Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will require local authorities processing Section 3F from the Town and Country Planning Act to inform the police in time to avoid local advertising being prosecuted by enforcement officers.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The rules governing the display of advertisements are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. Responsibility for application of the Regulations, including the enforcement of any breaches of control, rests with local planning authorities.
Further information on the advertisement consent regime can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to provide advice to local authorities on local event management.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local authorities are best placed to determine arrangements for local events, taking account of the needs of the community.
Local Resilience Forums do not usually play a role in supporting local events unless the scale warrants the Local Resilience Forum leading on planning (e.g. Royal International Air Tattoo; Glastonbury, Commonwealth Games).
I also refer the hon. Member to the following gov.uk guidance here.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying the summer savings scheme to the Christmas holidays.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
From 25 June to 1 September the Government is introducing a temporary reduced rate of VAT on children's menu meals and eligible family attractions.
This is a targeted and temporary scheme to reduce the costs of children’s meals in restaurants, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and tickets for everyone for attractions like soft play, adventure centres, and theme parks, helping families enjoy a day out for less. Individual businesses should consult HMRC’s guidance to determine how the rules apply in their circumstances.
VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
On the question of a further Christmas relief, the Government keeps all taxes and reliefs under review.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an ETA is required to go on holiday whilst on a 90 day work visa.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The ETA Scheme applies to those passengers visiting the UK (or transiting landside, passing through Immigration Control) who do not currently need a visa for short stays or do not have an immigration status prior to travelling.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to assess whether gambling companies are able to advertisements on streaming platforms during the day.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is aware of the increased prevalence of gambling advertising, including advertising of illegal gambling, on streaming platforms. We are committed to tackling the issue of illegal gambling advertising. This is one of the main focuses of the Illegal Gambling Taskforce which was launched in January.
Online advertisements, including those on video on demand or music streaming services, must comply with the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code). The CAP Code includes rules on content and targeting of adverts.
We will work with the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority to continue to monitor this issue and will take action where necessary.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide support through a winter fuel allowance for people in caravans, chalets and mobile homes.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Winter Fuel Payments are payable to pensioners who live in caravans, chalets and mobile homes.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Conversion practices draft bill, published on 25 June 2026, if she will make the definition of healthcare services more narrow.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
The Government published its draft Conversion Practices Bill on 25 June for pre-legislative scrutiny. We have requested that this is done by a Joint Committee and welcome cross-party engagement and scrutiny on all aspects of this draft legislation, including the healthcare provisions.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether under-16s will be able to access political content on social media.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Government recognises the importance of young people being civically engaged.
On 15 June, the government announced its intention to ban social media companies from offering their services to under 16s.
Social media is not the only – nor always the most reliable – source of high-quality news content. We are helping young people engage with trusted high-quality local and national journalism online. We are strengthening media literacy in the national curriculum to help young people identify mis- and dis-information. State funded schools throughout the UK already have digital access to around 150 newspapers through the Newspapers for Schools News Library.
There will also be a defined list of exemptions, including, for example, educational services.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his department is doing to improve access to diagnosis of Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government recognises that women suffering with gynaecological conditions, including polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) previously referred to as polycystic ovary syndrome, have been failed for too long, and we acknowledge the impact it has on women’s lives, relationships and participation in education and the workforce.
The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, published in April 2026, represents a decisive shift towards addressing longstanding failings in women’s health outcomes, experiences, and access to care. The Strategy announces a new programme to improve education for girls about their menstrual health, investing an additional £1 million from this year to support targeted work in schools and community settings to support girls’ knowledge about menstrual health and when to seek healthcare. This investment in improved information will help women and girls know when to seek healthcare, which is an important factor in time to diagnosis and treatment in conditions like PMOS.
In 2025, the Department for Education published revised statutory guidance on relationships and sex education and health education in schools, covering women's health topics including menstrual health, premenstrual syndrome, heavy periods, endometriosis, PMOS, and guidance for when to seek healthcare advice.
We are also introducing an “online hospital”, NHS Online. From 2027, people on certain pathways, including menstrual problems that may be a sign of PMOS, will have the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. NHS Online will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing guidance on PMOS and will publish a consultation of its draft guidelines in July 2026.
Asked by: Will Stone (Labour - Swindon North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Red Diesel for the purpose running fairs and circuses is included in the off-road operation tax freeze.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
On 20 May, the Government announced support for households and businesses with their fuel costs, in response to the conflict in the Middle East. This included targeted support for users of red diesel and rebated biodiesel, where the duty rate for these fuels will be cut by over a third to 6.48p per litre, the lowest rate in over 20 years.
The cut will support substantial users of red diesel, such as farmers and rail freight, which have seen significant price increases as a result of the conflict. It will also benefit other users of red diesel, including travelling fairground and circus industries who use diesel for powering their machinery.
This red diesel cut will take effect from 15 June and remain in place until the end of 2026.