Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects Dame Lynne Owens’ independent investigation into the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford on 24th of October 2025 to conclude; and whether he plans publish the findings in full.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point national action plan to reduce releases in error, which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and commissioning an independent review led by Dame Lynne Owens.

The Deputy Prime Minister has asked Dame Lynne Owens to report back by the end of February 2026, with recommendations on how to reduce the likelihood of releases in error in the future.

Following this, the Deputy Prime Minister will consider the findings and recommendations carefully.

In line with the Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment to transparency, Parliament will be kept informed of the outcomes related to the review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered the potential impacts on property owners of planning permission applications being permitted on their property from those who do not own it.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The planning system entitles anyone to apply for planning permission on any land, irrespective of ownership, but applicants are legally required to notify the owners of a site before they submit their planning application. This facilitates delivery of developments where land is in multiple ownership.

The grant of planning permission has no effect on the ownership of the land and development cannot proceed without the agreement of the relevant landowner.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of Ofcom.

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

Ofcom’s effectiveness is kept under regular review and there is ongoing engagement with the regulator on key issues.

We monitor Ofcom’s effectiveness against its key performance indicators and objectives using reporting in Ofcom’s Annual Report and Accounts. These are laid before Parliament, to whom Ofcom is accountable. Ofcom’s leadership also appears regularly before Select Committees to give evidence and to be scrutinised on Ofcom’s work. In addition, DSIT ministers will meet with Ofcom to discuss overall performance twice a year as part of the Regulation Reform Programme.

The government directs Ofcom on parts of its remit through statements of strategic priorities. Ofcom must report annually on how it has had regard to their steers. The online safety statement was designated in July 2025, and the updated telecoms, spectrum and post statement will be designated in the coming months. Ofcom must have regard to the statements when exercising relevant functions and must publish a review of what it has done in consequence of the statements every 12 months.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to ensure that Ofcom adequately enforces the Online Safety Act 2023 in the context of social media companies.

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

Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety and is responsible for scrutinising platforms’ risk assessments, requiring safety mitigations, and enforcing safety duties. Ofcom has our full backing in using all available powers to protect users.

On 4 December 2025, Ofcom released a summary of the tech sector's response to the UK's new online safety rules. While there has been notable progress, further action is needed, including by major services.

Government meets Ofcom regularly to discuss online safety, including ensuring the swift implementation of the outstanding duties under the Act, and we continue to monitor outcomes through our joint evaluation programme.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the effectiveness of its implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety and is responsible for scrutinising platforms’ risk assessments, requiring safety mitigations, and enforcing safety duties. Ofcom has our full backing in using all available powers to protect users.

On 4 December 2025, Ofcom released a summary of the tech sector's response to the UK's new online safety rules. While there has been notable progress, further action is needed, including by major services.

Government meets Ofcom regularly to discuss online safety, including ensuring the swift implementation of the outstanding duties under the Act, and we continue to monitor outcomes through our joint evaluation programme.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom regarding xAI’s Grok creating intimate and sexually explicit images of people, including minors, without their consent.

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

The government is clear that no one should have to go through the ordeal of these horrendous images online.

Ofcom has confirmed that they have opened an investigation into X and have our full backing to take necessary enforcement action.

The commencement order for the offence of the creation, or requested creation, of intimate images will be signed this week meaning that individuals are committing a criminal offence if they create – or seek to create – such abhorrent content. This will also be made a priority offence, meaning platforms must take proactive action.

This is not about restricting freedom of speech but upholding the law.

Nuclear Regulatory Review and habitats regulations

Electric vehicle charging costs

National inquiry into child sexual exploitation

Halie Selassie and Bath

Found: Vaux of Harrowden (Chair) Fehintola Akinlose (Lords) Dr Michele Dix Andy Helliwell (Lords) Marie Goldman

Found: Commons) Dr Michele Dix Andy Helliwell (Lords) Paul Duffree Elizabeth Hunt (R&R Client Team) Marie Goldman