Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects to receive the finalised report of the study into mesh complication surgery by the National Institute for Health and Care Research study.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research delivery arm of the Department, funds and supports a range of research to support women’s health conditions, including pelvic organ prolapse.

In May 2023 the NIHR commissioned a £1.6 million study to develop a validated patient reported outcome measure for prolapse, incontinence, and mesh complication surgery, to better understand the short and long-term health impacts of pelvic mesh surgery. Further information is available at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR152187

This study is expected to report its findings in April 2026. The NIHR is also funding a study which will look at the long term effectiveness of surgical treatment for prolapse including pelvic mesh, with further information available at the following link:

https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR133665

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health including the use of vaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to announce additional measures to support young and novice drivers.

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

We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign.

We are considering other measures to address this and protect young and newly qualified drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 75196, whether he expects the contract between GCAP International Government Organisation and Edgewing to be announced and operational by the end of 2025.

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

The first international Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) contract between the GCAP International Government Organisation and Edgewing is subject to ongoing Commercial Negotiations. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will raise at the United Nations the refusal by Russian authorities to allow an independent investigation into the death of Alexei Navalny.

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

The Government continues to call on the Russian authorities to allow a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of Alexei Navalny's death. On 7 October, the UK co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council expressing grave concerns that such an investigation had not been conducted.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions has a Director for Northern Ireland of the National Wealth Fund met with the NI Executive in the past twelve months to discuss how the fund can help promote economic growth in Northern Ireland.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The National Wealth Fund works collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Executive to identify investment opportunities in Northern Ireland. It has a dedicated director based in Northern Ireland and opened a Belfast office in December 2024.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate has been made of the reduction in shipping emissions by the end of the Parliament.

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

Under the planned scenario presented in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, the greenhouse gas emissions from UK domestic and international shipping are estimated at around 10.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2029, an estimated reduction of around 4.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), or 29%, from the 2008 base year of our emissions goals. Our approach to deliver these emission savings are set out in our Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy [2].

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carbon-budget-and-growth-delivery-plan-2025

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maritime-decarbonisation-strategy

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether changes have taken place within the last twelve months that place additional restrictions on registered sex offender's ability to change their names.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government has introduced a series of measures to strengthen the management of registered sex offenders (RSOs) and prevent them from evading monitoring by changing their identities in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently at Committee stage in the House of Lords.

The new legislation will enable police to serve a notice on RSOs requiring them to seek the police’s authorisation before applying to change their name on a specified identity document (namely, a UK passport, driving licence or immigration document). It also requires RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name at least seven days in advance of using it, or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as far in advance of their using it as it reasonably practicable.

These measures close previous loopholes to enable the police to monitor registered sex offenders more closely and better protect the public.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what is the lifespan of the Semiconductor Advisory Panel; and when does he expect to receive any recommendations from it.

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

The UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel was established to provide a formal mechanism for industry, academia and government to work closely together on delivering the government’s strategic aims for the semiconductor sector. It provides ongoing advice, rather than developing formal recommendations. Panel members serve 18-month terms.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the next review and report on the work of the OBR be commissioned before the end of this Parliament.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 states that the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Non-executive committee must appoint a person or body at least once in every 5-year period to review and report on the OBR.

The Chair of the OBR Oversight Board formally commissioned the third external review on 24 May 2024 which was published on 10 February 2025.

The OBR’s external reviews are published on the OBR’s website. https://obr.uk/about-the-obr/external-reviews/

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there were any stipulations regarding financial penalties if all 48 F - 35 fighter jets were not supplied by December 2025 in the original contract with Lockheed Martin.

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

The F-35 Joint Program Office orders aircraft for the F-35 Partner Nations through annual production contracts. The seven F-35B aircraft in production contract Lot 17 should have been delivered by the end of 2025. The Department anticipates four of those aircraft will slip into 2026 and be delivered by April 2026 (a three to four month delay from the original contract). There is not a financial remedy for the delivery of Lot 17 aircraft.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 81262 on Connect Fund: Northern Ireland, how many of the 24 applications to the Connect Fund were successful.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Connect Fund has continued to receive a positive reaction from the voluntary and community sector and I am glad to see many innovative projects are already underway. In the August window, 24 applications were received with 11 of these subsequently awarded funding.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to WPQ 91913, did the dedicated director of the National Wealth Fund based in Northern Ireland meet with the Northern Ireland Executive (a) once, or (b) more than once, since December 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Pursuant to WPQ 91913, in 2025 the National Wealth Fund’s Regional Director for Northern Ireland has met with the Northern Ireland Executive more than once to discuss investment opportunities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to WPQ 91307, whether she plans to reduce the number of grey squirrels and increase the number of red squirrels by the end of the current Parliament.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

To deliver against the statutory targets for biodiversity, in England, we are acting at scale to create, restore, manage, and protect wildlife-rich habitats, reduce pressures on biodiversity, and take targeted action for species including red squirrels.

