Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on the protection of civilians, including members of the Muslim community.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 25 November 2025 in response to Question 90911.

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 impact of unmanaged vegetation fuel loads on upland peatland and the severity of wildfires.

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

Healthy peatlands do not require active vegetation management such as burning or cutting. There is clear scientific evidence that burning is particularly damaging, as it degrades peatland conditions, undermines restoration and increases long-term vulnerability to wildfires. In response, the Government amended the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 in September last year to extend protections to more peatlands. Alongside these changes the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025 was published to support land managers selecting appropriate management approaches that reduce peatland damage, support restoration and enhance natural resilience to hazards such as wildfire.

In addition, a two-year research project, Wildfire and Peatland: Studies to Support Delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, has been commissioned. This work will inform delivery of the Government’s risk‑reduction objectives by identifying effective approaches for maintaining healthy, functioning peatlands and improving the resilience of these important carbon stores under future climate conditions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment she has made of wildfire risks under (a) prescribed burning, (b) mechanical cutting and (c) no active vegetation management.

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

Healthy peatlands do not require active vegetation management such as burning or cutting. There is clear scientific evidence that burning is particularly damaging, as it degrades peatland conditions, undermines restoration and increases long-term vulnerability to wildfires. In response, the Government amended the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 in September last year to extend protections to more peatlands. Alongside these changes the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025 was published to support land managers selecting appropriate management approaches that reduce peatland damage, support restoration and enhance natural resilience to hazards such as wildfire.

In addition, a two-year research project, Wildfire and Peatland: Studies to Support Delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, has been commissioned. This work will inform delivery of the Government’s risk‑reduction objectives by identifying effective approaches for maintaining healthy, functioning peatlands and improving the resilience of these important carbon stores under future climate conditions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what comparative assessment her Department has made of (a) loot boxes in video games and (b) gambling products; and what steps she is taking to mitigate potential harms associated with loot box mechanics, particularly for children and young people.

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

The government is committed to ensuring games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, there are appropriate protections in place.

Prizes that can be won via loot boxes do not have a monetary value, cannot be cashed-out, and are of value only within the context of the game. They are therefore not legally classified as gambling. However, evidence has shown an association between loot boxes and gambling-related harm.

To improve protections in games containing loot boxes, industry-led guidance was published in 2023 with a 12-month implementation period, after which DCMS commissioned independent academic research into its effectiveness. We will publish the research shortly, alongside our next steps.

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Phenylketonuria awareness and access to treatment (No. 2)

Air pollution is a serious threat to both public health and the natural environment. It has been linked to heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma and impacts on lung development in children. Tens of thousands of lives are being shortened in the UK by air pollution, according to the Chair of the Environment Agency.