Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70325 on Ministry of Justice: Translation Services, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the spending between 2021 and 2024 that was attributable to people who have arrived in the UK since 2021.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

As this personal data is not collected in relation to the translation contract, the requested information cannot be provided.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assistance the Innovate UK Business Growth Delivery Programme offers to small businesses in Northern Ireland.

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

Innovate UK Business Growth supports innovation-driven businesses with high growth potential to reach scale in Northern Ireland - where it has supported 424 businesses to date - and across the UK by connecting a locally based innovation and growth specialist to act as a coach for suitable companies. By offering bespoke, sustained 1:1 support, Innovate UK Business Growth helps companies make faster progress towards their objectives as a business, and provides advice and access to the resources that can help them to grow and scale.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will hold discussions with the UN on its estimate of the number of rocket attacks into Israel in the 12 months before and since 7 October 2023.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) prosecuted, and (b) convicted as a result of Operation Gull in Northern Ireland since 2010.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication. Information about convictions as a result of Operation Gull is not available in our published data.

Our published national data on enforcement activity is available at the following link and includes data on detected irregular arrivals to the UK Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she next plans to publish guidance on the (a) implementation and (b) enforcement of the electronic travel authorisation in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme is fully implemented for non-visa national visitors to the UK. There were 13.4 million ETAs granted since the introduction of the scheme up to the end of June 2025.

We expect carriers to begin enforcement of the scheme in early 2026 and will consider whether the existing guidance for visitors or the industry requires updating nearer that time.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he is making on finding (a) a cure and (b) improved treatments for people with Huntingtons disease.

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

We recognise the significant challenges faced by those living with rare diseases such as Huntington’s disease. Although there is currently no cure for the disease, there are efforts to ensure that innovative treatments and research opportunities reach patients and improve outcomes for those affected by Huntington’s disease. The Department supports research into Huntington’s disease through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR invests not only in individual studies but also in world-class research centres, a dedicated delivery workforce, and specialist facilities across the National Health Service. This infrastructure supports pioneering research into Huntington's, including the positive preliminary results for a novel gene therapy reported last month. The NIHR’s Be Part of Research service helps people find and participate in relevant research. There are eight Huntington’s disease studies currently recruiting.

The UK Rare Diseases Framework identifies four main priorities, including improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. In February 2025, we published the England annual action plan, which outlines the steps we have taken to advance this priority.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will take steps to ensure that the (a) timeline and (b) criteria for heating being resumed on the parliamentary estate in the autumn is reviewed in time for autumn 2026.

Answered by Nick Smith

Heating and cooling across the Parliamentary Estate is managed centrally in accordance with the Parliamentary Heating and Cooling Protocol. This outlines timelines and criteria for when heating should be operational. A review of the existing protocol will be implemented ahead of the 2026 heating season, and the Administration Committee is regularly consulted on issues in relation to heating and cooling.

The existing operational protocol is designed to balance occupant comfort, energy efficiency, safety, and sustainability, while remaining compliant with legal requirements and industry best practice, including guidance from the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

The age and heritage status of many Parliamentary buildings makes the maintenance of consistent internal temperatures challenging. This is a particular issue in the Palace of Westminster which has a complex steam system which requires relatively intensive maintenance.

The approach used on the Parliamentary Estate is a common approach used for large Estates which balances occupant comfort and environmental impact as well as fuel cost and plant usage/maintenance impact.

Heating operation is based on sustained external temperature forecasts provided by the Met Office. This year and in previous years, heating was activated when the external temperature was expected to remain below 16°C for a full week. This condition has been met and the heating to the Palace of Westminster and all buildings across the Estate is now operational. For 2026 the protocol review will recommend that the heating in the Palace of Westminster will be switched on after three days of temperatures sustained below 16°C to reflect the unique nature of the building. The remainder of the Estate will fall under the existing provision (16°C for one week).

Heating is deactivated in Spring when temperatures are expected to remain above 16°C for a full week during occupied hours. This typically occurs in early April but dates can vary.

This year, the House Administration has proactively planned for Winter heating to reduce faults and downtime experienced in recent seasons. This includes proactive attempts to identify problems on the Northern Estate, in addition to the Palace.