Effective management to reduce grey squirrel populations supports the conservation of red squirrels. To help achieve this, the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme provides payments of £60 per hectare to manage and reduce the impact of grey squirrels. Additionally, Defra continues to explore non-lethal and passive control methods to reduce grey squirrel populations and has contributed funding to the fertility control research led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the UK Squirrel Accord.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects to receive the report on Mutuals from the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

In line with the government’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, the Chancellor announced measures to support the sector at Mansion House 2024. This included asking the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prepare a report on the mutuals landscape, to ensure that regulation for all mutuals remains proportionate and enables growth.

The report is expected to be published by the regulators before the end of 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to inform young adults whose matured Child Trust Fund monies have not been claimed.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to reuniting all young adults with their Child Trust Funds (CTF). HMRC works with CTF providers, industry representatives and others to enable account owners to be aware of and trace their accounts.

For example, HMRC has partnered with the University and Colleges Admissions Service to encourage awareness among student peer groups. HMRC issues a range of communications such as the recent press release published on Gov.uk - www.gov.uk/government/news/savings-stash-worth-thousands-waiting-for-758000-young-people.

HMRC also provides a free tracing tool on Gov.uk to help people find their CTF provider (www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund) and has also provided a link to The Share Foundation’s CTF account tracing service on Gov.uk, providing an additional way for young people to trace their accounts.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what change in the number of people paying income tax at 40% does she estimate will take place between 2023 and 2028.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The number of people forecast to pay tax by marginal rate from 2023-24 to 2028-29 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

The previous Government made the decision to maintain income tax thresholds at their current levels from April 2021 until April 2028.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of haulier businesses that have declared insolvency in each year between 2021 and 2024.

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

Estimated numbers of companies with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 49200 (Freight rail transport) and 49410 (Freight transport by road) that entered insolvency in the UK in each calendar year between 2021 and 2024 are presented in the table below.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help reduce economic dependence on the South East of England.

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

Under the UK’s Industrial Strategy, the Department for Business and Trade is driving regional growth by supporting priority sectors and attracting investment. This includes working with partners to deliver Industrial Strategy Zones, which provide tax incentives and funding to stimulate investment in city regions such as the advanced materials manufacturing in Greater Manchester, defence in Plymouth, clean energy in Inverness and the Highlands, compound semiconductors in South Wales and advanced manufacturing, photonics, and biotechnology in Northern Ireland.

The Business Growth Service offers SMEs a streamlined, UK-wide platform to access funding, expert advice, and export opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and connecting firms with local and national support through business.gov.uk.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89387 on Veterinary Services: Northern Ireland, with whom consultations took place on the estimate of the proportion of veterinary medicine products that are expected to be discontinued after January 2026.

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

Following on from PQ 89387, our assessment that most products currently on the Northern Ireland will remain available is built on extensive assessment with industry stakeholders. In particular, we contacted all the Marketing Authorisation Holders that had products with a valid Marketing Authorisation for Northern Ireland and asked them their supply intentions for after the end of the grace period. We first started this survey in 2022 and have followed up on a regular basis. The Department continues to engage with industry to help ensure a smooth transition into 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to respond to the report of the UK Law Commission's Criminal Appeals consultation.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Law Commission is currently reviewing the responses to its consultation, and we expect to receive the final report with recommendations by late 2026. Once we receive the report, the Government will carefully consider the findings and respond in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Natural History Museum on taking steps to enable sales to customers living in Northern Ireland to take place.

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

My officials have been in talks with the Natural History Museum on this issue. The Museum hopes to resume sales to Northern Ireland during 2026.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the International Road Transport Union on the extent of ongoing road haulage difficulties that exist for transportation of freight between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have met with a range of businesses and representative bodies, including those dealing with the movement of goods by road, and I remain committed to continuing this discussion. HM Revenue & Customs has also been engaging regularly with the International Road Transport Union, and their members directly, to provide bespoke support.

140th anniversary of the North West of Ireland Football Association

Supreme Court judgment on religious education in Northern Ireland

Autumn Budget 2025 tax increases

Anniversary of the murder of Ken Smyth and Daniel McCormick

Kidnapping of school children in Nigeria

Asylum reform proposals

Access to banks

International Day of People with Disabilities

Phenylketonuria awareness and access to treatment

Sara Cox’s challenge for Children in Need

Irish Sea herring quotas