Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data the Government holds on levels of digital exclusion among people aged 65 and over.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Tackling digital exclusion, which disproportionately impacts certain demographics including older people, is a priority for Government. That is why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan – First Steps in February 2025 which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year on digital inclusion.
In 2025, Ofcom reported that 13% of UK households with respondents aged 65+ had no internet access, 45% did not own a laptop, and 18% did not own a smartphone. In 2024, its Online Nation Report found that 15% of UK adults aged 65-74 were not confident in their ability to stay safe online. We estimate that only 4-16% of those aged 65 or over took part in training in digital or online skills.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide the (a) criteria and (b) arrangements for evacuating students from Gaza to the relevant (i) universities and (ii) hon. Members.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
I refer the Honourable Member to the previous Home Secretary’s oral statement to the House on 1 September 2025 on strengthening border security and reforms to the asylum system. Further details will be set out in due course.
The Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas, with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for all Chevening Scholars from Gaza.
We are in the process of doing the same for a group of students who have been awarded fully funded scholarships covering course fees and living costs at UK universities so they can start their studies in Autumn 2025.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is doing everything it can to support their safe exit and onward travel to the UK. The situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her remit letter to the FCA on 14 November 2024, what steps her Department is taking to work with the FCA to have regard to financial inclusion.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the key role the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has in improving financial inclusion for UK consumers. This is why the FCA is part of the Financial Inclusion Committee which has been convened to develop a Financial Inclusion Strategy. The membership of the committee reflects the fact that the whole financial inclusion ecosystem will need to work together for the strategy to be a success, including government, industry, consumer representatives, and the regulator.
The strategy will be published later this year and will seek to tackle a range of barriers which prevent individuals from accessing the financial services and products they need. This will include actions for the FCA to take forward as part of their responsibilities within the sector, as well as relevant metrics to monitor the strategy’s progress.
The Government will work closely with the FCA to deliver the strategy and regularly engages with the FCA on this topic at ministerial and official level. In November, the Chancellor also included reinforcing financial inclusion as a matter for the FCA to have regard to in her letter of recommendation. In response to this, Nikhil Rathi noted the FCA’s support for the development of the Financial Inclusion Strategy and its collaboration with partners to help build consumers’ financial resilience.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the resources required to deliver on its financial inclusion obligations.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the key role the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has in improving financial inclusion for UK consumers. This is why the FCA is part of the Financial Inclusion Committee which has been convened to develop a Financial Inclusion Strategy. The membership of the committee reflects the fact that the whole financial inclusion ecosystem will need to work together for the strategy to be a success, including government, industry, consumer representatives, and the regulator.
The strategy will be published later this year and will seek to tackle a range of barriers which prevent individuals from accessing the financial services and products they need. This will include actions for the FCA to take forward as part of their responsibilities within the sector, as well as relevant metrics to monitor the strategy’s progress.
The Government will work closely with the FCA to deliver the strategy and regularly engages with the FCA on this topic at ministerial and official level. In November, the Chancellor also included reinforcing financial inclusion as a matter for the FCA to have regard to in her letter of recommendation. In response to this, Nikhil Rathi noted the FCA’s support for the development of the Financial Inclusion Strategy and its collaboration with partners to help build consumers’ financial resilience.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what metrics her Department will use to evaluate the Financial Conduct Authority’s performance in advancing financial inclusion.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the key role the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has in improving financial inclusion for UK consumers. This is why the FCA is part of the Financial Inclusion Committee which has been convened to develop a Financial Inclusion Strategy. The membership of the committee reflects the fact that the whole financial inclusion ecosystem will need to work together for the strategy to be a success, including government, industry, consumer representatives, and the regulator.
The strategy will be published later this year and will seek to tackle a range of barriers which prevent individuals from accessing the financial services and products they need. This will include actions for the FCA to take forward as part of their responsibilities within the sector, as well as relevant metrics to monitor the strategy’s progress.
The Government will work closely with the FCA to deliver the strategy and regularly engages with the FCA on this topic at ministerial and official level. In November, the Chancellor also included reinforcing financial inclusion as a matter for the FCA to have regard to in her letter of recommendation. In response to this, Nikhil Rathi noted the FCA’s support for the development of the Financial Inclusion Strategy and its collaboration with partners to help build consumers’ financial resilience.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of ARAP eligible Afghans currently staying in British High Commission supported hotels in Islamabad.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Currently, there are approximately 30 ARAP eligible Afghans under the care of the British High Commission in Islamabad. 13 ARAP eligible Afghans under the care of the British High Commission have been deported to Afghanistan.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy-eligible Afghans living in British High Commission-supported hotels in Islamabad have been deported to Afghanistan.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Currently, there are approximately 30 ARAP eligible Afghans under the care of the British High Commission in Islamabad. 13 ARAP eligible Afghans under the care of the British High Commission have been deported to Afghanistan.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on (a) publishing the work programme of the Digital Inclusion Action Committee and (b) examining the digital exclusion of elderly people within the committee.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Digital Inclusion Action Committee is an external advisory body that will work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It is made up of national and local experts to tackle digital exclusion. Its role is to scrutinise, steer and help determine the work of the government in reducing digital exclusion in every part of the UK. One of its aims will be to identify systemic barriers to digital inclusion and propose actionable solutions, particularly for underserved groups such as older people.
The terms of reference for the Digital Inclusion Action Committee were published earlier in 2025 and full membership was announced in August 2025. The members are scheduled to meet again this autumn.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the availability of reliable broadband in rural areas to support access to essential services.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Through Project Gigabit, we are delivering future-proofed, gigabit-capable connections nationwide, to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans, including to premises in rural areas.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of waiting times in distribution connections reform.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Distribution-level projects can face significant connection delays, particularly if they could impact on the transmission network. The reformed transmission connections process, currently being implemented, should accelerate connections for many viable distribution-level projects. Furthermore, Ofgem has recently raised the threshold for distribution projects in England and Wales requiring a Transmission Impact Assessment from 1MW to 5MW, which should accelerate connections for connections below the new threshold.[1] More widely, Ofgem is reviewing the connections regulatory incentives and obligations applied to National Energy System Operator and network companies. This aims to reduce connection times where possible and improve customer service.[2]
The equivalent thresholds for Scotland are under ongoing review by the Scottish network companies.
[2] Connections end-to-end review of the regulatory framework | Ofgem