evolving nature of the threat and that it keeps this under regular review, informed by operational insights and ongoing engagement with civil society organisations and trusted networks.
GOV.UK guidance has recently been updated, alongside guidance issued by the National Security Protective Authority, providing practical advice for individuals who believe they may be at risk, including steps to help keep them safe both physically and online.
Asked by: Zubir Ahmed (Labour - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the potential impact of the Chancellor’s statement on public spending inheritance of 29 July 2024 on public sector pay in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The financial inheritance - the worst inherited by any incoming Government since World War 2 - was compounded by the unforeseen £22 billion black hole in spending left by the previous Government. This means we face hard choices we didn’t expect or want to make to fix the foundations of our economy.
What the previous Government did - spending the Treasury reserves three times over by July - was reckless and unforgivable. They also for the first time excluded an affordability clause from the Pay Bodies and the SNP had no set pay back either.
The Scottish Government is responsible for public sector pay awards for devolved workforces. Barnett consequentials and Supplementary Estimates for 2024-25 will be confirmed at the budget in October and the Spending Review will set block grant funding up to at least 2027-28. This will allow the devolved governments to financially plan over a longer period of time.