Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of businesses were assessed as being in critical financial distress in the second quarter of this year in (1) Wales, (2) England, (3) Scotland, and (4) Northern Ireland; and how these figures compare with those recorded in each of the preceding four quarters.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Official data on business vulnerability is not published by the Department.
Growth is this government’s number one mission and our plan is to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, with a culture that supports entrepreneurship in every community and high street. The Small Business Plan was launched in July 2025 and contains 200 targeted actions which will make a real difference to the operations of small businesses and help them grow. With a £4bn finance boost to increase access to finance for entrepreneurs, the British Business Bank promotes the provision of better access-to-finance information for UK SMEs. The Growth Guarantee Scheme helps businesses access loans up to £2 million per business group to be used for any business purpose, including growth and investment or working capital.
On 14th July 2026, the Chancellor announced access-to-finance measures through supporting:
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure cross border policing is effectively maintained across Northern Ireland and Ireland's border.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government remains committed to maintaining effective cross-border policing and security cooperation between Northern Ireland and Ireland. It holds regular discussions with the Irish Government on a range of issues, including cross-border security. Policing and Justice are devolved in Northern Ireland and a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. There is a strong and well-established culture of collaboration between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and An Garda Síochána (AGS).
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the economic and social contribution of greyhound racing in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the important contribution that greyhound racing makes to Britain's cultural heritage, sporting landscape and economy.
The Department has not made a separate assessment of the economic and social contribution of greyhound racing in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland individually.
The most recent information available to the Department is provided by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). According to GBGB, greyhound racing contributes approximately £166 million annually to Britain's GDP, around £52 million to the Exchequer, and supports approximately 5,400 jobs across Great Britain.
The Government continues to engage regularly with the greyhound racing industry, including the GBGB, on issues relating to the sustainability, welfare and future development of the sport.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Minister of State for Development and Africa will attend Cabinet.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
A full list of ministers, including their status at Cabinet, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers, and is copied below:
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has assessed the potential impact of her Department's place-targeting approach on (a) investment in London-based media companies, (b) journalism jobs in London and (c) the UK’s wider media and creative industries.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The department has adopted a new approach to place targeting across DCMS programmes that aim to improve social and community outcomes. Evidence points clearly to economic and social outcomes being systematically worse in places where both deprivation and community need is highest; places experiencing ‘double disadvantage.’ The department has implemented a focus on targeting these ‘double disadvantage’ places – to ensure that our funding is concentrated in the communities where we can make the biggest difference. This approach does not limit investment to Northern Regions, but focuses DCMS investment designed to build community cohesion and enhance opportunity in those places that need it most, including places in the South and Midlands. This approach to place targeting will benefit the UK as a whole, generating broad based economic growth across England to create a more balanced national economy, supporting stability and growth in London and across the rest of the UK.
DCMS applies this approach to relevant programmes aimed at improving social, community and wellbeing outcomes across all of our sectors – covering arts, culture and heritage, sport, civil society and youth. This approach will not be applied to programmes aimed primarily at driving economic growth or programmes that clearly have a distinct objective.
For media and journalism, as part of the Local Media Action Plan to support local journalism across the country, the department has launched a Local News Fund, to help local media outlets adapt to commercial and technological changes and revive a local news presence in areas where it has retreated. While final decisions on awards will take into consideration diversity in award allocation, including geographical distribution, those decisions are ultimately being guided by a Steering Board of external industry experts, to ensure a degree of independence in government decisions about funding of the media.
For the creative industries, London is identified as a priority place in the Creative Industries Sector Plan. Place-based policies in the creative industries aim to address regional market failures and support our high-growth potential creative clusters.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that support from her Department for northern regions does not inadvertently disincentivise investment and employment in London.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The department has adopted a new approach to place targeting across DCMS programmes that aim to improve social and community outcomes. Evidence points clearly to economic and social outcomes being systematically worse in places where both deprivation and community need is highest; places experiencing ‘double disadvantage.’ The department has implemented a focus on targeting these ‘double disadvantage’ places – to ensure that our funding is concentrated in the communities where we can make the biggest difference. This approach does not limit investment to Northern Regions, but focuses DCMS investment designed to build community cohesion and enhance opportunity in those places that need it most, including places in the South and Midlands. This approach to place targeting will benefit the UK as a whole, generating broad based economic growth across England to create a more balanced national economy, supporting stability and growth in London and across the rest of the UK.
DCMS applies this approach to relevant programmes aimed at improving social, community and wellbeing outcomes across all of our sectors – covering arts, culture and heritage, sport, civil society and youth. This approach will not be applied to programmes aimed primarily at driving economic growth or programmes that clearly have a distinct objective.
For media and journalism, as part of the Local Media Action Plan to support local journalism across the country, the department has launched a Local News Fund, to help local media outlets adapt to commercial and technological changes and revive a local news presence in areas where it has retreated. While final decisions on awards will take into consideration diversity in award allocation, including geographical distribution, those decisions are ultimately being guided by a Steering Board of external industry experts, to ensure a degree of independence in government decisions about funding of the media.
For the creative industries, London is identified as a priority place in the Creative Industries Sector Plan. Place-based policies in the creative industries aim to address regional market failures and support our high-growth potential creative clusters.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department’s place-targeting approach to investment on the media and journalism sector in London.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The department has adopted a new approach to place targeting across DCMS programmes that aim to improve social and community outcomes. Evidence points clearly to economic and social outcomes being systematically worse in places where both deprivation and community need is highest; places experiencing ‘double disadvantage.’ The department has implemented a focus on targeting these ‘double disadvantage’ places – to ensure that our funding is concentrated in the communities where we can make the biggest difference. This approach does not limit investment to Northern Regions, but focuses DCMS investment designed to build community cohesion and enhance opportunity in those places that need it most, including places in the South and Midlands. This approach to place targeting will benefit the UK as a whole, generating broad based economic growth across England to create a more balanced national economy, supporting stability and growth in London and across the rest of the UK.
