Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK is taking to support the International Criminal Court.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to support the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and its independence, and we welcome their ongoing investigations in Sudan, Libya and Ukraine. This is reflected in our practical support for their activities, including witness protection and sentence enforcement, and our funding of £14.3 million for the ICC's 2026 budget.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration he has given to the development of skills required by the defence industry in Fife.

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

The UK Government recognises how important the defence industry in Fife is for the UK’s national security, which is illustrated by the Type 31 frigate programme. That is why, alongside the launch of the Scotland Defence Growth Deal on 12 March, we announced £10 million would be invested towards the creation of two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, including one in the East of Scotland. These colleges will ensure that the training and education pipeline is in place to give the defence industry in Scotland, including in Fife, the skilled workforce it requires.

Although the Scottish Government have not yet confirmed that they are willing to match fund the second Defence Technical Excellence College in Scotland I remain of the view that this is a superb opportunity and I hope constructive conversations can begin soon.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into treatment for lobular breast cancer.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Responsibility for delivering Government funded cancer research is shared between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation, which includes the Medical Research Council.

As well as funding research itself, the Department invests significantly in research expertise and capacity, specialist facilities, support services, and collaborations to support and deliver research in England, known as NIHR infrastructure.

For example, the NIHR Royal Marsden Biomedical Research Centre supports lobular breast cancer by combining translational research, precision diagnostics, and targeted clinical trials to develop and test tailored treatments.

To further stimulate research in this area, NIHR launched a Highlight Notice on Invasive Lobular Cancer in November 2025. This focusses on translational and applied health priorities in topic areas identified through prioritisation activities and which are within the remit of the NIHR. These areas include detection and diagnosis, treatment, and longer-term surveillance and care of patients.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer. Our approach to funding research is through open and fair competition and peer review to ensure that the highest-quality proposals, most likely to deliver real impact for patients, are funded without imposing financial targets or limits.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consideration she has given to appointing a new British ambassador to Syria.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on this issue by the previous Foreign Secretary and the Permanent Under Secretary during their hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 14 July.

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Found: Office and as Captain of The King’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard (Lords Deputy Chief Whip) Melanie Ward

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