Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to increase the level of uptake of advanced mathematics to help address the skills gaps identified in Skills England’s Annual Skills Report and Sectoral Skills Needs Assessments 2026, published on 1 June 2006.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Since 2018, the department has funded the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP), which provides high-quality teacher professional development and student support to increase participation and attainment in advanced mathematics in state-funded schools and colleges in England.

The AMSP includes tuition for Level 3 Further Mathematics students in cases where it is not offered by their school/college, investment to improve participation in advanced mathematics among girls, and student and teacher enrichment courses on the key mathematics concepts and skills needed for AI advancement.

The department also provides additional funding to schools and colleges catering for 16 to 19 provision to encourage and support the delivery of selected Level 3 courses. For advanced mathematics, under certain conditions, this includes additional funding through the High Value Courses Premium, Advanced Maths Premium and Core Maths Premium. A level mathematics has been the single most popular A level subject since 2014.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 2631, which tumour types will be prioritised for the first cancer manuals; and whether there will be a consultation exercise for the development of those manuals.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England are reviewing the process for developing cancer manuals, including the criteria to use to select specific tumour types, accountability mechanisms and consultation processes.

As set out in our National Cancer Plan, the first wave of manuals will include an equal balance of rare cancers where survival has been slowest and the most common cancers. It is in the combination of both points that we will maximise progress against our ambition to reduce disparities in cancer survival.

To deliver a crackdown on patchy cancer care to drive up standards across England and tackle health inequalities head on, new cancer manuals will set out what good care looks like, with regional partnerships of health leaders and clinicians using data to drive improvements where services are falling short.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 2631, whether accountability mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that NHS trusts, commissioners and regional partnerships act on the quality standards set out in the cancer manuals where unwarranted variation in access to cancer treatment is identified.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England are reviewing the process for developing cancer manuals, including the criteria to use to select specific tumour types, accountability mechanisms and consultation processes.

As set out in our National Cancer Plan, the first wave of manuals will include an equal balance of rare cancers where survival has been slowest and the most common cancers. It is in the combination of both points that we will maximise progress against our ambition to reduce disparities in cancer survival.

To deliver a crackdown on patchy cancer care to drive up standards across England and tackle health inequalities head on, new cancer manuals will set out what good care looks like, with regional partnerships of health leaders and clinicians using data to drive improvements where services are falling short.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the cost of technical debt to UK productivity; and what steps her Department is taking to address skills shortages linked to the retirement of personnel maintaining legacy IT systems critical to national infrastructure.

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

At least 28% of central government systems are classified as legacy. These outdated systems cost around 40% more to maintain than modern alternatives, slow down public services, are harder to join up and increase the risk of disruption, reducing efficiency across government and contributing to wider productivity challenges.

DSIT is committed to addressing this technical debt. We are undertaking work to identify the most cost-effective methods for modernising outdated systems, which will inform the Technology Modernisation Action Plan later this year.

By moving departments off legacy systems, we reduce reliance on retiring specialist expertise. Alongside this, through Get Tech Certified, over 9,000 public servants have accessed free certification pathways in cloud, AI and modern engineering; equipping the workforce with the skills these modern platforms require.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure the maintenance of capital investment in rail infrastructure during the transition period to Great British Railways; and what assessment she has made of the risk of operational stasis from the transfer of budgetary and delivery responsibilities between Network Rail, operators and Great British Railways.

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

This government remains committed to the existing settlement for the day-to-day running of the railway during the current funding period (2024 to 2029), including capital spend, and including through the transition from Network Rail to Great British Railways. There is also an average of £2 billion capital spend per year committed through the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline during the current settlement period.

The integration of track and train is expected to bring significant benefit to passengers and taxpayers. Work to identify and leverage integration benefits, as well as to mitigate any potential risks associated with creating the new organisation and transferring responsibilities from other rail bodies, is already underway. The Railways Bill (2025) contains the appropriate provisions to facilitate a smooth transfer of responsibility from Network Rail.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the likely pass-through of increased SAF compliance costs to consumers and the potential impact on (a) average UK air fares and (b) holiday package prices.

