Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87510 on Internet: Children and Young People, when the Media Literacy Vision Statement will be published.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is developing a Media Literacy Vision Statement in close collaboration with other government departments. The Vision Statement will set out a shared, whole-of-government vision for a safe, informed, media literate society. It will outline how media literacy will be embedded across key policy areas including education, public services, digital inclusion, and community resilience. We will announce publication in due course.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Health Adjustment Passport in supporting disabled people to (a) enter and (b) remain in employment.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Health Adjustment Passports are voluntary and available to everyone with a health condition or disability.
The Health Adjustment Passport enables disabled people to move more easily into employment and between job roles and reduces the need to repeat personal information about their disability. The Passport supports transitions into employment by providing a tool to enable disabled people to have structured conversations with employers about disability. It acts as a transferable record of the adjustments needed, along with sign posts to available support including Access to Work (AtW).
If a user chooses to share the passport with their employer, it can help to raise the visibility of adjustments and highlight support available, including AtW. In the event the user applies for AtW support, the passport can aid an assessment by providing health and disability information beforehand, enabling support to be put in place more quickly.
Further information on the Health Adjustments Passport can be found on: Health Adjustment Passport - GOV.UK
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department will introduce Access to Work Adjustment Passports for all claimants.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Health Adjustment Passports are voluntary and available to everyone with a health condition or disability.
The Health Adjustment Passport enables disabled people to move more easily into employment and between job roles and reduces the need to repeat personal information about their disability. The Passport supports transitions into employment by providing a tool to enable disabled people to have structured conversations with employers about disability. It acts as a transferable record of the adjustments needed, along with sign posts to available support including Access to Work (AtW).
If an individual chooses to share the passport with their employer, it can help to raise the visibility of adjustments and highlight support available, including AtW. In the event the user applies for AtW support, the passport can aid an assessment by providing health and disability information beforehand, enabling support to be put in place more quickly.
Further information on the Health Adjustments Passport can be found on: Health Adjustment Passport - GOV.UK
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to North Durham constituency of returning the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Investment Reserve to members.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As at 30 October 2024, there were 222 members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in North Durham. Any transfer of the reserve would be used to enhance member benefits.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October to Question 79968 on Palestine: Education, what discussions his Department has had with the Palestinian Authority on seeking an independent audit into the implementation of the curriculum reform.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary met with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 1 November. As part of their conversation they discussed educational reforms. The UK continues to monitor and advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation through an annual strategic dialogue. In the meantime, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through the British Consulate in Jerusalem, engage regularly with the Palestinian Authority on many areas, including education reform.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on the Stanley South neighbourhood in North Durham constituency.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 25 September the government announced its flagship Pride in Place Programme, which will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 of Great Britain’s most in-need neighbourhoods over the next decade. The Stanley South neighbourhood in North Durham was selected as one of the areas to receive long-term funding and support from the programme.
This investment will help build a stronger community in Stanley South, create a thriving local place, and empower residents to take back control of their neighbourhood. Funding will support a locally led Pride in Place plan shaped around local priorities, with the community represented through a dedicated Neighbourhood Board to ensure that investment reflects local needs and ambitions.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many investigations have been opened under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme into (a) the Islamic Human Rights Commission, in the context of Iran’s Al-Quds Day in the UK, (b) David Miller, in the context of the Iranian state channel Press TV and (c) other activities connected to Iran.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It is longstanding policy that the Government does not comment on individual cases.
Iranian state-owned organisations do not automatically have to register with FIRS. Individuals or entities will only need to register under FIRS if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Iranian state.
The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people who act as (a) anchors, (b) presenters and (c) regular contributors for Press TV are required to register under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It is longstanding policy that the Government does not comment on individual cases.
Iranian state-owned organisations do not automatically have to register with FIRS. Individuals or entities will only need to register under FIRS if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Iranian state.
The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Islamic Human Rights Commission is required to register under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
It is longstanding policy that the Government does not comment on individual cases.
Iranian state-owned organisations do not automatically have to register with FIRS. Individuals or entities will only need to register under FIRS if they are carrying out activities in the UK at the direction of the Iranian state.
The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve transparency in Child Maintenance Service (a) calculations and (b) deductions (i) in general and (ii) where deductions from earnings orders are applied.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance calculation is based on the paying parent’s gross income, verified through HMRC data. To improve transparency, the CMS has enhanced data sharing with HMRC to ensure accurate income assessments, including unearned income such as dividends and rental income. Whenever a calculation is made both parents are notified of the amount, the reason for the calculation and how the calculation has been made enabling parents to challenge assessments they believe do not reflect the paying parent’s true financial position. The online portal, My Child Maintenance Case, allows parents to view all prior calculations.
The CMS applies general deductions through either voluntary arrangements or enforcement mechanisms. To improve transparency, the CMS has published guidance on Gov.uk detailing how these processes are applied.
Deductions from earnings orders (DEO) are a key enforcement tool used when a paying parent fails to meet their obligations. To improve transparency in this area, the CMS has issued clear employer guidance on how DEOs operate, including legal obligations, calculation methods, and reporting requirements. This includes ensuring employers receive formal written instructions from the CMS before any changes to deductions are made, preventing unauthorised or unclear adjustments. The protected earnings rate ensures that short term variations in earnings do not allow deductions to reduce a paying parent’s net income below a minimum level required for essential living costs.
Additionally, the CMS provide paying parents with notice of enforcement action and the opportunity to appeal or request a reconsideration of their maintenance calculation before a DEO is applied.
The Department continues to review and refine CMS processes to ensure they are transparent, fair, and effective in delivering financial support to children in separated families.