Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of requiring the non-UK children of UK citizens to have a UK passport in order to enter the country on trends in the number of people entering the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

British citizens, including those who hold dual nationality must travel with a valid British passport or another passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode (CoE) when travelling to the UK. There is guidance on GOV.UK to help people determine whether they or their children qualify for British citizenship at: https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizenship.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Monroe Doctrine.

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

It is for the United States to set its own security and defence policy, as it is for any government.

However, there are many issues and initiatives where we share common objectives with the US, ranging from the AUKUS treaty and our joint work on critical minerals, to the ongoing efforts to secure peace and stability in Gaza, Sudan and Syria.

We will continue to work with our closest partner to pursue those and other shared goals.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the sale and supply of peat for horticulture.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government plans to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat containing products when parliamentary time allows. This commitment is embedded within our Carbon Budget planning and, most recently, reflected in the recently published Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).

The need to work with the Devolved Governments on this matter, to ensure a joined-up approach, was discussed at the Inter Ministerial Group on 5 February 2026.

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 identifying information is not open to abuse by (a) Palantir and (b) other companies.

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

We do not hold any contracts with Palantir, however in terms of Identifying information, DSIT utilises the GDPR and Data protection laws in every contract it enters, we also have a dedicated data protection team that review these specific clauses before contract signature.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will meet with the Social Housing Action Campaign to discuss their concerns around service charges.

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

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have any current plans to meet with the Social Housing Action Campaign.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support leaseholders in Poole constituency for remediation work to properties that is required following the Grenfell Tower fire.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Eight years on from the Grenfell tragedy, there is no justification for any building to remain unsafe. The Government has provided extensive funding and strong legal protections to shield leaseholders from historical building safety costs following Grenfell, including cladding remediation funds and strengthened leaseholder rights under the Building Safety Act.

In December 2024, Government launched the Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP) to fix buildings faster, identify those still at risk, and support residents. An update in July 2025 outlined progress and further steps to remove barriers and strengthen accountability.

As of December 2025, there are 30 buildings identified with unsafe cladding above 11m in the Poole constituency, of which 25 buildings have started or completed remediation works.

The Government remains committed to considering how to strengthen protections for leaseholders from current and future building safety issues, outside the scope of the leaseholder protections regime.

Plans to launch a new long-term Waking Watch Replacement Fund were announced as part of the RAP update in July 2025, and we plan to launch the new fund shortly.

In the RAP, we announced we would work with the insurance industry to consider options for possible government support. We are currently engaging with industry and will provide an update in due course. Following a public consultation, we are also proceeding with legislation to ban insurance commissions being passed to freeholders, landlords and managing agents at leaseholders’ expense, and replace these with a fair and transparent permitted fee structure.

As soon as parliamentary time allows, we will bring forward a new Remediation Bill to push the remediation of historic unsafe cladding further.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a fixed 4% stamp duty on the purchase of properties.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is charged using a rate structure which rises as properties get more valuable. This means that lower-value properties benefit more from the nil rate band, with the first £125,000 of any property not being charged SDLT at all. This ensures that those who can afford to pay more do so.

SDLT continues to be an important source of Government revenue, raising around £14 billion each year to help pay for the essential services the Government provides.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consideration has been given to legalising the use of electric scooters on roads for use by adults who also hold a full driving licence.

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

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology like e-scooters.

Any regulations, including a potential requirement for users to hold a driving licence, will be consulted on before they come into force so that all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the Met Police on the potential merits of it releasing further information on Operation Corn Poppy into alleged abuse at Harrods and other workplaces connected to the Al-Fayeds, including when it plans to (a) conclude and (b) report its findings.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We expect every report of a sexual offence and trafficking to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

However, the Home Office is unable to intervene in, or comment on, the progress of these individual cases. This is not because of a lack of concern, but because it is a fundamental principle of our criminal justice system that the police and courts are operationally independent of Government.

We are aware that the Metropolitan Police Service is continuing to conduct a multi-strand investigation into allegations involving Mohamed Al Fayed, known as Operation Cornpoppy and they are best placed to assess the potential merits of releasing further information on progress.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the Met Police on the potential merits of publishing the terms of reference for Operation Corn Poppy into alleged abuse at Harrods and other workplaces connected to the Al-Fayeds.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We expect every report of a sexual offence and trafficking to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

However, the Home Office is unable to intervene in, or comment on, the progress of these individual cases. This is not because of a lack of concern, but because it is a fundamental principle of our criminal justice system that the police and courts are operationally independent of Government.

We are aware that the Metropolitan Police Service is continuing to conduct a multi-strand investigation into allegations involving Mohamed Al Fayed, known as Operation Cornpoppy and they are best placed to assess the potential merits of releasing further information on progress.

