Birmingham City Council: Elections
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether HM Courts & Tribunals Service holds a copy of the court transcript for the election court hearings, “In the matter of a local government election of the Bordesley Green Ward and Aston Ward of the Birmingh
HMCTS is unable to answer the question as the hearing was administered by another organisation. From research conducted, it is believed that the hearings were held at the ‘Birmingham and Midland Institute’, where Judge Mawrey was sitting as an Election Co...
Creative Foundations Fund
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the outcomes of the Creative Foundations Fund are distributed equitably across the country.
The first round of the Creative Foundations Fund awarded £96 million to 74 arts and cultural organisations in England. Of these, 58 projects—accounting for 78% of the total projects awarded—were located outside of London. Arts Council England, the fund’s ...
UK Town of Culture
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her department plans to announce the UK Town of Culture.
We are delighted by the interest and excitement there has been in the UK Town of Culture competition. We have seen an incredible amount of support from across the whole country with hundreds of towns submitting their bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2...
Erasmus+ Programme
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125527 on Erasmus+ Programme, if he will provide the direct relevant hyperlink to the specific amendments to Protocol I.
Decision No 1/2026 of the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, amends Protocol I of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This Decision sets out the specific amendments to Protocol I and can ...
Economic Growth: Staffordshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help increase economic growth in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
The Department for Business and Trade is supporting economic growth across the UK, including in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, through the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, championing free trade agreements (including the recently announced Free T...
Driving Tests
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what conversations she is having with the DVSA about the pressures faced by the DVSA booking system to manage new and repeated attempts to pass the ADI Part 3 test.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has seen unprecedented numbers of applications from people wishing to become approved driving instructors (ADI) - a 152% increase since 2018-19. Alongside this, the pass rate for the part 3 test has declined,...
Artillery: Procurement
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Next-generation remote controlled artillery systems to transform British Army, published on 13 May 2026, when did discussions regarding the procurement of RCH155 start
The project entered its concept phase in late 2018.
Sports: Disability
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase the provision of disability sport in Lincolnshire.
The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone. Our arm’s length body, Sport England, ensures that each of their programmes impact directly on disabled people and those with long-term hea...
UK Trade with EU: Dispute Resolution
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 15 April 2026, to Question 125413, on UK Trade with EU: Dispute Resolution, where the public expression of interest for the UK panellists was published and advertised.
The call for panellists was published on gov.uk, and can be found here.
Retail Trade: Crime
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of illegal activities in high street businesses on legitimate businesses.
The criminal exploitation of the high street has a significant impact on communities and erodes public trust in legitimate businesses. It undermines competition, discourages investment, and contributes to the decline of once-thriving high streets.The Home...
Ian Horobin
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119406 on Ian Horobin, how are conventions on such peerage matters (a) established and (b) amended.
Conventions form part of our uncodified constitution. They are rules of constitutional practice that are generally accepted, and regarded as binding in operation, but not in law. Conventions are not static, but are developed and evolve to reflect changing...
Hereditary Peers
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the King's Speech 2026: background briefing notes, published 13 May 2026, on the Removal of Peerages Bill, whether the powers will apply to hereditary peers.
As set out in the King’s Speech, the Government will introduce legislation to create a mechanism to remove peerages from disgraced peers, and will provide further details in due course. As he will be aware, there are no longer any Members of the House of ...
Public Appointments
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many direct ministerial appointments currently in post have not had details of their appointment added to the direct ministerial appointment portal on gov.uk.
As set out in the responses to questions 116770 and 123216, the responsibility for the publication of information on Direct Ministerial Appointments rests with individual sponsor departments. The Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments states t...
Poultry: Animal Housing
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the British Veterinary Association's press release entitled British Veterinary Association calls for an end to all cages for laying hens, published on 27 April 2026,
The Department continues to consider the latest scientific research and evidence to improve the welfare of farmed animals, including laying hens. A UK-wide consultation, on a proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, closed...
Electricity: Prices
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Contracts for Difference scheme in decoupling wholesale electricity prices from gas price volatility for household consumers.
The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has been successful in bringing forth new renewable assets at fixed, competitive prices. AR7 was the most successful round ever and secured 14.7 GW of new clean energy. CfDs are already beginning to decouple elect...
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme: Hepatitis
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of assessed claims by living infected individuals with hepatitis have been awarded a Financial Loss and Care Award at Level 3 or above in each of the last three years.
The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA publishes fortnightly statistics on their website, detailing those who have registered their intent to claim with the service and the progress in deliverin...
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme: Hepatitis
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, based on claims registered with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, how many claims made by living infected individuals with hepatitis (either mono infected or co infected) have been assessed as qualifyin
The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA publishes fortnightly statistics on their website, detailing those who have registered their intent to claim with the service and the progress in deliverin...
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of the estates relating to individuals who died aged over 18 do not have an associated claim registered by a widow or child.
The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA publishes fortnightly statistics on their website, detailing those who have registered their intent to claim with the service and the progress in deliverin...
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, of the estates that have registered claims with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, how many relate to individuals who died aged over 18.
The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA publishes fortnightly statistics on their website, detailing those who have registered their intent to claim with the service and the progress in deliverin...
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many claims registered with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority have been registered by estates of people who died as a result of infected blood.
The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). IBCA publishes fortnightly statistics on their website, detailing those who have registered their intent to claim with the service and the progress in deliverin...
Foie Gras and Furs: Imports
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's timeline is for banning the import of foie gras and fur into the UK.
This Government is committed to delivering the most ambitious animal welfare programme in a generation as set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy. The UK does not permit fur farming or the production of foie gras using force feeding, which the Government h...
Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of an EU youth mobility scheme on (a) domestic unemployment levels, (b) domestic welfare dependency and (c) the number of young UK nationals in work.
This Government is committed to ensuring opportunities for young British citizens to live, work, study, and travel across the European Union. That is why at the 2025 UK-EU Summit, we agreed to negotiate a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We h...
Noise: Greater Manchester
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce noise pollution in a) Stockport and b) Greater Manchester.
The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed effectively to promote good health and minimise disruption to people’s quality of life. A key tool for managing noise, mainly from transport, is the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 20...
USA: Airspace and Military Bases
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what definition he uses for defensive operations in relation to United States use of UK bases and airspace.
The UK Government’s legal position on defensive action in respect of Iranian regional attacks can be found here: Summary of the UK Government legal position: The legality of defensive action in respect of Iranian regional attacks - GOV.UK
Prime Minister: Diaries
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 129162 on Cabinet Office: Written Questions and further to the ICO Decision Notice IC-382003-M4X6 issued to the Cabinet Office on 29 January 2026, how ma
Details of official meetings held in a ministerial capacity with external organisations or individuals are declared quarterly on GOV.UK. Party political meetings and events are a matter for the Labour Party.