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 to tackle anti-Sikh hate crimes and protect the Sikh community from targeted hate crime.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion. We will not tolerate anti-Sikh hatred in any form and will ensure hate crimes are prosecuted with the full force of the law.

We are providing record protective security funding for faith communities to bolster security at places of worship, faith schools and community centres through the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. This comes alongside the Faith Security Training Scheme, ensuring all faith leaders and volunteers, including within Sikh communities, are strengthening their security awareness and preparedness to respond to concerns.

We also provide funding to support True Vision, an online hate crime reporting portal that lets victims report incidents safely without visiting a police station. We welcome its work with the Sikh Guard and Rakka initiatives to encourage reporting in Sikh communities and help address concerns about the lack of a bespoke reporting and support service for Sikhs experiencing hate crime.

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 support small business owners with their mental health.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises that running a small business can be challenging and can bring pressures that affect an owner’s mental health and wellbeing.

Information and support for company directors is available through the Government's Director information hub, which includes resources on mental health and wellbeing. In addition, the Small Business Commissioner has published guidance to help small businesses manage the mental health impacts of late payments. The Government's Director information hub and the guidance published by the Small Business Commissioner is available at the following two links:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/director-information-hub-mental-health-and-wellbeing

https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/new-guidance-launched-to-help-small-businesses-manage-the-mental-health-impact-of-late-payments/

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to support the recruitment and retention of Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) are the lifeblood of our Cadet Forces – without whom the fantastic benefits of being a cadet could not be enjoyed by many thousands of young people.

Work is currently underway to determine how the 30% increase in cadet numbers recommended in the Strategic Defence Review will be delivered. This includes the proposition we are able to make to attract and retain CFAVs. The success of the Cadet Forces is intrinsically linked to the adult volunteers, and we are assessing how best to support them.

The responses from a recent extensive survey of CFAVs are helping to inform our approach to improving recruitment and retention in order to deliver expansion. This involves a range of work strands such as exploring more flexible ways to volunteer, reviewing and modernising recognition and reward, and looking at measures to reduce CFAVs’ day‑to‑day administrative burden.

We are committed to providing a compelling and appropriate offer for CFAVs in recognition of their contribution and as part of our drive to expand the Cadet Forces, we are holding the first National Cadets Week starting on 5 October 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate, publicise, and support the outstanding contributions of our adult volunteers.

We will also be launching a new Cadets Action Plan during National Cadets Week. This will set out our long-term vision for the Cadet Forces and will focus on the need to ensure that our adult volunteers have the right resources and support.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing those using the Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme to let their homes out for a period longer than their deployment.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Armed Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme is designed to support home ownership amongst eligible Service personnel and their families. Current policy recognises the mobile nature of Service life and allows limited letting of an FHTB-funded property in specified circumstances, subject to approval.

The Ministry of Defence keeps the FHTB scheme under regular review and has considered a number of stakeholder suggestions regarding its operation, including the circumstances in which FHTB-funded properties may be let. However, no decision has been taken to extend existing letting provisions beyond current arrangements, as any such change would need to be carefully considered against the scheme's primary purpose of supporting owner-occupation and ensuring the effective use of public funds.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the child impact assessment, economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment relating to the proposed earned settlement model.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts.

Once the Home Secretary has decided the final model, it will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments. These will be published in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that Cider and Perry products have an appropriate amount of fruit juice to protect the quality of these drinks in the UK.

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

The Government has no plans to change the rules governing juice content in cider and perry. Mid-range juice content ciders remain the most popular with consumers and are the most typical form of cider served on draught and in cans. We recognise the importance of both traditional craft ciders and mid-range juice content ciders in supporting a dynamic and innovative market and maintaining consumer choice.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has conducted an internal review into the alleged misuse of the Home Office Atlas immigration database.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office has a robust identity and access management policy that sets out how all staff should access Home Office systems, assets and data, specifically outlining how only appropriately authorised and ‘identified’ individuals should have the ability to gain entry via mechanisms such as password management, access control and account management.

We keep our security arrangements under constant review, which is why we have undertaken a programme of work to strengthen them further, with a number of additional measures being adopted to tighten controls.

