Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what time scales are in place for student visa application processing.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Where an application has exceeded the published service standard and an enrolment deadline is at risk, sponsors may use the established escalation routes. Further information on service standards and processing times is available at Visa processing times - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration she has given to the potential impact of the use of Depo-Provera on trends in the level of meningioma.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care and regulates medicine, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.
Depo-Provera is an effective injectable contraceptive which contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic form of progesterone, and provides 12 weeks of contraception.
Meningiomas are generally non-cancerous (benign) brain tumours which affect the meninges, the thin layer of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. In recent years, meningioma has rarely been associated with long-term use of high doses of some synthetic forms of progesterone, including cyproterone acetate and nomegestrol.
The MHRA has not examined the impact of Depo-Provera use on trends in meningioma diagnoses. However, the product information for Depo-Provera was updated after a study published in 2024 showed an excess risk of meningioma with high dose MPA. The marketing authorisation holder subsequently wrote to UK healthcare professionals with updated advice on managing this risk. Additional studies have since confirmed the association, and the MHRA is conducting research using UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink data to compare the risks of meningioma, fracture and osteoporosis associated with injectable depot MPA and other contraceptives.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor for the Exchequer, whether the Government has considered extending the proposed 20% business rates reduction for pubs, social clubs and live music venues to post offices.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
I refer the honourable member to my response to UIN 21793.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will extend the principle underpinning its new business rates relief for pubs, social clubs and live music venues to post offices, in recognition of the services they provide and their contribution to local economies and communities.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises the important contribution that post offices make to local economies and communities through the services they provide to residents and businesses.
Businesses continue to benefit from the Government's wider business rates reforms, including permanently lower multipliers for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties and the £4.3 billion support package introduced to support those ratepayers facing large increases in bills following the 2026 revaluation.
In addition, Rural Rate Relief aims to ensure that key amenities are available and community assets protected in rural areas. It provides 100 per cent rate relief for eligible properties in rural areas with populations below 3,000, including post offices that are the only such facility in a village and have a rateable value of up to £8,500.
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.