Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of dependency on foreign-owned AI systems on resilience in the public sector.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The Government recognises that AI is increasingly embedded in public services, and that the UK currently relies on a small number of foreign-headquartered providers for frontier models, compute and cloud. As the Secretary of State set out at RUSI, the Government's approach is to reduce over-dependencies and strengthen resilience in our most critical national priorities. This is reinforced by wider Government investment, including the £500 million Sovereign AI Fund, to build domestic capability and reduce strategic dependencies over time.
Departments are responsible for their own procurement decisions, in line with established rules and guidance, and manage supplier risks supported by guidance from Government Digital Service, Government Commercial Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of processing times for US tourist and/or business visas of British citizens born in Iran since January 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold the requested information; processing times for US visas are a matter for the US authorities. More information can be found on the State Department website.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department holds information on average waiting times for US tourist and business visa applications submitted by dual-British citizens.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold the requested information; processing times for US visas are a matter for the US authorities. More information can be found on the State Department website.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve miscarriage care.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
Steps taken to improve miscarriage care include working closely with NHS England to improve the availability of Early Pregnancy Assessment Units, improved mental health support through Maternal Mental Health Services, and standardised bereavement care through the National Bereavement Care Pathway. As part of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to closely reviewing the findings presented in the Tommy’s graded model of care study, including the suggestions of improved access to care.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled The Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care, published by Tommy’s on 29 April 2026, whether his Department plans to roll out the Graded Model of Miscarriage Care nationally.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need. As part of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to closely reviewing the findings presented in the Tommy’s Graded Model of Care study, as part of a broader range of measures under consideration to improve miscarriage care for women and families.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be considering miscarriage care as part of its remit.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will translate the recommendations of Baroness Amos’ independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal care into a national action plan. The Taskforce’s terms of reference sets out that all stages of the maternity and neonatal care pathway will be considered when developing its new national action plan, including miscarriage care. This may include issues not covered in Baroness Amos’ report.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data their Department holds on (a) collisions and (b) injuries involving e-bikes operated through hire schemes in each of the last three years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not currently collect data on collisions or injuries involving e-bikes operated through hire schemes.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions they have had with e-bike hire operators on compliance with minimum age policies and user safety requirements.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is introducing a licensing regime for shared cycle services and this will be implemented through a combination of regulations and detailed guidance, following in-depth consultation.
In the meantime, Ministers and officials continue to discuss a range of matters with e-bike rental operators, including potential measures which may be included in the future licensing framework.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to require e-bike hire operators to hold public liability insurance as a condition of operating on the public highway.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The licensing regime for shared cycle schemes which we are bringing forward through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will create a legal requirement for shared e-cycle schemes to be licensed, which will be implemented through a combination of regulations and detailed guidance, following in-depth consultation.
No final policy decisions have yet been taken, but licence conditions could include a requirement for age verification of users or public liability insurance for operators.
Safety will be a priority when considering future policy in this area.
Asked by: Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce minimum standards for age verification for e-bike hire operators.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Licensing for shared cycle services will be implemented following in-depth consultation through a combination of regulations and detailed guidance.
No decisions taken yet on final policy design etc. Safety will be a priority when considering future policy in this area.