Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 47191 on Radiotherapy: Medical Equipment, if he will ensure that trusts outside of (a) London and (b) the South East are prioritised for future funding (i) to replace radiotherapy equipment and (ii) for additional radiotherapy treatment.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England wrote to all radiotherapy treatment providers, including those outside of London and the South East, inviting them to apply for funding to replace ageing radiotherapy machines.

To help to address accessibility to radiotherapy, the Department has allocated £70 million in funding for 28 new radiotherapy machines to trusts across the country to replace outdated machines, 18 of which are located outside of London and the South East of England.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26 will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions in the level of funding for the Adult Skills Fund to mayoral combined authorities on (a) Courses for Jobs and (b) tailored learning; and whether her Department has completed a related equality impact assessment.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is currently facing a challenging fiscal context. Fixing the foundations of the economy will take time, and tough decisions are needed across the public sector to get our finances back under control and ensure that we deliver on our priorities through our Plan for Change. In this challenging context, the government carefully considers the impacts of its decisions, including public sector equality duty.

The department will provide approximately £1.4 billion in funding for the adult skills fund (ASF) in the 2025/26 academic year to ensure that adult learners can access the education and training they need to get into employment or progress in work.

As of August 2025, the department will have devolved 68% of the ASF to mayoral strategic authorities, who are now responsible for adult skills provision in their areas. These authorities have autonomy in deciding how to use their funding and are responsible for the allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The department is responsible for allocating the remaining ASF budget in non-devolved areas.

In non-devolved areas, our allocation methodology for the 2025/26 academic year recognises priority courses, as well as providers with a strong track record of delivering above their allocations and providing for more learners. As a result, there will be a significant number of providers who will see their allocations increase in the 2025/26 academic year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in the Education and Skills Funding Agency Adult Skills Fund on (a) Courses for Jobs and (b) tailored learning.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is currently facing a challenging fiscal context. Fixing the foundations of the economy will take time, and tough decisions are needed across the public sector to get our finances back under control and ensure that we deliver on our priorities through our Plan for Change. In this challenging context, the government carefully considers the impacts of its decisions, including public sector equality duty.

The department will provide approximately £1.4 billion in funding for the adult skills fund (ASF) in the 2025/26 academic year to ensure that adult learners can access the education and training they need to get into employment or progress in work.

As of August 2025, the department will have devolved 68% of the ASF to mayoral strategic authorities, who are now responsible for adult skills provision in their areas. These authorities have autonomy in deciding how to use their funding and are responsible for the allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The department is responsible for allocating the remaining ASF budget in non-devolved areas.

In non-devolved areas, our allocation methodology for the 2025/26 academic year recognises priority courses, as well as providers with a strong track record of delivering above their allocations and providing for more learners. As a result, there will be a significant number of providers who will see their allocations increase in the 2025/26 academic year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the UK Hydrographic Office's annual budget was spent on chartering commercial ships in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the National Shipbuilding Office on the procurement of strategic sealift capacity for operational use after the expiry of the current contract with Foreland Shipping Limited in December 2031.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

No decisions have been made on Strategic Sealift. The project team are developing the strategic outline case, and the National Shipbuilding Office is engaged with the relevant parties in this process.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many merchant seafarers were employed on vessels chartered by the UK Hydrographic Office in each year since 2015-16.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the UK Civil Hydrography Programme.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or Cabinet colleagues regarding the UK Civil Hydrography Programme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the framework agreement between her Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was signed; and if she will publish this agreement.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The MCA Framework agreement was published in November 2017.

The Department for Transport has recently updated the MCA framework document, which will be published shortly.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with (a) trade unions and (b) Foreland Shipping on his Department’s contract for strategic sealift services.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence has frequent discussions with Foreland Shipping Limited (FSL) on the delivery of the contracted service, in accordance with the contract terms, conditions and obligations of the Interim Strategic Sealift Contract.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish his Department's contract with Foreland Shipping Limited for strategic sealift services.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Interim Strategic Sealift Contract DSCOM/CB/2255 was published on Contracts Finder on 11 December 2024.