It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific details of our security arrangements as to do so could undermine their effectiveness.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been notified since January 2026 that their pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme was granted in error; and how many of these notifications led to status being revoked.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A person’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status will only be considered to have been granted in error where they were granted that status in circumstances where the information or evidence shows that they did not meet the relevant requirements for it under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. This has not changed since the EUSS opened, and every case must be considered based on individual circumstances and the evidence provided. Guidance to caseworkers is set out on pages 102-4 and 124-5 of the published caseworker guidance: EU Settlement Scheme EU, other EEA, Swiss citizens and family members.

Where pre-settled status is identified as having been granted in error it is not revoked but is instead allowed to expire. This means that a person’s rights to work, rent property and access banking services continue for the duration of their grant of pre-settled status.

A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal that decision. Where that further application is made before their pre-settled status expires, they will retain that status, and the associated rights, pending the outcome of their appeal. Local management information indicates that from 1 January to 30 June 2026 373 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people who have had pre-settled status revoked as granted in error retain their right to (a) work, (b) rent property and (c) access banking services while any appeal is ongoing.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A person’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status will only be considered to have been granted in error where they were granted that status in circumstances where the information or evidence shows that they did not meet the relevant requirements for it under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. This has not changed since the EUSS opened, and every case must be considered based on individual circumstances and the evidence provided. Guidance to caseworkers is set out on pages 102-4 and 124-5 of the published caseworker guidance: EU Settlement Scheme EU, other EEA, Swiss citizens and family members.

Where pre-settled status is identified as having been granted in error it is not revoked but is instead allowed to expire. This means that a person’s rights to work, rent property and access banking services continue for the duration of their grant of pre-settled status.

A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal that decision. Where that further application is made before their pre-settled status expires, they will retain that status, and the associated rights, pending the outcome of their appeal. Local management information indicates that from 1 January to 30 June 2026 373 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria caseworkers use to determine that pre-settled status was granted in error, and whether this guidance has changed since the EU Settlement Scheme opened.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A person’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status will only be considered to have been granted in error where they were granted that status in circumstances where the information or evidence shows that they did not meet the relevant requirements for it under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. This has not changed since the EUSS opened, and every case must be considered based on individual circumstances and the evidence provided. Guidance to caseworkers is set out on pages 102-4 and 124-5 of the published caseworker guidance: EU Settlement Scheme EU, other EEA, Swiss citizens and family members.

Where pre-settled status is identified as having been granted in error it is not revoked but is instead allowed to expire. This means that a person’s rights to work, rent property and access banking services continue for the duration of their grant of pre-settled status.

A person informed by the Home Office that they have been granted pre-settled status in error can re-apply to the EUSS if they disagree and, if refused, they can appeal that decision. Where that further application is made before their pre-settled status expires, they will retain that status, and the associated rights, pending the outcome of their appeal. Local management information indicates that from 1 January to 30 June 2026 373 individuals have been notified that their pre-settled status was granted in error. These figures are derived from manual records and may be subject to revision.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operation of the Market Rent Only provisions of the statutory Pubs Code.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code is underpinned by two principles: 1) the fair and lawful dealing by regulated Pub Owning Businesses of their tied tenants and 2) that tied tenants should not be worse off than if they were not subject to any product or service tie. Effective Market Rent Only (MRO) provisions are key to implementing the second principle.

The third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator covering 01.04.22- 31.03.25 is in progress. It includes an assessment of the extent to which the Code is consistent with the two principles. The Government’s report will be published as soon as practicable.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of changing the regulatory framework governing relationships between pub-owning businesses and tied pub tenants.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) enforces the Code. The Government currently has no plans to assess the effectiveness of the voluntary industry codes of practice governing pub-owning businesses with fewer than 500 tied pubs.

The Government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator and its report will be published as soon as practicable. The statutory review will also consider the findings of the Post Implementation Review (PIR), which analyses the Code’s impact since it came into force in 2016.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the threshold of 500 or more tied pubs for inclusion within the statutory Pubs Code.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) enforces the Code. The Government currently has no plans to assess the effectiveness of the voluntary industry codes of practice governing pub-owning businesses with fewer than 500 tied pubs.

