Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress has been made in the statutory review into the right to time off work for special constables established under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government is continuing to progress the review into the right to time off work for public duties. The main evidence-gathering and analysis stages of the review have been completed. I will consider findings of the review, including that of special constables, in the first half of this year and subsequently publish before 18 December 2026. We are grateful to officials from across government for providing evidence in support of this review and we will continue to engage as the review and any subsequent steps progress.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom will be published.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The updated Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecoms, the management of radio spectrum and postal services will be laid before Parliament in the coming weeks and will be designated 40 days later.

Found: Sir Ashley Fox: Good afternoon. I am Ashley Fox, the Member for Bridgwater.

Found: Sir Ashley Fox: Good afternoon. I am Ashley Fox, the Member for Bridgwater.

Found: Sir Ashley Fox: Good afternoon. I am Ashley Fox, Member of Parliament for Bridgwater.

The Justice Committee has launched an inquiry into children and young adults in the secure estate in England and Wales to determine if the current system effectively prevents offending while upholding a "child-first" approach. The inquiry will scrutinise the various types of secure settings and the suitability and safety of these environments.