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 Chinese companies supplying cellular modules for use in the UK’s critical national infrastructure on national security.

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

The Prime Minister has emphasised that national security is the first duty of our government. The Government has a broad set of tools to safeguard our Critical National Infrastructure, including The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, The Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, The Procurement Act 2023 and The Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022.

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will also be introduced when parliamentary time allows, to deliver a step change in the UK’s national security, requiring essential and digital services in scope to have robust cyber security practices and standards. This will include empowering regulators to designate critical suppliers, ensuring that the most important suppliers to essential and digital services are subject to the regulatory regime.

Any device with a cellular module that is incorporated into the network or systems of UK Critical National Infrastructure will need to comply with that network’s cyber security practices and standards and as such should have robust security controls in place. If such a device falls within scope of The Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 then it will also need to comply with the requirements of that Act.

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 Chinese-manufactured smart devices in the UK's critical national infrastructure on national security.

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

National security is the first duty of our government.

Under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, any connected device intended to be used by consumers must meet three basic requirements: no universal default or easily guessable passwords; transparency about the minimum length of time manufacturers will provide security updates; and information on how to report security vulnerabilities directly to manufacturers.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched a Call for Views on 12 May 2025 on proposals to strengthen the cyber security of enterprise connected devices. Research commissioned in 2021 by DSIT of 400 businesses showed significant gaps in device security practices with 58% of businesses not requiring security checks when purchasing connected devices. Our Call for Views included a draft Code of Practice, developed with the National Cyber Security Centre, which sets out 11 security principles for manufacturers, covering areas like secure updates, authentication, data protection, and device integrity. Feedback is being considered, and a government response will be published in due course.

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will also be introduced when parliamentary time allows, to deliver a step change in the UK’s national security, requiring essential and digital services in scope to have robust cyber security practices and standards. This will include empowering regulators to designate critical suppliers, ensuring the most important suppliers to essential and digital services are subject to the regulatory regime.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure the compatibility of his Department's guidance on political crowdfunding for people on Universal Credit with Article 3 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Money received personally by an individual through crowdfunding, including for their political purposes, is generally treated as capital in Universal Credit, and can affect eligibility and payment amounts if a customer’s total capital exceeds £6,000. There are no plans to review these rules.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has issued on whether people on Universal Credit are entitled to raise funds for the purpose of standing for election.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Funding received and managed by local and national political parties would not be taken into account in assessing an individual’s entitlement for Universal Credit (UC). Money received personally by an individual, including for their political purposes, is generally treated as capital in UC, and can affect eligibility and payment amounts if a customer’s total capital exceeds £6,000. There are no plans to review these rules.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleague to ensure people on Universal Credit have equal access to fundraising for the purpose of standing for election.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

People on universal credit are not disqualified from standing for elections. With regards to accessing fundraising for the purposes of standing for election, the Electoral Commission have published clear guidance on the rules around donations, which apply to all candidates.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure people on Universal Credit are able to stand for election.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

People on universal credit are not disqualified from standing for elections. With regards to accessing fundraising for the purposes of standing for election, the Electoral Commission have published clear guidance on the rules around donations, which apply to all candidates.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new pilots completed training and entered front-line service with the RAF in each of the last five years by (a) aircraft and (b) service type.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

For each training year, the number of pilots that undertake training and commence Operational Conversion Units is based upon the front-line demand for qualified pilots. The Royal Air Force (RAF) actively manage the pilot training pipelines to ensure that trainee flowthrough is kept to an optimum and meets the front-line requirements. The specific number of pilots that have completed training and commenced front-line Operational Conversion Units in each of the last five years is not released into the public domain as this level of detailed information may provide tactical advantage to hostile forces causing operational and personnel security risks.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to make a decision on the future of the Submarine Dismantling Programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The demonstrator submarine, Swiftsure, continues to be dismantled as part of the Submarine Dismantling Project. Working with Babcock, we remain committed to dismantling the platform by the end of 2026. Following Swiftsure, there are six further legacy submarines in Rosyth awaiting to enter the dismantling process.

Realisation of an enduring disposal capability to ensure the safe and secure disposal of the UK’s future decommissioned submarines will be delivered through the Department’s Submarine Disposal Capability Project. The project is currently in its concept phase and the Department is assessing options for the capability and its location with various sites under consideration within the UK. A decision will be communicated to Parliament at the appropriate time.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Dr Irene Oldfather and the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe

Found: meeting Members present: Cat Smith (Chair); James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Mr Lee Dillon; Graeme Downie

Found: Lizzi Collinge (Labour; Morecambe and Lunesdale) Torcuil Crichton (Labour; Na h-Eileanan an Iar) Graeme Downie

Found: Lizzi Collinge (Labour; Morecambe and Lunesdale) Torcuil Crichton (Labour; Na h-Eileanan an Iar) Graeme Downie

Found: Members present: Bill Esterson (Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Lizzi Collinge; Torcuil Crichton; Graeme Downie

Found: Members present: Bill Esterson (Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Lizzi Collinge; Torcuil Crichton; Graeme Downie

The UK is embarking on an ambitious programme of investment in nuclear energy, seeking to reverse decades of declining capacity. The Government is counting on new nuclear to help deliver energy security and decarbonise electricity generation. Announcing funding for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in June, the Energy Secretary said “we need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance.”