Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to facilitate knowledge transfer from Ukraine’s battlefield innovation experience to UK-based defence SMEs.

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

Since 2024 the MOD has run seven defence trade missions to Ukraine in conjunction with the Trade Association ADS. These have facilitated engagement for UK business of all sizes, but with a particular focus on SMEs, with Ukrainian industry and government. We will continue our support for business and create an enduring presence for UK industry in Kyiv through the establishment of a UK Business Centre, while working to develop capabilities alongside the Ukrainian defence ecosystem.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of PEGI’s self-regulatory framework in enforcing age ratings for video games containing loot boxes.

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

The government engages with the Games Rating Authority (GRA), who are designated to ensure all games are appropriately rated using the Pan European Games Information (PEGI) age ratings. These ratings provide clear and detailed information on the content that can be found in a game such as violence, bad language, or the presence of paid random items (i.e. loot boxes).

In partnership with the GRA and other European regulators, PEGI has recently reviewed how their age ratings can better protect young players. As a result, four new risk categories have been developed, one of which directly addresses loot boxes, setting a minimum age rating of 16 for games which contain them.

The government supports the GRA’s strict enforcement of these new PEGI ratings, which come into force in June 2026. We will closely follow the implementation and expect that the new ratings will provide players, parents and video game developers with clear information on how loot boxes can be used in an age-appropriate way.

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 the Games Rating Authority on their proposals for monitoring compliance with the minimum age requirement for games featuring loot boxes.

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

The government engages with the Games Rating Authority (GRA), who are designated to ensure all games are appropriately rated using the Pan European Games Information (PEGI) age ratings. These ratings provide clear and detailed information on the content that can be found in a game such as violence, bad language, or the presence of paid random items (i.e. loot boxes).

In partnership with the GRA and other European regulators, PEGI has recently reviewed how their age ratings can better protect young players. As a result, four new risk categories have been developed, one of which directly addresses loot boxes, setting a minimum age rating of 16 for games which contain them.

The government supports the GRA’s strict enforcement of these new PEGI ratings, which come into force in June 2026. We will closely follow the implementation and expect that the new ratings will provide players, parents and video game developers with clear information on how loot boxes can be used in an age-appropriate way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the the level of economic growth.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23^rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector.

Following a strategic and technical assessment by HMG, it has been decided not to expand the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to refined oil products in January 2028. We are continuing to work with the sector to assess the options and case for expanding CBAM to refined oil products at a later date.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not including refined products within the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from January 2028.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23^rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector.

Following a strategic and technical assessment by HMG, it has been decided not to expand the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to refined oil products in January 2028. We are continuing to work with the sector to assess the options and case for expanding CBAM to refined oil products at a later date.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to integrate lessons from operational innovation in Ukraine into UK defence procurement and research strategy.

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

One of the key lessons for the Ministry of Defence from the war in Ukraine is the importance of pace and technical innovation in procurement if our Armed Forces are to retain an edge over, and therefore deter, our adversaries.

Ongoing reforms across the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group are putting these lessons into practice. For example, the new segmented approach to procurement tailors acquisition processes according to the type of capability, supplier and risk involved, speeding delivery. Similarly, the Accelerating Commercial Pathways and Commercial X programmes are reducing the time taken to complete commercial processes and get procurements on contract.

With the creation of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) we have put innovation at the centre of defence procurement. With a ring-fenced budget, UKDI will ensure we are able to quickly acquire the cutting-edge capabilities our Armed Forces need to keep pace with the evolving nature of warfare.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, did the Northern Ireland Executive receive a Barnett consequential payment as a result of the £42.3 million top-up to the English apprenticeship budget for the year 2025/2026.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Barnett formula was applied in the normal way to changes in the English apprenticeships budget at Main Estimates 2025/26 and at Budget 2025, and the resulting consequentials were added to the Northern Ireland Executive’s existing block grant.

Campbell College’s rugby and football double

Bermuda and oil industry tax

Support for the ceramics industry

The National Council of Resistance of Iran's ten-point plan

King's Guard's ceremonial bearskin caps

Student finance

Found: Cotswolds) Blake Stephenson (Conservative; Mid Bedfordshire) John Whitby (Labour; Derbyshire Dales) Sammy Wilson

Found: Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Sammy Wilson

Found: Barry Gardiner; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Sammy Wilson

Found: In response to questions from yourself, Jonathan Davies and Sammy Wilson, Natural England agreed to provide

Submit Evidence (by 21 May 2026)

The Environmental Audit Committee is examining the role of HM Treasury in shaping the UK’s response to climate change, nature loss and wider environmental sustainability. The Government’s economic policy objective includes a commitment to “accelerate the transition to a climate resilient, nature positive and net zero economy”.[1]