The Government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator and its report will be published as soon as practicable. The statutory review will also consider the findings of the Post Implementation Review (PIR), which analyses the Code’s impact since it came into force in 2016.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the voluntary industry codes of practice governing pub-owning businesses with fewer than 500 tied pubs.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) enforces the Code. The Government currently has no plans to assess the effectiveness of the voluntary industry codes of practice governing pub-owning businesses with fewer than 500 tied pubs.

The Government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator and its report will be published as soon as practicable. The statutory review will also consider the findings of the Post Implementation Review (PIR), which analyses the Code’s impact since it came into force in 2016.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many investigations the Pubs Code Adjudicator has concluded in each of the last five years; and what financial penalties were imposed following those investigations.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is a separate statutory entity independent of Government. The PCA completed its first investigation, into Star Pubs, in 2020, resulting in a penalty of £1.25m. The PCA launched an investigation into Stonegate Pubs in July 2026, which is ongoing. The PCA publishes information about its investigations on its website and in its Annual Report & Accounts.

The Department has regular dialogue with the PCA across the range of the PCA's responsibilities.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Pubs Code Adjudicator on compliance with the statutory Pubs Code.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is a separate statutory entity independent of Government. The PCA completed its first investigation, into Star Pubs, in 2020, resulting in a penalty of £1.25m. The PCA launched an investigation into Stonegate Pubs in July 2026, which is ongoing. The PCA publishes information about its investigations on its website and in its Annual Report & Accounts.

The Department has regular dialogue with the PCA across the range of the PCA's responsibilities.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the statutory Pubs Code in ensuring that tied pub tenants are not worse off than if they were free of tie.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code is underpinned by two principles: 1) the fair and lawful dealing by regulated Pub Owning Businesses of their tied tenants and 2) that tied tenants should not be worse off than if they were not subject to any product or service tie. Effective Market Rent Only (MRO) provisions are key to implementing the second principle.

The third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator covering 01.04.22- 31.03.25 is in progress. It includes an assessment of the extent to which the Code is consistent with the two principles. The Government’s report will be published as soon as practicable.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of tied pub agreements on the long-term viability of tenant-run pubs.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Pubs Code only applies to pub companies with over 500 tied tenants. The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) enforces the Code. The Government currently has no plans to assess the effectiveness of the voluntary industry codes of practice governing pub-owning businesses with fewer than 500 tied pubs.

The Government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and Pubs Code Adjudicator and its report will be published as soon as practicable. The statutory review will also consider the findings of the Post Implementation Review (PIR), which analyses the Code’s impact since it came into force in 2016.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of diagnostic thresholds for Vitamin B12 deficiency; and what steps she is taking to reduce regional variation in access to treatment for patients with the condition.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided to the Hon Member for Hazel Grove on 22 and 25 April 2025 to Questions 44659 and 44657.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department will develop a national strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided to the Hon Member for Hazel Grove on 22 and 25 April 2025 to Questions 44659 and 44657.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on consumers of the gap in Alternative Dispute Resolution provision in the water sector following the Consumer Council for Water's withdrawal from adjudication and the end of the WATRS/CEDR scheme in April 2026.

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

All previous complaints that were being handled by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) before the withdrawal of CCW’s adjudication service were progressed to conclusion.

Under the new arrangement, if a customer complaint has not been resolved through discussion with their water company or through support from CCW, customers should be referred by their water company to the water company’s independent adjudication service. Customers will continue to benefit from the same protections and safeguards in place under the previous arrangement. Those contracted to provide this independent service for water companies will provide impartial decisions until the new Water Ombudsman is established.

The new Ombudsman will strengthen customer protections in the water sector by providing an impartial and legally binding dispute resolution service in the sector, in line with other regulated sectors. This will ensure that vulnerable customers and their complaints are properly safeguarded.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered a statutory automatic redress mechanism for consumers who lose access to Alternative Dispute Resolution due to regulatory or administrative failure.

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

All previous complaints that were being handled by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) before the withdrawal of CCW’s adjudication service were progressed to conclusion.

