Written questions by Onwurah.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with Innovate UK on (a) when it plans to open the next Biomedical Catalyst grant awards and (b) steps being taken to ensure a wide range of biomedical businesses can apply for grants via that programme.

The Biomedical Catalyst has a suite of competitions designed to support small and medium sized businesses to progress projects at different stages of development.There is currently one grant opportunity open - Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Accelerator – Hospital to Community - which closes on the 31st of October. The next round of industry-led R&D funding is under preparation and expected to be launched early Nov and open for 4 weeks.Innovate UK promotes R&D funding opportunities through social media and other communication channels. Biomedical Catalyst also utilises Business Connect services to engage with UK businesses by offering bespoke, sustained 1:1 support as well as providing advice and access to resources that can help promote Biomedical Catalyst, and support with applications and funding.

What recent progress her Department has made on increasing the availability of real time bus information in Newcastle.

The government is committed to delivering the better bus services that passengers deserve, and as part of this, is working closely with bus operators and local transport authorities to improve the information available to passengers about their bus services.The Bus Services (No.2) Bill’s information about local services provisions aim to enable public access to a new, central database of information, drawn from the existing bus registration process, and linked to the existing Bus Open Data Service (BODS). We hope that bringing these two data streams together will assist operators in complying with BODS obligations, leading to improved real time information about local bus services across the country. Bus operators are obliged to have working systems to provide real-time information for bus services in order to fulfil the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Open Data) (England) Regulations.In addition, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government confirmed investment of over £1 billion in 25/26 to support and improve bus services and to keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities to support and improve bus services, of which the North East Combined Authority was allocated £23.7 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers. This could include investing in technology to provide passengers with better real-time information.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the two child benefit cap on people by ethnicity.

Statistics about the policy that limits support in Universal Credit to a maximum of two children are published annually. The latest statistics, published in July 2025, include breakdowns by geography and ethnicity, and are available here:Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK

What recent estimate he has made of the number of families that are affected by the two child benefit cap in (a) the UK, (b) the North East and (c) Newcastle upon Tyne.

Statistics about the policy that limits support in Universal Credit to a maximum of two children are published annually. The latest statistics, published in July 2025, include breakdowns by geography and ethnicity, and are available here:Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 68388 on Parking, when she plans to publish a response to the pavement parking consultation; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing powers available to local authorities to (a) restrict and (b) enforce pavement parking.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking, and it is up to them to decide where to restrict pavement parking and what enforcement is appropriate.

Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff in her Department work on the (a) promotion and (b) preservation of industrial heritage; whether industrial heritage sites are eligible to apply for funding through Historic England; what criteria are used to assess such applications; and what proportion of the (i) £15 million allocated to the Heritage at Risk Fund and the (ii) £4.85 million allocated to the Heritage Revival Fund in 2025–26 will be directed towards industrial heritage projects.

Within the Department for Culture, Media & Sport there is a small team that oversees Historic England, a team delivering heritage policy, and a team leading on the designation of listed buildings and monuments. Whilst it does not have dedicated staff dealing specifically with industrial heritage, it is part of a wider workstream. Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, is responsible for managing and protecting heritage, including industrial heritage. The £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and the £4.85 million Heritage Revival Fund do not have a pre-allocated proportion for industrial heritage. Funding decisions are based on criteria including Heritage Significance, Level of Risk, Community Benefit, Financial Need, Project Viability.Industrial heritage sites can apply for Historic England funding, with sites such as Woodhorn’s Iconic Mining Heritage which received £997,265 Heritage at Risk Capital Funding and the Pump House, Ellesmere Port, which received £252,282 Heritage at Risk Capital Funding.

Media and Sport, whether the swing bridge is eligible for repair funding from the National Lottery.

The twelve National Lottery distributor bodies provide good cause funding to organisations independently of Government. Any specific questions on eligibility for projects should be directed to the relevant distributor.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of incorporating remote digital testing platforms into the forthcoming Home Office English Language Test contract on cybersecurity; and what steps she plans to take to ensure (a) data security and (b) fraud prevention across the 142 countries in which the test will be administered.

The Home Office is conducting market engagement and research to help inform the English Language Test tender process. This includes assessing various testing methodologies and delivery options to ensure the most appropriate and secure arrangements are put into the tender requirements.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of adopting modes of English language assessment based on at-home proficiency tests within the planned Home Office English Language Test tender.

The Home Office is conducting market engagement and research to help inform the English Language Test tender process. This includes assessing various testing methodologies and delivery options to ensure the most appropriate and secure arrangements are put into the tender requirements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 July to Question 67336 on Crime, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative in reducing (a) town centre criminality, (b) shop theft, (c) street crime and (d) anti-social behaviour.

The Home Office have developed a multi-strand analytical approach to measure the progress of the Safer Summer Streets Initiative (SSSI) to reduce shop theft, street crime and ASB.PCCs and police forces are providing the Home Office with monthly light-touch monitoring data and qualitative insights related to the initiative. Additionally, Home Office analysts will analyse data already reported to the Home Office via the Police Annual Data Requirement (ADR) on crime volumes and positive outcomes related to relevant offences.The department is actively monitoring the impact of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative (SSSI), capturing a wide range of enforcement and engagement activity, as well as tracking crime trends and positive outcomes in targeted town centre areas. While we are working closely with police forces and local partners to collect data, it is too early to draw conclusions about the initiative’s impact. The initiative concludes on 30 September, and meaningful assessment will require time to account for reporting lags and data processing.

