Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with devolved Administrations on ensuring best coordination to restrict the spread of Bluetongue in cattle and sheep.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Disease control policy is a devolved matter and it is for the Devolved Governments to assess the disease risks and impacts in relation to their national herds, alongside the impacts of controls, and respond accordingly. Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments with the aim of providing, where possible, a consistent and coordinated response across the UK. A key forum for this is the Animal Disease Policy Group (ADPG), which is a UK wide policy decision making group. Defra and Devolved Governments also engage closely with industry to inform policy development and implementation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions in the past three years has cargo being transported in UK waters been found to contain oil sourced in or through Russia.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The UK Government constantly monitors UK waters to uphold the safety of mariners, the marine environment and the UK’s national security, which includes monitoring of ships that are suspected of being associated with the movement of Russian oil.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ships of all States have the right, subject to conditions laid down in UNCLOS, to innocent passage through UK territorial sea (the sea within 12 nautical miles of the UK coastline). As the UK is party to UNCLOS, the UK Government adheres to international maritime law and protects the passage rights of vessels transiting through UK waters.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her policy to provide full access to veterinary medicines for Northern Ireland via the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme from 1 January 2026.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Veterinary Medicine Internal Market Scheme allows for products from Great Britain (GB), that are not vaccines, to be moved without the need for a Special Import Certificate, respecting Northern Ireland’s integral part in the UK’s internal market. The scheme will provide vets, who have a clinical need under the cascade, access to GB medicines without additional administrative burden.

Additionally, under the Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme, vets do not need to wait for a medicine shortage to arise before they can source a product. Both vets and wholesalers may hold stock of medicines including products from GB, other than vaccines, that may need to be used in the future.

The Government’s current assessment does not expect any significant disruption to the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland; therefore, most medicines will continue to be supplied as they are now.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, approximately how many people have become tax payers since the £12,570 personal allowance was frozen in 2022.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate can be found in Table 3.19 in the OBR’s November 2025 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts, linked below:

https://obr.uk/download/november-2025-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-detailed-forecast-tables-receipts/?tmstv=1764165511

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many organisations and companies (a) reported cyber incidents in the last 12 months and (b) had adopted the Cyber Essentials scheme beforehand.

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

While we do know which organisations are certified to the Cyber Essentials scheme, we do not hold data on whether they reported a cyber incident in the past 12 months.

We are confident that the controls are effective with insurance data indicating that organisations with Cyber Essentials are 92% less likely to make a claim on their cyber insurance than those without it.

That is why we have written to businesses and organisations encouraging them to use the Cyber Essentials scheme. We have been pleased with the positive feedback on this. The number of live certifications as of October 2025 was 54,678, representing an increase of 8,335 certificates on the previous 12 months (an 18% increase).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 94151 on Terrorism: Victims, if she will take steps to ensure those involved in carrying out acts of terrorism are not (a) invited to the inaugural event in 2026 and (b) included in any commemoration.

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

On 21 August each year, the nation will come together in remembrance and recognition of victims and survivors of terrorism.

The National Day will acknowledge and support victims and survivors of terrorism.

The Government will continue to closely engage victims and survivors ahead the inaugural event in 2026, to shape national day plans and ensure their needs are met.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many transport companies were registered with the Standard Industrial Classification code 49410 for freight transport by road in (a) 2019 and (b) 2024.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of the 5th of December is attached.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to WPQ 94153, what discussions she has had with representatives of the road haulage industry to help ensure sufficient capacity exists to meet demand given the change in numbers declaring insolvency.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Department for Transport officials regularly meet representatives of the road haulage industry to discuss a wide range of issues impacting the industry. These meetings include the Freight Council and the Road Freight Industry Engagement Group.

In addition, officials hold ad hoc meetings with road haulage businesses and trade associations to discuss issues raised by the sector, including those relating to the capacity of the industry.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to WPQ 95613. whether she has had confirmation from Stellantis that all vehicles have been checked, declared safe to drive and returned to owners.

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

Stellantis have advised the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) they have dealt with the majority of vehicles. They have currently rectified circa 122,000 of an estimated 148,000 on the road overall.

Stellantis are also taking further steps to ensure greater awareness to ensure the remaining vehicles are reworked, including integration with DVSA’s MOT reminder service and also looking at strategies regarding further mailings to vehicle owners who have not yet engaged with Stellantis.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that men at highest risk of prostate cancer take part in screening trials.

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

The Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) have partnered together on the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer, to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is leading the development of the trial, with the Government contributing £16 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The TRANSFORM trial will aim to address some of the inequalities that exist in prostate cancer diagnosis. For example, one in four black men will develop prostate cancer, double the risk of other men, and often at a younger age. The trial will ensure that at least 10% of the men who are invited to participate in the trial are black.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025 to WPQ 95612, whether the (a) new style and (b) old style State Pension payable in 2027 where both categories have a gross income of £13,000 as a result of the old style pension recipient having a small personal pension will be precluded from paying income tax.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As I set out in my answer to WPQ 95612, the Chancellor has said that over this Parliament those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax.

The government will set out more details next year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when regulatory approvals will be given to BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement to allow a joint venture for the Global Combat Air Programme to begin work.

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

All necessary regulatory approvals were in place ahead of the Edgewing incorporation in June.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many perpetrators of cyber crime were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) 2024.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

There are no offences specifically defined in legislation as “cyber crime,” however the Computer Misuse Act 1990 has a number of offences that could be considered as such.

The Ministry of Justice routinely publishes data concerning prosecutions and convictions available here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to recognise and support Kevin Sinfield CBE's fundraising for motor neurone disease.