Under the new arrangement, if a customer complaint has not been resolved through discussion with their water company or through support from CCW, customers should be referred by their water company to the water company’s independent adjudication service. Customers will continue to benefit from the same protections and safeguards in place under the previous arrangement. Those contracted to provide this independent service for water companies will provide impartial decisions until the new Water Ombudsman is established.

The new Ombudsman will strengthen customer protections in the water sector by providing an impartial and legally binding dispute resolution service in the sector, in line with other regulated sectors. This will ensure that vulnerable customers and their complaints are properly safeguarded.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure continuity of Alternative Dispute Resolution provision in the water sector during future changes to regulatory arrangements.

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

All previous complaints that were being handled by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) before the withdrawal of CCW’s adjudication service were progressed to conclusion.

Under the new arrangement, if a customer complaint has not been resolved through discussion with their water company or through support from CCW, customers should be referred by their water company to the water company’s independent adjudication service. Customers will continue to benefit from the same protections and safeguards in place under the previous arrangement. Those contracted to provide this independent service for water companies will provide impartial decisions until the new Water Ombudsman is established.

The new Ombudsman will strengthen customer protections in the water sector by providing an impartial and legally binding dispute resolution service in the sector, in line with other regulated sectors. This will ensure that vulnerable customers and their complaints are properly safeguarded.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued to water companies on handling complaints that had reached the adjudication stage before the withdrawal of the WATRS scheme.

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

All previous complaints that were being handled by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) before the withdrawal of CCW’s adjudication service were progressed to conclusion.

Under the new arrangement, if a customer complaint has not been resolved through discussion with their water company or through support from CCW, customers should be referred by their water company to the water company’s independent adjudication service. Customers will continue to benefit from the same protections and safeguards in place under the previous arrangement. Those contracted to provide this independent service for water companies will provide impartial decisions until the new Water Ombudsman is established.

The new Ombudsman will strengthen customer protections in the water sector by providing an impartial and legally binding dispute resolution service in the sector, in line with other regulated sectors. This will ensure that vulnerable customers and their complaints are properly safeguarded.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many consumer complaints were affected by the discontinuation of the WATRS adjudication scheme before a replacement provider became operational.

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

All previous complaints that were being handled by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) before the withdrawal of CCW’s adjudication service were progressed to conclusion.

Under the new arrangement, if a customer complaint has not been resolved through discussion with their water company or through support from CCW, customers should be referred by their water company to the water company’s independent adjudication service. Customers will continue to benefit from the same protections and safeguards in place under the previous arrangement. Those contracted to provide this independent service for water companies will provide impartial decisions until the new Water Ombudsman is established.

The new Ombudsman will strengthen customer protections in the water sector by providing an impartial and legally binding dispute resolution service in the sector, in line with other regulated sectors. This will ensure that vulnerable customers and their complaints are properly safeguarded.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for restoring full Alternative Dispute Resolution provision in the water sector; and which body will deliver it.

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

All previous complaints that were being handled by the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) before the withdrawal of CCW’s adjudication service were progressed to conclusion.

Under the new arrangement, if a customer complaint has not been resolved through discussion with their water company or through support from CCW, customers should be referred by their water company to the water company’s independent adjudication service. Customers will continue to benefit from the same protections and safeguards in place under the previous arrangement. Those contracted to provide this independent service for water companies will provide impartial decisions until the new Water Ombudsman is established.

The new Ombudsman will strengthen customer protections in the water sector by providing an impartial and legally binding dispute resolution service in the sector, in line with other regulated sectors. This will ensure that vulnerable customers and their complaints are properly safeguarded.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has plans to review the regulation or guidance relating to emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads, particularly those near residential areas.

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

Noise controls for aerodromes are set through the local planning system where appropriate and enforcement is a matter for the local authority. Local authorities also have a duty to monitor air quality in their areas.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets noise standards for helicopters. While ICAO sets engine emissions standards for commercial aircraft, these do not apply to helicopters. The environmental and public health impacts of emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads are likely to be very small and there is no routine monitoring of these emissions.

The Department has no plans to review the regulation or guidance relating to emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing arrangements for monitoring emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads.