Please see link below to publication:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cfa45e46-6b5e-4bfc-8fb4-3c5737e9db2e

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will support direct employment of UK resident seafarers in his Department's (a) service contract and (b) vessel charter agreements with private shipowners.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

It is taking time to collate and review the required information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the charter agreements between his Department and shipowners that were signed in each year since 2000-01.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

It is taking time to collate and review the required information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list his Department’s existing contracts with (a) service, (b) vessel and (c) civilian crew providers in the maritime sector.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

This information is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of pay and conditions for merchant seafarers on Point-Class Ro-Ro vessels operated by Foreland Shipping under contract with his Department.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The long-term nature of this contract guarantees stable employment for workers across the nation. The contract was awarded and is governed by the laws of England including all relevant employment legislation.

The investment reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting jobs, driving economic growth, and safeguarding the UK’s national security.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45575 on Orgreave, what her planned timeline is for announcing an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention have been meeting with a number of stakeholders to discuss the delivery of the Government’s manifesto commitment on Orgreave.

Next steps will be announced in the normal way in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what emergency plans (a) her Department and (b) Network Rail has made for future extreme weather events.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department requires Train Operating Companies and Network Rail to put in place measures to avoid, where possible, the potential impact of disruption including as a result of weather.

Network Rail owns and is responsible for maintaining railway infrastructure to ensure passenger and freight services operate safely. Officials hold regular discussions with Network Rail and industry to ensure severe weather preparedness plans are in place with clear mitigations to reduce the impacts of weather on punctuality and reliability.

Network Rail Routes liaise closely with Train Operators to ensure comprehensive checklists are in place and to align customer messaging. Extreme Weather Action Telecons (EWATs) are stood up in anticipation of adverse or extreme weather conditions likely to impact upon rail networks, attended by Network Rail, British Transport Police, the Rail Delivery Group, train operators and the Department. EWATs coordinate the response to severe weather, for example by prepositioning people, equipment, assets to at-risk areas and implementing speed restrictions and emergency timetables where appropriate. Where services need to be cancelled, train operators will seek to provide alternative transport where possible, although there may be instances where this is not viable.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which railway routes are most at risk from (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future.

Further, we recognise that the UK rail network is large and diverse, with different landscapes and communities facing different climate risks. Network Rail has produced a Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (WRCCA) plan for each of its five regions. This allows Network Rail to better identify, at a regional scale, those routes most at risk from climate change and extreme weather events. In 2026, 14 TOCs will also submit their first WRCCA strategies. As most TOCs operate over confined geographical regions, these will add further detail to our understanding of regional risks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events on the railway network.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of climate change adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has produced local level weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans. These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for additional funding to mitigate the impact of (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events on the railway network.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My department takes resilience of the railway very seriously. The recent Climate Change Committee progress report on adapting to climate change rated plans and policies of the rail sector as being 'good' – one of only three parts of the economy. DfT’s upcoming climate change adaptation strategy will address the recommendations from the progress report within our remit and empower the sector to take further action.

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has produced local level weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans. These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level.

For the current Control Period in England and Wales (CP7 - from 2024/25 to 2028/29) Network Rail will invest around £2.4 billion in activities that deliver primary weather resilience benefits. A large proportion of this is used for core maintenance and renewals activity.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much the Oxford Growth Commission project will cost her Department in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28 and (d) 2028-29.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Economic growth is the number one priority for this Government and the Plan for Change. Oxford offers huge economic potential for the UK’s growth prospects which will not only benefit the wider region but also help drive growth in every corner of the country by creating jobs, boosting living standards, and putting more money into working people’s pockets.

The Oxford Growth Commission will support the delivery of infrastructure, housing and employment to unleash Oxford’s and Oxfordshire’s economic power and is a key part of government’s commitment to unlock growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the high potential sectors within it.

