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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of financial support for parish choristers.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government supports the arts sector, including choirs and singing, through its arm’s-length body, Arts Council England (ACE). For the 2024/25 financial year, ACE has allocated £1.83 million in National Lottery Project Grants to projects classified under 'Choral,' which includes support for parish choirs.

Furthermore, while not exclusively for choirs, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme offers financial assistance for essential maintenance or works to listed church buildings that may affect the music programme (e.g. repairing an organ). This scheme helps cover the costs and associated VAT for such works.

Additional funding opportunities are available from charities such as the Cathedral Music Trust, The Royal School of Church Music, and The Ouseley Church Music Trust.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase support for parish choirs.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government supports the arts sector, including choirs and singing, through its arm’s-length body, Arts Council England (ACE). For the 2024/25 financial year, ACE has allocated £1.83 million in National Lottery Project Grants to projects classified under 'Choral,' which includes support for parish choirs.

Furthermore, while not exclusively for choirs, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme offers financial assistance for essential maintenance or works to listed church buildings that may affect the music programme (e.g. repairing an organ). This scheme helps cover the costs and associated VAT for such works.

Additional funding opportunities are available from charities such as the Cathedral Music Trust, The Royal School of Church Music, and The Ouseley Church Music Trust.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help reduce public exposure to (a) fraud and (b) scams on social media platforms.

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

The Online Safety Act (OSA) lists fraud as a priority offence; requiring companies prevent and mitigate scams on their platforms. The OSA also requires large social media companies (‘Category 1’) to have transparent routes for users to complain about fraud, and swift procedures to address those complaints.

Ofcom have robust powers to hold companies to account, including issuing fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying global revenue (whichever is higher).

The OSA is reducing public exposure to scams, but there is more to do. DSIT is working with the Home Office to deliver a new fraud strategy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department taking to help tackle digital exclusion among elderly people.

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

We know that digital exclusion is a complex issue and some demographics are more likely to be digitally excluded than others, including older people.

That’s why in February; we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan which outlines the immediate actions we are taking on digital inclusion. One of these actions was to launch the £9.5mn Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support and expand local community initiatives to get people online, which we did in August. All funded projects will support at least one of the focus demographic groups, which includes older people.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help maintain (a) high street banks and (b) other non-digital alternatives to banking.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for customers. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 190 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment.

While decisions on branch provision are commercial decisions for banks themselves, Financial Conduct Authority guidance requires firms to conduct a robust impact analysis. Firms must show they have considered customer needs and identified potential reasonable alternatives. The FCA also expects engagement with stakeholders at least 12 weeks before closure and firms must ensure that any replacement services, such as banking hubs, are in place before a branch closes. These measures aim to ensure closures are implemented fairly and transparently.

As well as bank branches, alternative non-digital options to access everyday banking services include telephone banking and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers of participating banks to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. Beyond branches, banking hubs and Post Office services, some banks also provide points of access through initiatives such as pop-up services in libraries and community centres, or mobile banking vans serving remote areas. The Government supports initiatives which give customers access to in-person banking, as well as digital access.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate accountability measures for telecom providers that help facilitate fraud.

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

Tackling fraud is a priority for the government and we recognise the impact that being a victim of fraud has on people. The Government works closely with Ofcom and industry and recently published the second Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter – actions in the charter include collaborative data sharing to tackle fraud and raising customer awareness.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator for telecoms, is also taking steps to ensure providers are taking the necessary steps to protect consumers from fraud. This includes a current consultation on protecting customers from international numbers which imitate UK mobile numbers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of responsibility on (a) banks and (b) receiving firms to (i) share information quickly and (ii) freeze funds in cases of fraud.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Home Office continues to work with financial institutions, regulators, and law enforcement to ensure responsibilities for preventing and responding to fraud are clear and effective.

The Payment Services (Amendment) Regulations 2024, effective October 2024, granted banks powers to delay and investigate payments suspected of being fraudulent for up to 72 hours. The change is designed to protect consumers from scams and ensure funds can be frozen before they reach fraudsters.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduced new provisions, effective January 2024, that allow anti-money laundering (AML) regulated firms to share customer information, provided UK GDPR safeguards are met. These measures aim to create a networked approach to economic crime risk, enabling faster detection and disruption of fraud.

The Government is working to develop a strategy for cross-system data sharing that brings benefits for the public and private sector. The strategy will enhance the exploitation of the vast datasets held across ecosystem by using modern technology, bringing together organisations and capabilities to better prevent, detect, and pursue economic crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of introducing increased reimbursement requirements for victims of fraud.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Tackling the threat of fraud and supporting victims is a top priority for this government.

Reimbursement to victims remains an important way of mitigating the impact of fraud and incentivising industry to tackle the threat. The government and relevant regulators are continuously monitoring and reviewing the reimbursement regime to ensure its efficacy. More broadly, whilst reimbursement falls to payment service providers, we have used voluntary measures to work faster with tech companies to make sure their resources are deployed where the biggest difference will be made to disrupt fraud. This is in addition to underpinning telecommunications and online regulation enforced by Ofcom.