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

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to WPQ 51812, what assessment he has made of the reliability of BMI testing, in the context of the Global Burden of Disease’s indication that one of the main contributory causes of type 2 diabetes is high body mass index.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service.

NICE has published guidance on the management of overweight and obesity. The guidance recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used as a practical measure of overweight and obesity. It acknowledges the limitations of BMI, highlighting that the measurement should be interpreted with caution because it is not a direct measure of abdominal fat. In adults with a BMI below 35 kilogram per meter of height squared, waist to height ratio is also recommended. These measurements together can be used to help assess and predict health risks, such as type 2 diabetes.

NICE also recommends lower BMI cut offs for certain ethnic minority groups, as they are prone to higher levels of abdominal fat and have an increased risk of developing certain health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, at a lower BMI.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will have discussions with her United States counterpart on the impact of US military action against drug cartels off Latin America since September 2025 on trans-Atlantic illegal drug smuggling.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 3 December.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help support and promote biotechnology in Northern Ireland through the Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Life sciences, which includes biotechnology, is one of the priority sectors under the Government’s Industrial Strategy. This summer the Government published the UK Life Sciences Sector Plan, setting out a bold ambition to make the UK the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030. The Plan supports growth across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, recognising its particular strengths in precision medicine, diagnostics, advanced manufacturing and clinical research. The Office for Life Sciences is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to align priorities, attract investment, and deliver growth in Northern Ireland’s life sciences sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Financial Conduct Authority's press release entitled FCA sets out landmark package to boost UK investment culture, published on 8 December 2025, whether she plans to provide additional support for those reforms.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government wants to see more people benefit from the higher returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide. That is why the Chancellor has set out a series of bold measures to get Britain investing again, including the reforms to ISAs announced at Autumn Budget.

In that context, the Government welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) publication of final rules for the new Consumer Composite Investment regime. This will deliver tailored and flexible disclosure to support investors in their decision making, and will come into force from April 2026.

In addition, the Government is working closely with the FCA to launch a system of targeted support in early April 2026 to increase the support available to consumers. On 11 December, the Government confirmed it will be taking forward legislation to implement targeted support and the FCA published a policy statement setting out near-final rules for the regime.

Furthermore, the Government and FCA are working closely with the industry-led initiatives to promote the benefits of investing to the public, and to reform how firms talk about the risks and benefits of investing. Combined, these measures aim to support a thriving retail investment culture.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how she will notify SMEs that their bank is a designated bank under any scheme set up to ensure customers that are rejected for finance approval can be matched with alternatives who will offer support.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Bank Referral Scheme is an initiative dating back to 2014, which requires major lenders (designated banks) to refer SME customers that they reject for finance, with the SMEs’ permission, to finance platforms that can match the SME with alternative finance providers, in order to improve access to finance.

In the interests of public transparency, the Treasury is required under the law to publish a list of banks designated under the Scheme. The list of currently designated banks can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designation-of-banks-and-finance-platforms-for-finance-platforms-regulations/notice-of-designation-small-and-medium-sized-business-finance-platforms-regulations-2015

Under the existing regulations, SMEs also learn about their bank’s involvement in the Scheme as the law requires the bank to ask the SME whether they agree to their information being provided to finance platforms under the Scheme, in order to try and match the SME with alternative finance.

On 27th October, the Government launched a consultation and call for evidence on the Bank Referral Scheme, inviting views on a range of issues and proposals aimed at better facilitating SME access to finance through the Scheme, including on bank designations and improving awareness of the Scheme.

The consultation sets out that, at a minimum, the Government intends to improve its own information resources on the Scheme. It also explains that the Government is considering whether it would be beneficial for more information on the Scheme to be made readily available to SMEs earlier, when they are considering external finance, regardless of whether they have already applied and been rejected. The consultation is due to close on 22 December.

The Government will set out its position on any changes to the Scheme in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assesment she has made of the potential impact the Windsor Framework on the operations of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

While the Windsor Framework does contain provisions related to the movement of people, animals and goods, including by air, we assess that the Windsor Framework has no direct impact on the UK-wide regulatory role of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of use of illegal number plates between 2021 and 2025.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not hold data on the level of use of illegal number plates. On road enforcement is a matter for the police.

The DVLA works with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS).

The DVLA is considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 9 December 2025 to Question 96618 and 25 November 2025 to Question 94151, what assessment she has made of the risk of those involved in committing acts of terrorism being included in the commemoration events.

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

On 21 August next year, the nation will come together to pay tribute to victimsand survivors of terrorism.

The National Day is dedicated to remembering and recognising victims andsurvivors of terrorism, rather than the perpetrators of such attacks.

We will closely engage victims and survivors throughout the preparations toensure arrangements are sensitive to their needs.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total in duty deferment accounts that HMRC received in the calendar year 2024 via customs duties collected as a result of trade between GB and NI affected by the Windsor Framework.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not hold the information in the format requested.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Veterinary Medicine Working Group plans to meet in January 2026.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Veterinary Medicine Working Group last met on 9 December 2025 and plans to meet next in the early new year when the two schemes that the Government is introducing will be in effect.

Reducing emigration of young, skilled British citizens

Tackling antisemitism and hatred

New leadership of the Orange Order in Ireland

Changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief in the Autumn Budget 2025

Tackling Islamist extremism

Acquittal of Shaun O’Sullivan, free speech and religious freedom

Anniversary of the murder of Ken Smyth and Daniel McCormick

Kidnapping of school children in Nigeria