Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans she has to support cross-community interfaith work.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Interfaith relations are vital for strong, cohesive communities. The government is funding Inter Faith Week 2025 next week as a key moment in the national calendar for dialogue, learning, and connection between faiths and beliefs. I am sure many Hon Members will take part in events in their constituencies.

Alongside this, MHCLG funds programmes including Near Neighbours and Schools Linking which promote understanding across diverse communities.

The government will always champion faith and freedom or religion or belief at home and abroad.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) financial structure and (b) governance arrangements of (i) Blenheim Estates and (ii) the Blenheim Charitable Foundation.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I have not made an assessment of the financial structure of government arrangements of Blenheim Estates or the Blenheim Foundation. Charities are independent organisations and it is the responsibility of the trustees to make decisions in the best interests of the charity. Concerns about the governance of a charity should be raised with the charity itself, or where there are concerns about misconduct or mismanagement the Charity Commission for England and Wales as the independent regulator.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the financial viability of SolarFive Ltd and Photovolt Development Partners to undertake the development of Botley West Solar Farm.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

An applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process.

Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific matters related to the individual projects, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Planning Inspectorate and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes in evaluating the financial viability of funding commitments made by developers of major energy projects.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

An applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process. This is assessed by both the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State prior to a decision on whether to consent the project being made.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Planning Inspectorate and (b) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes to safeguard against national security risks from investment by (i) inappropriate or (ii) hostile overseas sources.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

National security risk assessments are matters for the Investment Security Unit within the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has sought the advice of the office of the Financial Sanction Implementation on reported Russian-linked funding associated with the proposed Botley West Solar Farm.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate to comment on matters relating to specific proposals

Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and the plight of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad

Fly-tipping and illegal waste dumping by criminal gangs

UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement

UK access to the EU SAFE defence fund

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Local government and social care

Ukrainian Permission Extension Scheme