During the last year, extensive work to repair and replace components at risk of breakdown or replace full heating systems has been completed. This has included:

a) Installation of a brand new boiler system in Norman Shaw South (which is expected to be complete and operational by end of October)

b) Installation of a brand new boiler system in 1 Parliament Street

c) Installation of a brand new boiler system in Richmond House

d) An extensive programme to replace pipework or complete repairs to the heating system in the Palace of Westminster

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to assist in the roll out of the T-cell-based approach vaccine to tackle Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus.

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

APHA scientists have assisted the consortium, which includes the University of Surrey, and Chester Zoo, to get to this phase 1 study of a novel vaccine to tackle Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus. They will continue to provide expert advice and assistance. Chester Zoo have agreed to take this work forward, which is likely to include a phase II study prior to any wider roll out.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will hold discussions with Scottish football authorities on the display of banners supporting deceased supporters of terrorism at football grounds.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Everyone has the right to support their football club but they must do so in line with the law. Investigations into potential offences are a matter for Police Scotland.

All clubs across Scotland have a responsibility to ensure that football is, as it should be, a force for good.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with her European counterparts on removing requirements for (a) proof of accommodation, (b) evidence of sufficient funds, (c) proof of medical insurance and (d) proof of a return ticket from the EU's Entry-Exit System for UK based travellers.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The government will continue to engage the European Commission and member states on their plans to implement the Entry/Exit System.

Questions asked to passengers as part of the new system are ultimately operational matters for the Commission and member states.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how often the UK National Screening Committee met in 2024; and in what format it met.

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

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) usually meets three times a year. In 2024 the UK NSC met twice, firstly in March, in an online format, and again in November, in person with online facilities available. The June meeting did not take place as it fell in between the pre-election period of 25 May to 4 July ahead of the United Kingdom general election. Information about the UK NSC’s meetings and minutes can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-nsc-meetings-and-minutes

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he last met representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The previous Minister for Pensions met with representatives from WASPI on 5th September 2024 to hear their experiences directly, the first Minister to do so in eight years.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 76809 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Public Bodies, how many appointments have been made to each of the respective Boards of her Department's public bodies since July 2024.

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

Since 10 July 2024, 121 regulated appointments and reappointments have been made to the Boards of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s public bodies. This data only includes regulated appointments made to relevant boards as listed in the Public Appointments Order in Council 2019.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects to receive the Payments Forward Plan under the National Payments Vision.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Terms of Reference for the Payments Vision Delivery Committee set out the Payments Forward Plan will be published by the end of this year. This will set out a sequenced plan of initiatives across the wider UK payments ecosystem.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the National Road Traffic Projection before the end of 2026.

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

We continue to update our Transport Analysis Guidance at 6 month intervals for those preparing business cases; this includes regular updates to some of the parameters that affect transport including GDP and fuel prices. We will consider reviewing the NRTPs in the near future.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what differences there are between the (a) contact due to end in March 2027 and (b) the new contract for services provided by the Post Office.

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

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) current contract with Post Office Ltd to provide a limited range of DVLA services ends in March 2027. A procurement for a new contract is being prepared, the requirements for which are still being considered. This will be an open competition and will be open to any eligible bidders in the market.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it her Department's policy to utilise frozen Libyan assets to compensate victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Libyan assets were frozen under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 to prevent their misuse, with the aim of preserving them for the future benefit of the Libyan people. Therefore, these frozen assets cannot be used to compensate victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism. The UK Government has profound sympathy for victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism and all victims of the Troubles, and will continue to look for opportunities to press the Libyan authorities to address the Libyan State's historic responsibility.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is for responding to Question 76810 of 12 September 2025 on Confucius Institutes.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The response to Written Parliamentary Question 76810 was published on 15 October 2025.

10th anniversary of Book Week NI

Christian founders of The Entertainer

100th anniversary of the Bangor Branch of the Royal British Legion

Reformation Day 2025

Cost of asylum seeker accommodation

Free speech and Dr Päivi Räsänen

Treatment of Professor Michael Ben-Gad

Discrimination in Ulster boxing

National Memorial for armed forces veterans who lost their lives in Northern Ireland

Preventing sight loss in people with diabetes

Baby Loss Month

Thurrock Christian Fellowship

Poppy Appeal in Northern Ireland

Drug deaths (No. 2)

Flying Nightingales

Menopause Awareness Month

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and its work in Wiltshire