China: National Security
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy entitled National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British People in a Dangerous World, published on 24 June 20
Our approach to China is robust and consistent - we will co-operate where we can and challenge where we must. We are strengthening our domestic resilience, deepening alliances and partnerships overseas, and investing in capabilities, ensuring the UK is bo...
Defence: Space Technology
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in enabling closer cooperation with the EU on space secu
Whilst NATO remains the cornerstone of Europe’s collective defence, we wholly recognise the important role the EU plays in the security of Europe. That is why this Government agreed the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). The SDP makes provision...
Marine Protected Areas
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect marine conservation areas.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are protected from the point of designation by the planning and marine licensing regimes which cover activities such as dredging for aggregates and construction of offshore wind farms. Where the evidence shows this is necessa...
Lord Mandelson
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 115552 on Public Appointments, if he will publish the due diligence processes agreed by the Cabinet Office's Accounting Officer that were used as the basi
I refer the hon Member to ‘Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington - Volume I’, pages 10-14 and to the letter from the former ...
Lord Mandelson
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 27 April 2026, to Question 124843, on Civil Servants: Dismissal, whether his Department considers that Lord Mandelson gave false information or withheld relevant details during hi
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, the statement made by the Prime Minister on 20 April, and the Government’s response to the debate of 21 April, providing an update on the response to the Humble...
EU Cohesion Fund
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 15 April 2026 to Question 123696 on EU Cohesion Fund, for what reason joining the EU electricity market requires payments to reduce economic and social disparities.
The UK is not currently contributing to EU Cohesion Funds as a consequence of the UK/EU reset. The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy, alongside an electricity agreement. Any UK financial contribution would ...
Hunting
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of banning on trail hunting on countryside management.
On 26 March, Defra launched a Consultation on Proposals to Prohibit Trail Hunting in England and Wales which invites views on a range of matters including any potential environmental impacts of a ban. The consultation will be open until 18 June and Defra ...
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Recruitment
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what conversations she is having with the DVSA to support the recruitment of additional examiners in the Advanced Driving Instructor team.
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,...
EU Cohesion Fund
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 15 April 2026, to Question 123696, on EU Cohesion Fund, in which policy areas could the UK make payments towards EU cohesion or structural funds, following the EU/UK reset.
The UK is not currently contributing to EU Cohesion Funds as a consequence of the UK/EU reset. Whilst the EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy, alongside an electricity agreement, any contribution would be sub...
Environmental Stewardship Scheme
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Environmental Stewardship agreements at protecting wildlife habitats and increasing biodiversity.
Environmental Stewardship (ES) is a legacy scheme which operated in England under the framework of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. It was introduced in 2005 and closed to new applications in 2014. The scheme has been subject to ongoing monitoring and...
Global Counsel
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 114871 on Global Counsel, whether Lord Mandelson was in attendance at the dinners with Matthew Doyle.
I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 27 April providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves. As the Chief Secretar...
Lord Mandelson
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Lord Mandelson’s emails to and from John Pond will be disclosed at part of the Government response to the Humble Address.
I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 27 April providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves. As the Chief Secretar...
Pigs: Slaughterhouses
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to accept the recommendation of the Animal Welfare Committee's report entitled The welfare impacts on pigs of high concentration CO2 gas stunning and of po
I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 20 May 2026 to PQ UIN 316.
Heat Networks: Prices
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that households connected to heat networks are not disadvantaged compared to those using individual gas boilers as part of the transition to a low-carbon ene
The Government is committed to heat network consumers receiving a fair deal as we transition to a low-carbon energy system. WwWe have therefore introduced heat network regulation, including price protections, consumer standards and access to redress. The ...
By-elections: Aberdeen South and Makerfield
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 110418 on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if he will publish reminder guidance that has been issued on the Makerfield and Aberdeen South by-elections
An internal reminder of the rules governing the conduct of UK Government civil servants - which are an extension of those that apply at all times as set out in the Civil Service code - has been provided to departments in the usual way, following the calli...
Heat Networks: Price Caps
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a price protection mechanism for domestic consumers connected to heat networks, comparable to that provided by the Price Cap
Heat networks buy the energy they need through commercial contracts and the price they charge domestic consumers reflects these individual contract prices and the energy efficiency of each heat network. Applying a price cap therefore risks being ineffecti...
National Grid: Operating Costs
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the total system costs of maintaining grid stability over the last five years for which data is available.
Maintaining the stability and operability of Great Britain’s electricity system is the responsibility of the independent National Energy System Operator (NESO) working with electricity network companies through regulated market arrangements. Under its Ele...
Electricity Generation
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to Answer of 17 April 2026 to Question 124401, what metrics his Department uses to define high levels of resilience in Britain’s electricity system.
Great Britain has one of the most reliable energy systems in the world, with the National Grid Electricity System having an overall reliability of supply of 99.9% in 2024-2025. DESNZ works closely with industry to continually improve and maintain the resi...
Renewable Energy: Electricity Generation
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to Answer of 17 April 2026 to Question 124401, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the tools available to system operators to manage periods of low renewable generation co
The Government works continuously with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to ensure industry continues to have the tools required to manage fluctuations in supply and demand and maintain system stability. NESO is taking steps to maintain...
Heat Networks: Prices
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the exposure of heat network consumers to volatility in wholesale gas markets, given they are not protected by a domestic price cap.
Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts. The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis started...
Members: Correspondence
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Stockport of 11 March 2026 with reference number NM44100.
The correspondence from the hon. Member for Stockport with reference number NM44100 was transferred from HM Treasury to the Department for Education. The Department for Education has confirmed that they have responded to this correspondence.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help support households facing increased mortgage costs.
The Government recognises the pressure facing mortgage borrowers across the UK. On 26 March 2026, the Chancellor met with the six largest mortgage lenders alongside UK Finance, to discuss the outlook for mortgage rates following the latest global developm...
Heat Networks: Prices
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost increase for households connected to heat networks as a result of recent increases in commercial gas prices.
Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts. The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis began a...
Power Failures
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many unplanned power outages occurred in each of the last five years.
The UK has a highly resilient energy network, and industry works to continuously minimise the risk and impacts of unplanned outages. All DNOs are regulated by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and must report their performance against annual targets to Of...
Power Failures
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what was the average duration of an unplanned power outage in each Distribution Network Operator area in each of the last five years.
The UK has a highly resilient energy network, and industry works to continuously minimise the risk and impacts of unplanned outages. All DNOs are regulated by the independent regulator, Ofgem, and must report their performance against annual targets to Of...