The government also recognises that the impact of fraud goes beyond financial losses, as victims can suffer serious financial and emotional harm. That is why we have taken various steps to improve the victim support system. This includes rolling out the National Economic Crime Victim Care unit to all police forces in England and Wales and improving the service victims receive. A revised fraud strategy will be produced in early 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support victims of fraud.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Tackling the threat of fraud and supporting victims is a top priority for this government.

Reimbursement to victims remains an important way of mitigating the impact of fraud and incentivising industry to tackle the threat. The government and relevant regulators are continuously monitoring and reviewing the reimbursement regime to ensure its efficacy. More broadly, whilst reimbursement falls to payment service providers, we have used voluntary measures to work faster with tech companies to make sure their resources are deployed where the biggest difference will be made to disrupt fraud. This is in addition to underpinning telecommunications and online regulation enforced by Ofcom.

The government also recognises that the impact of fraud goes beyond financial losses, as victims can suffer serious financial and emotional harm. That is why we have taken various steps to improve the victim support system. This includes rolling out the National Economic Crime Victim Care unit to all police forces in England and Wales and improving the service victims receive. A revised fraud strategy will be produced in early 2026.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of effect of the monopolisation of broadband provision on developments where the broadband provider is owned by the property developer.

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

Ofcom is responsible for regulating the telecoms sector, and it has a duty to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition.

Developers decide which network operators they would like present in their buildings and negotiate commercial agreements with those operators. Developers are free to approach as many network operators as they wish and to secure multiple connections on a voluntary basis. As regulator for the sector, it is for Ofcom to assess whether there is a competition issue with housing developments and put remedies in place as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to prevent the monopolisation of broadband provision in developments where the broadband provider is owned by the property developer.

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

Ofcom is responsible for regulating the telecoms sector, and it has a duty to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition.

Developers decide which network operators they would like present in their buildings and negotiate commercial agreements with those operators. Developers are free to approach as many network operators as they wish and to secure multiple connections on a voluntary basis. As regulator for the sector, it is for Ofcom to assess whether there is a competition issue with housing developments and put remedies in place as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to tackle monopolistic practices amongst broadband providers.

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

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for regulating the telecoms sector with a duty to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition.

Where Ofcom determines a provider has significant market power (SMP) in a market, it can impose remedies as appropriate. In the wholesale fixed telecoms market, BT and KCOM were found to have SMP and a range of pricing and non-pricing remedies were imposed on the firms to promote network competition. Ofcom is in the process of updating its decisions through its Telecoms Access Review. Ofcom has not found any firm to have SMP in the retail telecoms sector.

In July, DSIT published a consultation on the draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services. The draft Statement sets out the government’s view on the importance of competition to support broadband deployment across the UK. We are currently reviewing responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what measures he is taking her to support rental applications by individuals or families who are victims of domestic abuse.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse. This is part of the government’s wider mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

Since 2021, local authorities in England have a statutory duty to ensure victims of domestic abuse and their children fleeing their homes can access support within safe accommodation when they need it. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided local authorities in England £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year, to support delivery of this duty.

On 10 July 2025, regulations came into force meaning that victims of domestic abuse moving as a result of that abuse will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing; recognising the unique challenges they can face, such as fleeing an unsafe home to seek safety or support.

In addition, the Home Office is investing £1.96 million into a Flexible Fund, delivered by Women’s Aid and over 470 partner services, to support victims in England and Wales escaping abuse. This includes the option of a one-time payment of up to £2,500 to facilitate survivors’ transition to a more stable and independent future. For example, enabling them to put down a deposit for rental accommodation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support victims of domestic abuse who urgently require alternative accommodation.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse. This is part of the government’s wider mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

Since 2021, local authorities in England have a statutory duty to ensure victims of domestic abuse and their children fleeing their homes can access support within safe accommodation when they need it. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided local authorities in England £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year, to support delivery of this duty.

On 10 July 2025, regulations came into force meaning that victims of domestic abuse moving as a result of that abuse will no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing; recognising the unique challenges they can face, such as fleeing an unsafe home to seek safety or support.

In addition, the Home Office is investing £1.96 million into a Flexible Fund, delivered by Women’s Aid and over 470 partner services, to support victims in England and Wales escaping abuse. This includes the option of a one-time payment of up to £2,500 to facilitate survivors’ transition to a more stable and independent future. For example, enabling them to put down a deposit for rental accommodation.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Fairtrade tea campaign

Water scarcity and agricultural reservoirs

Access to banks

Gambling executives' profits

Safeguarding pubs, brewers and one million jobs

Fly-tipping and illegal waste dumping by criminal gangs

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on 20 November 2025

UK access to the EU SAFE defence fund

International Men’s Day and prostate cancer

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Buying community energy locally

Local government and social care

Found: Cameron Thomas: Okay. Thank you.

Found: Cameron Thomas: Okay. Thank you.