The Commission is jointly supported by MHCLG, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council alongside the Universities and local business. Future departmental budgets will be set at the upcoming Spending Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total operating cost was of the British overseas military base in Qatar in the 2024-25 financial year.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence does not have a British Overseas Base in Qatar but we do have forces hosted on the Qatari owned, US-operated Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha.

Indicative operating costs for being based at Al Udeid airbase in financial year 2024-25 are in the region of £3.7 million. The exact cost will be finalised after the publication of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists entitled Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, published on 13 May 2025.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to supporting more cohesive and joined-up care between mental health services and substance use services, to ensure people no longer fall through the gaps of treatment.

We know that, between 2023 and 2024, 72% of people starting drug and alcohol treatment also had a mental health treatment need. Furthermore, approximately 30 to 50% of people with serious mental illness have co-existing drug or alcohol use conditions. However, as the Royal College of Psychiatry’s report highlights, too often, people with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs do not receive the joined up, person-centred care they require and deserve.

In response to this, the Department and NHS England are finalising the Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Action Plan. In developing this plan, NHS England and the Department have worked with subject matter experts, including people with lived experience, academics, clinicians, and service providers, to set out a path to improving service provision for those with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs.

The action plan will build on current structures and initiatives such the Commissioning Quality Standard published in 2022. This standard provides guidance for drug and alcohol treatment commissioners on improving services for people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol or drug conditions and how local services need to work together so that people can access the help they need.

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 reduce waiting times for mental health treatment services.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is delivering new and innovative models of care in the community. We have launched six neighbourhood adult mental health centres that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to bring together community, crisis, and inpatient care.

NHS England’s Planning Guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that for this year, to support reform and improvements, we expect all providers to reduce the variation in children and young people accessing services and improve productivity.

We are also improving data quality so we can support providers in understanding demand across their areas. Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting times metrics for referrals to urgent and community-based mental health services in its monthly mental health statistics publication, to help services target the longest waits.

Our 10-Year Health Plan will inform the future vision and delivery plan for mental health services in England. Earlier intervention remains a key focus of the plan, with the aim of reducing pressure on mental health services.

Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for Police Community Support Officers

Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League

Future of rail frieght

UK Government recognition of the state of Palestine

Acquisition of food manufacturer Bakkavor by Greencore

Israel’s interception of the British-flagged Madleen boat

PA Media Ltd parliamentary newswire coverage

Madleen Freedom Flotilla Ship

National Carers Week 2025 and the Women in the North report

Climate Finance Fund (Fossil Fuels and Pollution) Bill

Ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK

Securing habitat for endangered swifts and other cavity nesting birds

Gary Lineker's contribution to Match of the Day

British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (No. 2)

Real Living Wage Campaign

King’s Badge

Negotiating rights for police officers

Reductions to CrossCountry trains catering services

Future of the UK baking industry

Better Jobs, Better Services campaign

Found: Dr Ben Spencer Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Dr Ben Spencer Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Dr Ben Spencer Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Dr Ben Spencer Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Dr Ben Spencer Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Sullivan Mary Glindon Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Darren Paffey Paul Holmes Lillian Jones Graham Stuart Ms Polly Billington Valerie Vaz Grahame Morris

Found: Creasy Rosie Duffield Imran Hussain Richard Burgon Clive Lewis Ellie Chowns Paula Barker Grahame Morris

Found: Creasy Rosie Duffield Imran Hussain Richard Burgon Clive Lewis Ellie Chowns Paula Barker Grahame Morris

Found: Creasy Rosie Duffield Imran Hussain Richard Burgon Clive Lewis Ellie Chowns Paula Barker Grahame Morris

Found: Adnan Hussain Brian Leishman Bell Ribeiro-Addy Jeremy Corbyn Nadia Whittome Andy McDonald Grahame Morris

Found: Adnan Hussain Brian Leishman Bell Ribeiro-Addy Jeremy Corbyn Nadia Whittome Andy McDonald Grahame Morris

Found: Adnan Hussain Brian Leishman Bell Ribeiro-Addy Jeremy Corbyn Nadia Whittome Andy McDonald Grahame Morris