Innovation and Technology, whether he science and discovery centres fall within the remit of his Department.

The UK’s Science and Discovery Centres have an important role in engaging the public, with science and technology and in inspiring young people, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to consider studying STEM subjects and related careers.However, while some centres do carry out research in addition to their informal science learning activities their primary role is as visitor centres focussed on the role of science in the UK’s culture. While the department and partners such as UKRI have provided support for particular programmes managed by science centres, as institutions they do not fall within DSIT’s remit.DSIT is currently planning to engage with DCMS to discuss how government’s relationship with these important institutions can best be supported going forward.

Media and Sport, whether cultural access to science falls within the remit of her Department, in the context of the UK's obligations under (a) Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and (b) Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The UK's obligations under Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights concern cultural participation, science, and intellectual property, and are the responsibility of a number of Government departments. Obligations relating to science fall within the remit of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to provide funding for research into the (a) prevention and (b) treatment of arthritis and musculoskeletal disease in UK universities.

The Government does not generally ringfence funding for particular areas of research but has funded a significant amount of applicant-led funding on arthritis and musculoskeletal disease.In 2024, UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC) committed over £17 million to research on these topics, including over £4 million for the University of Oxford, within UKRI’s £28.5 million Functional Genomics Initiative, to establish a research cluster focused on the use of functional genomics techniques to improve musculoskeletal health and disease.UKRI delivers a substantial portfolio of research with wider relevance, including in immunology and pain relief, and plays a key role in funding underpinning discovery research.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of l non-SELT, unregulated English language tests for admission to UK higher education institutions on (a) universities and (b) students.

Student sponsors with a track record of compliance can self-assess degree level and above students’ English language ability. The assessment must confirm English ability equivalent to level B2, or above, of the Common European Framework for Language Learning in reading, writing, speaking and listening.A review of English language sponsor self-assessment testing methods on the Student route is in progress.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the reported increase in the use of (a) judicial and (b) non-judicial travel bans imposed on (i) released prisoners of conscience and (ii) family members of peaceful activists.

The Government and our Embassy in Riyadh regularly monitor the human rights landscape in Saudi Arabia and engage with the Saudi authorities on these matters. We discuss human rights, including individual cases who have been subject to travel bans, with the Saudi Government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Government of Saudi Arabia on the reported rise in executions in relation to non-violent drug-related offences.

The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries as a matter of principle, and in all circumstances. Saudi Arabia is well aware of the UK's opposition to the use of the death penalty. We regularly raise our concerns about the use of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities using a range diplomatic channels, at Ministerial level and through our Ambassador and our Embassy in Riyadh.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of further sanctions on Israel in response to (a) the humanitarian situation in Gaza and (b) plans for further illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

This Government has announced three packages of sanctions since coming to power, two of which targeted individuals, illegal settler outposts and organisations supporting violence against Palestinian Communities in the West Bank. On 10 June we imposed sanctions on Israeli Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir, in their personal capacity for inciting violence towards Palestinians. We keep all sanctions action under review, however we cannot speculate on further sanctions or share our assessments on their impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Israel’s involvement in the sectarian violence in southern Syria; and what assessment he has made of the risk of Israeli annexation of parts of southern Syria.

We are deeply concerned by the recent violence in southern Syria and have been working closely with international partners to press for de-escalation and for all sides to engage in dialogue. I raised this with Foreign Minister al Shaibani when I visited Damascus in August and underlined that we continue to call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity, and uphold their obligations to peace, stability and security under international law. As the former Foreign Secretary made clear during his call with Israel's Foreign Minister on 21 July, Israel's attacks in Damascus risk destabilising Syria. Respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial for both Syrian security and that of its neighbours.The UK's long-standing position is that the Golan Heights are occupied territory, and we do not recognise Israel's annexation. We have been clear that we expect Israel to adhere to their commitment that their presence in the Area of Separation is both limited and temporary, and we have called on Israel at the UN Security Council to lay out timelines for their withdrawal.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the interim Syrian authorities on (a) preventing human rights violations, (b) protecting all Syrians and (c) ending all forms of sectarian violence.

We are deeply concerned about sectarian tensions and violence in Syria. We have consistently advocated for an inclusive, representative and non-sectarian political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government. We have pressed the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. The former Foreign Secretary and I have raised these issues during our recent visits to Damascus We will continue to judge the Syrian Government by its actions, not its words.

Media and Sport, whether science and discovery centres fall within the remit of her Department.

Science and discovery centres are vital assets across local communities nationwide. Given the breadth of their mission, they do not fall under the exclusive purview of a single government department. Their work contributes significantly to the objectives of several departments, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).While their full scope extends beyond DCMS's direct remit, key aspects align closely with DCMS policy areas, such as the visitor economy, youth, and museums. For these areas, DCMS takes ownership over their respective policy domain, while collaborating closely with other government departments to support these institutions.