Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a police hotline for reporting incidents of political intimidation towards (a) Hong Kongers and (b) others in the UK by the Chinese Communist Party.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The first duty of this Government is to keep the country safe. Any attempt by any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will never be tolerated, irrespective of where the threat emanates.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce’s review of TNR, carried out with Counter Terrorism Policing, examined how best to encourage reporting and ensure cases are taken seriously and handled appropriately.

Existing reporting functions are efficient, effective, and well recognised, with trained officers and staff handling crime reports 24/7. This enables immediate police deployment in emergencies and provides clear routes to escalate potential state‑linked incidents to Counter Terrorism Policing for expert assessment and victim support.

State threats training is being rolled out across all 45 territorial forces, including upskilling 999 call handlers on TNR, to strengthen frontline identification and response.

Anyone who believes they are a victim of state‑directed activity should report to the police via 101, 999, or at a local station. Allegations of unlawful activity will be handled sensitively, treated seriously, and swiftly investigated in line with UK law.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle the use of Royal Mail to transport illegal drugs into the UK.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Illegal drugs have a devastating impact on the health of individuals and communities. Deaths relating to drug misuse in England and Wales rose to 3,736 in 2024, with a total annual cost to society of over £20 billion.

The Home Office and operational partners are working to disrupt the supply chain of illegal drugs across all trafficking modes into the UK. Our disruptive approach to illegal drug smuggling prioritises engagement with international partners, coupled with pursuing the criminals behind drug trafficking, and activity to seize drugs at the border.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Royal College of Midwives' campaign entitled Safe staffing = safe care, January 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing multi-year funding through a national maternity and neonatal action plan on maternity services.

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

The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will build on the 10-Year Health Plan to set out how we will deliver a new workforce model with staff who are aligned with the future direction of reform. The Department launched a Call for Evidence in September 2025 until November 2025 to seek views from healthcare organisations and those with expertise in workforce planning to develop the new workforce plan.

The independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, chaired by Baroness Amos, is expected to publish findings in the spring. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will chair the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to address the recommendations and develop a new national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to help ensure that all strip searches of children have an appropriate adult present.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 requires that when a child is strip searched an appropriate adult must be present except in cases where delay would pose a risk of serious harm, or where the child specifically requests otherwise and the appropriate adult agrees. This safeguard is necessary to protect the welfare and dignity of children, whilst also providing the police necessary powers to keep the public safe.

For the year ending March 2025, the Home Office published data for the first time, on whether an appropriate adult was present for the full strip search of a child under stop and search powers (Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK). Analysis of this type of data helps to increase transparency and enable effective oversight of the use of these powers.

The government remains committed to its manifesto commitment to introduce new legal safeguards around strip-searching children and young people.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with transport operators, including Eurostar, on the provision and availability of guidance for the carriage of specialist equipment, including musical instruments.

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

The carriage of specialist items like musical equipment is down to the discretion of transport operators. Most operators have information available on their websites regarding the provision and availability of services to carry specialist items, for example the National Rail Conditions of Travel (NRCOT) which are available on the National Rail Enquiries website states that musical instruments exceeding 30 x 70 x 90 cm are only permitted at the discretion of individual train companies.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with counterparts in EU Member States on simplifying CITES‑related processes for UK musicians travelling by train to perform in Europe.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The UK Government remains in constructive dialogue with the EU on tackling the challenges facing UK musicians when touring, and on CITES‑related processes for UK musicians. Our aim is to identify practical solutions to ensure that UK artists can continue to perform across Europe with minimal barriers while respecting the regulatory frameworks on both sides.

The Government has consulted on reforms to the UK’s CITES framework, including Musical Instrument Certificates, to ensure the system is clear and effective. This consultation provided the opportunity for the music sector to make its voice heard directly on the proposals for fees, charges, and processes, ensuring the unique needs of touring artists are fully reflected in the outcome. The consultation closed on 23 October 2025, and responses are currently being analysed by Defra. The outcome of the consultation, and associated amendments, will be discussed and reviewed across Government. DCMS will continue working closely with Defra and other partners, including the EU, to ensure the impacts on the music sector are properly understood and considered.

In the UK, there are currently 21 sea ports (including one land crossing) and 14 airports designated as official points of entry and exit for CITES-listed species. There are also 2 postal hubs designated for mail imports.

There are currently no plans to make any Eurostar stations, including St Pancras, a CITES designated port following a review by the UK Border Force that concluded it does not currently have the necessary capacity and infrastructure to undertake CITES checks. This will of course be kept under review.

More broadly, we are engaging with the EU and EU Member States, and exploring how best to improve arrangements for touring across the European continent without seeing a return to free movement. Our priority remains ensuring that UK artists can continue to thrive on the global stage.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether support will be made available through the Arts Everywhere funding to heritage ships of historic national significance.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Over the course of this parliament £1.5 billion will be invested in arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage attractions across England. Historic ships, where they are registered as accredited museums, can apply for the Museum Estate and Development Fund, the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, and tax incentives like the Museums and Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief, and Museum VAT Refund Scheme. The Government also continues to support National Historic Ships UK who lead on research, publications, training, recording and similar activities relating to the preservation of historic vessels.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance and funding streams are available to support independent, family-owned cultural and educational attractions that contribute to community engagement and heritage preservation.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government recognises the importance of local heritage assets in contributing to local community engagement. Through our dedicated funds, such as the £15m Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, delivered by Historic England, and the £4.85m Heritage Revival Fund, delivered by the Architectural Heritage Fund, we support communities and local community organisations to care for and in some cases take ownership of and repurpose heritage assets for community benefit. Support is provided throughout various project stages, and may include guidance and advice on project plans, to funding for feasibility studies and larger capital grants for repairs.

On the 21st of January, the Secretary of State announced a £1.5bn Arts Everywhere package. The package includes nearly £200 million new funding for heritage protecting and preserving heritage buildings across the country:

• £60 million for at risk heritage which provides grants towards repairs and conservation of historic buildings.

• £41 million for the Heritage Revival Fund which helps communities to take control of and look after local heritage and bring buildings back into public use.

Further details regarding the application process,eligibility criteria and guidance, for both funds, will be announced in due course.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund offers grants between £10,000 and £10 million to projects that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage.

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