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

We recognise the need to protect consumers from excessive costs and have factored this into the design of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate.

We continually monitor the market, and, alongside the option of buy-out, the Mandate has a built-in review process every five years so the Government can take action if necessary.

An assessment of domestic production was conducted as part of the SAF Mandate cost-benefit analysis. To support domestic SAF production the Department is introducing a Revenue Certainty Mechanism through the SAF Act and has allocated over £198m through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 and 2026. The Spending Review 2025 has extended support for UK SAF production through to 2029/30, and details of this funding will be announced in the coming months.

Further assessment of the costs of SAF policies and the impact on air fares was conducted as part of the published SAF Mandate cost-benefit analysis and the Revenue Certainty Mechanism cost-benefit analysis.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the current and projected capacity of domestic Sustainable Aviation Fuel production facilities in the United Kingdom; and what steps she is taking to help prevent shortfalls in domestic production relative to projected demand under the SAF Mandate.

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

We recognise the need to protect consumers from excessive costs and have factored this into the design of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate.

We continually monitor the market, and, alongside the option of buy-out, the Mandate has a built-in review process every five years so the Government can take action if necessary.

An assessment of domestic production was conducted as part of the SAF Mandate cost-benefit analysis. To support domestic SAF production the Department is introducing a Revenue Certainty Mechanism through the SAF Act and has allocated over £198m through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 and 2026. The Spending Review 2025 has extended support for UK SAF production through to 2029/30, and details of this funding will be announced in the coming months.

Further assessment of the costs of SAF policies and the impact on air fares was conducted as part of the published SAF Mandate cost-benefit analysis and the Revenue Certainty Mechanism cost-benefit analysis.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the feasibility for service providers with limited physical space to maintain single-sex services while also providing separate third-space arrangements for transgender individuals.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The EHRC has assessed the costs for service providers and others. The draft Code of practice for services, public functions and associations acknowledges service providers might comply with the law in different ways due to different factors such as physical building constraints.

Overall, providers should take a proportionate approach with a view to everyone having access to essential services. The Code cannot cover every single individual circumstance, but aims to give organisations guidance with key explanations and worked examples.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding her Department is making in the mathematical sciences to support the UK’s quantum industry.

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

The Government recognises that advanced mathematics underpins excellence across science, engineering and technology, and can play a vital role in driving innovation and productivity. In 2025-2026, UK Research and Innovation committed £25 million to core mathematical sciences, alongside wider support through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), including Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in mathematical sciences and related areas.

The Government has committed up to £2 billion to support the development of the UK's quantum sector. This includes £1 billion committed over the next four years to support our leading companies and researchers, with up to a further £1 billion to procure large-scale UK-built quantum computers by the early 2030's.

The UK’s quantum programme is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, with research funding supporting innovative programmes that involve experts from multiple fields working together. As a result, we are not able to disaggregate quantum funding by individual scientific disciplines.

Balerno High School reaccreditation as a Gold Rights Respecting School

250th Oriam Parkrun

One millionth parkrun

Bonaly Primary School 50th anniversary and primary six mock elections

Time To Talk Partnership wins Scottish Charity Award 2026

The House of Hope's first anniversary

HPV vaccine

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

Parliament Education and Engagement Outreach Service

Minehead RNLI's 125th anniversary

Team Scotland at the men's football World Cup

Leith Walk Primary School 150th birthday

Dr Marion Rankin

20 years of the Corstorphine Fair

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Mrs Elsie

Found: (Labour; Brentford and Isleworth) (Chair) Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat; North Norfolk) Dr Scott Arthur

Submit Evidence (by 23 Jul 2026)

The Government has published a draft of the National Policy Statement (NPS) that would be used as the basis for making a decision on whether to grant planning consent for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.