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

Noise controls for aerodromes are set through the local planning system where appropriate and enforcement is a matter for the local authority. Local authorities also have a duty to monitor air quality in their areas.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets noise standards for helicopters. While ICAO sets engine emissions standards for commercial aircraft, these do not apply to helicopters. The environmental and public health impacts of emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads are likely to be very small and there is no routine monitoring of these emissions.

The Department has no plans to review the regulation or guidance relating to emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental and public health impacts of emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads.

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

Noise controls for aerodromes are set through the local planning system where appropriate and enforcement is a matter for the local authority. Local authorities also have a duty to monitor air quality in their areas.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets noise standards for helicopters. While ICAO sets engine emissions standards for commercial aircraft, these do not apply to helicopters. The environmental and public health impacts of emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads are likely to be very small and there is no routine monitoring of these emissions.

The Department has no plans to review the regulation or guidance relating to emissions from helicopters operating from private helipads.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential environmental and astronomical effects of orbital reflector satellites.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK, to date, has commissioned three studies related to the impacts of satellite brightness and potential mitigations. The findings from these studies, alongside discussions in international forums such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), help inform policy discussions on how to successfully address the balance between accessing vital services in space and minimising the impact on scientific research and the environment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a national policy framework for the long-term maintenance of Natural Flood Management schemes delivered by local authorities.

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

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that natural flood management (NFM) measures remain effective over the long term. Projects funded through the Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management investment programme are expected to have appropriate maintenance plans and funding arrangements in place. The Government also expects all risk management authorities and other asset owners to invest in ongoing maintenance and repairs where necessary.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered introducing a statutory Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith to improve understanding among public authorities.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

British Sikhs are an integral part of this country, and this Government refuses to allow intolerance to impact the lives of any people of faith. We are committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion – including the wearing of the Sikh articles of faith – and we do not tolerate anti-Sikh hatred or discrimination in any form.

Earlier this year, we committed in Protecting What Matters to boost faith and belief literacy. This will include gauging our current levels of faith and belief literacy in government identifying ways to upskill, and developing an approach that improves the quality and inclusivity of policy making. We will also consider how to strengthen faith and belief literacy across society as a whole.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the long-term maintenance of Natural Flood Management projects.

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

Guidance for natural flood management (NFM) projects eligible for funding from the government’s flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programme is available on GOV.UK here. Risk management authorities can access further guidance, FAQs and explainer videos through the NFM pages of the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coast SharePoint site.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to review the effectiveness of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government is conducting an ongoing review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and is actively taking forward reforms to the cyber landscape. Proposals to update the CMA will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows. The changes will allow law enforcement agencies to more effectively tackle threats posed by cyber criminals.

The reforms will create a Cyber Crime Risk Order to place robust controls on the behaviours of cyber criminals, alongside new powers to search individuals believed to be concealing evidence on behalf of suspects. It will also unlock the power of cyber security professionals to better enable them to secure computer systems.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of existing arrangements for enforcing permitted operating hours at private helipads; and what steps she is taking to ensure that helicopter operations comply with applicable restrictions on operating hours.

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

The department has not made a formal assessment of the effectiveness of existing arrangements for enforcing permitted operating hours at private helipads.

Operating hours for private helipads are generally a matter for the relevant local planning authority. Where planning conditions specify permitted hours of operation, compliance with those conditions is enforced through the planning system.

Helicopter operators are expected to comply with any operating restrictions that apply to the sites from which they operate.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Office for Students on the adequacy of governance and consultation processes at universities undertaking large-scale restructuring programmes.

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

Higher education (HE) providers are independent from government and are responsible for managing their business models, including decisions relating to staffing. The department encourages providers to work with their staff to develop sustainable models that retain talent and expertise and provide stability for the workforce and the institution. All efficiency measures taken by the sector should provide long-term value for staff, students and the country.

The Post-16 Education and Skills White paper sets out the government’s ambition for stronger governance in the HE sector.

We welcome the Committee of University Chairs' new Code of Governance, published in June, which sets clear and robust expectations for accountability, transparency and effective oversight across the sector. We will also support the Office for Students’ strengthening of its management and governance conditions of registration.

Found: James Naish made representations.