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 introducing a visitor levy in England on (a) visitor numbers and (b) local economies.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. It will be up to Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of settlement routes for those on family visas from 6 to 10 years in 2012 on the number of people leaving (a) voluntarily and (b) through enforced removals.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to end the routine culling of male chicks.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of settlement routes for those on family visas from 6 to 10 years in 2012 on the number of illegal migrants arriving in the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My department has not issued any such guidance.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of exempting the state pension from taxation.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Exempting the State Pension from income tax entirely would undermine the public services we all rely on, including the NHS.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Loan Charge and HMRC’s approach to dealing with so-called disguised remuneration schemes.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding Loan Charge cases will be settled as a result of the McCann Review.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the value-for-money of the Loan Charge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans are in the GP IT roadmap to allow for the safe handover of care at the end of each working day to out-of-hours providers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As part of the Government’s National Health Service 10‑Year Health Plan commitment to deliver a single patient record, we are supporting healthcare professionals to access important medical information about patients by investing £20 million in the Connecting Care Records programme. This programme ensures authorised health and care professionals in England have safe and secure access to the person-related information that they need to provide care when they need it, where they need it, and how they need it.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Dorset Police on trends in the number of volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

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 licensing volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has issued guidance to Dorset Police on volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 114681 on Hunting: Birds of Prey, what assessment she has made of the likelihood of fox hunts exploiting the Falconry exemption to hunt mammals with hounds.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Department has made no assessment of the likelihood of fox hunts exploiting the Falconry exemption to hunt mammals with hounds.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will set out what the asylum accommodation move-on period will be for all groups after 28 February 2026.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

A decision has now been taken to set the notice period for all individuals granted leave exiting the asylum accommodation estate at 42 days, from the point they are notified of a positive asylum decision. Individuals will continue to receive a minimum of 28 days to move on from when they are notified that their asylum support is being discontinued in their asylum support discontinuation letter.

This policy will apply to individuals granted leave on or after 9 March 2026. The policy will not apply to individuals who are already within the notice period and those for whom support has already been discontinued.

The 56‑day pilot concluded on 8 March 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to make a decision on the future of the 56-day asylum move on pilot.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

A decision has now been taken to set the notice period for all individuals granted leave exiting the asylum accommodation estate at 42 days, from the point they are notified of a positive asylum decision. Individuals will continue to receive a minimum of 28 days to move on from when they are notified that their asylum support is being discontinued in their asylum support discontinuation letter.

This policy will apply to individuals granted leave on or after 9 March 2026. The policy will not apply to individuals who are already within the notice period and those for whom support has already been discontinued.

The 56‑day pilot concluded on 8 March 2026.

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 implications for her policies of the decline in council run library hours and what steps he is taking with local authorities to help protect library opening hours.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local authorities on the potential impact of the increased use of unstaffed hours at community libraries on access to local library services.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with local authorities to help increase pay for library workers.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

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 implications for her policies of UNISON research that indicated that library opening hours have decreased in England by 22% since 2010, with 4 in 5 councils cutting back on library opening hours.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local authorities on the potential impact of reductions in library staff numbers since 2010 on access to library services for the most vulnerable.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with local authorities to help increase access to local library services.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues and local authorities to increase the number of community libraries to mark the Year of Reading 2026.

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

Public libraries are central to the success of the National Year of Reading’s campaign to engage people of all ages with reading, as free and trusted spaces for learning and connection at the heart of their communities.

On 2 March DCMS announced £150,000 for public libraries to support the National Year of Reading. Funding will be delivered by The Reading Agency in support of the Go All In campaign to reconnect people with reading for pleasure.

Community managed libraries can complement the variety of services available across the public library network, and add value through building upon available services and ensuring close collaboration with the community. However, it is important that councils continue to invest in their statutory library networks, employing skilled and experienced staff.

Future of Hamworthy Fire Station

Escalating settler violence in the West Bank

2026 British and World Marbles Championship

Future Homes Standard

Redundancies of skilled rail workers at Balfour Beatty

Anniversary of the Tel al-Sultan aid worker massacre

LGBTQ+ veterans

Creative industries and the use of AI

Strike action by UCU at Scottish universities

World Social Work Day 2026

Steve Cram CBE

Reforming National Parks and National Landscapes

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

Industrial action and the cost of living

Cheadle Civic Society's celebration of Agatha Christie's connection to Cheadle 2026

New United Nations Convention on the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals

Payment of employment tribunal awards

Royal Mail postal delivery services

Assassination of Yanar Mohammed, women's rights campaigner

Industrial relations at Carlisle Support Services

Fipronil and Imidacloprid Pesticides

Review of the student loan system

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (No. 2)

King's Guard's ceremonial bearskin caps

Trade union de-recognition at GB Railfreight

Football ticket prices (No. 2)

Compulsory redundancies and industrial action at Edinburgh Napier University

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

Conduct of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

National Keep Britain Tidy Campaign

Escalation of conflict with Iran

Covid Day of Reflection 2026

45th anniversary of Only Fools and Horses

Use of catapults against wildlife

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr