Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to written statement HCWS144, what ongoing communications plans are in place within her Department for liaising with universities and other local services to prepare for the arrival of students from Gaza.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, what support will be available for the dependents of eligible students from Gaza travelling to UK universities.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to written statement HCWS144, whether evacuation costs will be charged to universities.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, if she will make a statement on the available support for students from Gaza, including whether support will operate in the same form as 2025, with the same format and time scales for evacuations.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, what steps she taking to ensure that students from Gaza due to study in Scotland, are able to enter the UK prior to the earlier academic year start dates in Scotland.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Building on the support delivered in 2025, the government will continue to work with UK universities and devolved governments to identify eligible students from Gaza and, where eligible under immigration rules, their dependants, to facilitate their departure where possible.
The government will shortly publish a policy statement, and then send operational guidance to universities. We recognise that academic term dates vary across the UK. The approach remains under review in light of the evolving situation, and given the complexity of the situation, timescales remain uncertain, and departure cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on Scotland’s contribution to UK energy security.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, we need to do all that we can to strengthen our energy security here at home. I am in regular contact with my Cabinet colleagues on a whole range of issues.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to written statement UIN HCWS144, what plans her Department has to help support the dependents of eligible students from Gaza travelling to UK universities.
Answered by Mike Tapp
On 24 June the Government confirmed its support for high achieving students from Gaza to take up fully funded scholarships at UK universities for the 2026/27 academic year.
This will build on support already provided by the government in the current academic year, through which we have enabled over 100 students from Gaza to pursue their studies. The Government will continue to prioritise students who hold fully funded and verifiable scholarships, and who meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
Departures from Gaza remain highly complex and are dependent on factors outside the UK Government’s control. However, we will continue to work with relevant authorities to facilitate departures and onward travel in a third country to ensure the students, and the dependants of those students who meet the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules, can leave Gaza and undertake biometric checks before coming to the UK.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether steps will be taken to support students from Gaza currently studying at UK universities to remain temporarily in the UK following graduation further to the eighteen months allowed under the UK Graduate visa.
Answered by Mike Tapp
Upon successful completion of their course of study, students may be eligible to apply for a Graduate visa, which allows them to remain in the UK for up to 2 years (or 3 years for PhD graduates). For those who submit their Graduate application on or after 1 January 2027, the permitted stay will be up to 18 months (or 3 years for PhD graduates).
Should students wish to remain in the UK beyond this time, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules, as with other international students.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure people with limited or no digital access are (a) aware of and (b) able to respond to the Access to Banking Services Review.
Answered by Rachel Blake
The Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking, including vulnerable customers and those with specific needs, can continue to access essential services. That is why HM Treasury launched the independent Access to Banking Services Review on 8 June, with the publication of the Call for Evidence, which will run for six weeks and close on 20 July.
The Government is encouraging participation in the Review from the widest possible range of stakeholders across the UK. Awareness of the Review has been supported through publication of the Call for Evidence on GOV.UK, accompanying stakeholder engagement and wider public communications. The independent Chair, Richard Lloyd OBE, is also undertaking stakeholder engagement to gather evidence from consumers, community organisations, charities, businesses and other interested groups.
There are a number of ways for people and businesses across the UK to contribute to the Call for Evidence. Those with no digital access can submit responses via post to:
Access to Banking Services Review
Financial Services Group, 1st Floor
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Alongside the online survey, those wishing to submit via email, including supplementary evidence, research or data, can do so at [email protected]
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2026 to Question 470 on Pedestrian Crossings: Design, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adopting the Welsh Government's amendments to section 14 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2026.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As set out in my previous response, in Better Connected the Department committed to update the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) to include new, simpler zebra crossings. These were the subject of the amendments to TSRGD made by the Welsh Government.