Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason she plans to transfer staff to Department of Transport Operator Ltd prior to the completion of the Railways Bill.

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

On 1 April 2026, an important milestone in delivering Great British Railways (GBR) was reached, as a significant part of the functions and staff responsible for the operational railway transferred from DfT to the DFT Operator (DFTO), the Government’s public sector rail owning group.

This move is a practical step towards creating a simpler, more accountable railway that delivers better outcomes for passengers, communities and taxpayers. It ensures the right capabilities sit in the right place now to maintain the strong progress we have already made to improve rail services. It also reduces the risk associated with simultaneous transfer of the organisations, functions, teams and operational capabilities that will form GBR in 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's targeted staff headcount reduction was prior to 31 March 2026.

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

Over financial year 2025/26, DfT(central) had an 8% headcount reduction target which was achieved by March 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what protections are in place for staff transferring to the Department of Transport Operator Ltd in respect of a) civil servant status, b) terms and conditions and c) occupational pension.

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

Staff were transferred from DfT to DFTO on 1st April 2026. In terms of a) DFTO is a public corporation and therefore staff are Public Servants. This means staff transferred to DFTO have not retained Civil Servant status. Regarding b), Terms and Conditions of staff transferring to DFTO are protected by TUPE regulations. All relevant issues arising from DFTO on transferring employees’ Terms and Conditions were presented and consulted on formally with Trade Unions, as staff representatives, ahead of transfer. Regarding c), staff transferred to DFTO retained their membership of their existing pension scheme. This includes those who are members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme and Rail Pension Scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with relevant Trade Unions on the proposed transfer of staff from her Department to the Department of Transport Operator Ltd.

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

Staffing matters are the formal responsibility of the Permanent Secretary and officials. As such, for the transfer of staff to DFTO on the 1^st April 2026, the constructive discussions with Trade Unions and staff were led by senior DfT officials. Informal engagement took place with Trade Unions from the earliest opportunity. Formal consultation was conducted in line with the TUPE regulations and with constructive engagement from Trade Unions, DFTO and DfT.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an estimate of the number of civilian casualties caused by United States airstrikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.

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

The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies and ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times United States aircraft taking off from bases in the United Kingdom have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.

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

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times United States aircraft taking off from Diego Garcia have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.

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

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the 2020 military cooperation agreement with Israel in the context of that country’s role in the war on Iran since 28 February 2026.

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

A UK-Israel military cooperation agreement, which incorporates a range of defence engagement activity, was signed in December 2020. Whilst the UK Ministry of Defence regularly reviews cooperation with Israel, the agreement remains extant.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Israel is modernising its nuclear weapons programme.

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

The UK's longstanding position on these questions was set out by the previous government on 27 November 2023 in their answer to Question 2945, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

"Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government closely follows the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts."

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department supports a Middle East Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.

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

The UK's longstanding position on these questions was set out by the previous government on 27 November 2023 in their answer to Question 2945, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

"Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government closely follows the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts."

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made a recent estimate of the number of nuclear weapons possessed by Israel.

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

The UK's longstanding position on these questions was set out by the previous government on 27 November 2023 in their answer to Question 2945, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

"Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government closely follows the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts."

Payment of employment tribunal awards

78 years of the Palestinian Nakba

Hillsborough Law

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2026

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

13th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh

Planned reductions to BBC staff

Use of restraint of children in the asylum system removal process

Valentina Gomez and the protection of public order and community cohesion

UN General Assembly Resolution A/80/L.48 on declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as a crime against humanity

Impact of war in the Middle East on the cost of living

Student Loans Company repayments

Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners

Universal Credit health for under-22s

Israeli death penalty law and military courts

Palestinian Nakba commemoration march

Changes to State Pension age affecting 1950s-born women

NHS access to medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy

Fipronil and Imidacloprid Pesticides

Strike action by UCU at Scottish universities

Found: Letter dated 07/04/2026 from Alistair Carns MP to Jeremy Corbyn MP regarding a parliamentary question