DCMS applies this approach to relevant programmes aimed at improving social, community and wellbeing outcomes across all of our sectors – covering arts, culture and heritage, sport, civil society and youth. This approach will not be applied to programmes aimed primarily at driving economic growth or programmes that clearly have a distinct objective.
For media and journalism, as part of the Local Media Action Plan to support local journalism across the country, the department has launched a Local News Fund, to help local media outlets adapt to commercial and technological changes and revive a local news presence in areas where it has retreated. While final decisions on awards will take into consideration diversity in award allocation, including geographical distribution, those decisions are ultimately being guided by a Steering Board of external industry experts, to ensure a degree of independence in government decisions about funding of the media.
For the creative industries, London is identified as a priority place in the Creative Industries Sector Plan. Place-based policies in the creative industries aim to address regional market failures and support our high-growth potential creative clusters.
Asked by: Imogen Walker (Labour - Hamilton and Clyde Valley)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of barriers to digital connectivity in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the importance of accelerating gigabit-capable broadband deployment across the UK and keeps barriers to digital connectivity under review through engagement with industry, Ofcom and the Devolved Administrations. Through Project Gigabit, contracts have been signed since 2024 to connect a further 846,770 premises across the UK, including 77,640 premises in Scotland.
Openreach is currently delivering a Project Gigabit contract covering areas across Central, Northern and Western Scotland, as well as Dumfries and Galloway. Over 6,500 premises have already gained coverage as part of this delivery. In addition to this, GoFibre is delivering Project Gigabit contracts across the North East of Scotland and the Borders and East Lothian. BDUK and The Scottish Government are due to publish delivery updates on these contracts soon.
On 14 July the then Minister for Digital Economy wrote to her Scottish Government counterpart to emphasise that DCMS officials stand ready to continue discussions on targeted measures to support broadband deployment in Scotland, particularly in relation to deployments in multi-dwelling units.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department is doing to support mental health in the Armed Forces; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of those support services for (a) serving members and (b) veterans.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages personnel to consider their mental fitness as equally as important as their physical fitness promoting good mental resilience and mitigating the negative impacts of potential traumatic experiences.
The Department encourages early identification and intervention for those experiencing mental health challenges and actively promotes a culture where Personnel feel comfortable seeking help without stigma.
Personnel have access to a vast range of resources to support their mental health with both in-person and online options, briefings before, during, and post-deployment, a dedicated 24 hour phoneline for both personnel and their families and access to HeadFIT; an externally accessible website specifically designed for the Defence community. All Personnel, undertake a mandated annual mental fitness brief which provides information on mental health, wellbeing, stress management, and provides signposting to appropriate help.
Personnel who are experiencing a mental health disorder are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service. DPHC has introduced standardised training for primary care clinicians incorporating emerging digital interventions to ensure Personnel can access initial mental healthcare at any Defence medical centre, strengthening the initial management of mental health disorders within primary care settings.
Defence Mental Health Networks (DMHNs) are located across the UK and are improving access to specialist mental health services for Personnel. These specialist community mental health services provide enhanced access to expert assessment and treatment for those experiencing mental health disorders.
Defence Mental Health Services are subject to ongoing review and assurance to ensure that provision remains safe, effective, accessible and responsive to the needs of Service personnel. Service performance and quality are monitored through established governance and assurance arrangements, including Internal Assurance Reviews (IARs), which provide structured assessment of service delivery, clinical governance and compliance with required standards. Services are also subject to independent scrutiny by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with findings and recommendations used to inform continuous improvement.
Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they are fit to fight and can fight back to fitness.
Veterans’ healthcare is the responsibility of the NHS; however, where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, Defence Medical Services works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.
In England, Op COURAGE provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for service leavers, reservists and veterans, with similar services available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps are being taken to improve broadband and digital infrastructure in rural areas.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK Government is delivering gigabit broadband to 99% of UK premises by 2032, through a mix of commercial and subsidised rollout, and has an ambition for all populated areas across the UK to be able to access higher quality standalone 5G by 2030; this includes rural communities across Northern Ireland.
As of January 2026, according to Ofcom reporting, 95% of premises in Northern Ireland have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection, this is above the UK average of 88%.
We are making good progress on Project Gigabit, and as of the end of March 2026, over 1.4 million premises in hard-to-reach communities across the UK had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes. A further 550,000 premises are currently included in Project Gigabit contracts for gigabit coverage in areas not covered by commercially funded plans.
Regarding Northern Ireland, In December 2025, a £34.6 million Project Gigabit contract was signed by the Northern Ireland Department for Economy with the broadband supplier Fibrus. This contract is funded by UK Government and will deliver gigabit-capable broadband to up to 9,330 premises across Northern Ireland, of which 3,080 have been reported complete.
The rollout of higher quality standalone 5G is commercially led by the network operators, and all three have committed significant investment plans which align with the UK Government’s ambition. The UK Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess what further action can be taken to support the sector in delivering comprehensive, high-quality connectivity.
In parallel we continue to work closely with the industry to identify and remove barriers to telecoms deployment where necessary and practical.