Written questions by McMurdock.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether follow-up meetings have been scheduled between Ministers and social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether any social media companies declined to attend the Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether a record was kept of the discussions between the Prime Minister and social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what steps she is taking to encourage other donor countries to increase contributions to the Sudan humanitarian response.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, which industry bodies and individual companies were consulted in determining eligibility criteria for the expanded scheme.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, what issues were raised by the Prime Minister during his discussions with social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current international funding levels for the Sudan crisis.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what proportion of aid is expected to reach hard-to-access areas.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether any formal agreements or undertakings were reached between the Government and social media companies following the Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, what discussions Ministers have had with small and medium-sized manufacturers on their access to and awareness of the scheme.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, how many businesses in (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock and (c) Essex are expected to benefit from this policy.

The Government cannot provide exact figures for eligible businesses by specific location. Businesses can refer to the Government’s response to the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme consultation on eligibility, published on 16 April, which includes an annex setting out the eligible Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and Harmonised System (HS) codes. The Department for Business and Trade will also publish an online eligibility checker later this year to enable businesses to self‑assess whether they are likely to be eligible for the scheme.

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, whether he held discussions with manufacturing sector representatives about cuts to electricity bills prior to the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the capacity of local responders to deliver aid in conflict-affected areas.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, what discussions Ministers have had with manufacturers not eligible for the scheme regarding their exclusion.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what safeguards are in place to ensure accountability and transparency in funding provided to local organisations.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether deadlines were set by the Prime Minister for social media companies to implement additional online safety measures.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what proportion of funding will be delivered to Sudanese local aid organisations.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether enforcement mechanisms were discussed with social media companies in the event of non-compliance with the Prime Minister’s requests.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of anti-social behaviour on people’s decision to move home.

Tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) is a key commitment as part of improving confidence in policing and local responses to crime as set out in the Government’s Plan for Change.In the year ending September 2025, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed that around 38% of people experienced or witnessed some type of ASB, and there were 1 million police recorded incidents. We know, however, that ASB goes underreported to the police and other agencies. The latest CSEW data (YE March 2025) indicates that depending on the type of ASB, between 63-93% of ASB incidents are not reported to any agency. We are committed to ensuring better support and information is available to victims of ASB, including on how to report ASB.The Home Office recognises that persistent ASB can have a significant impact on individuals’ quality of life and sense of safety, particularly in the areas where they live, work, and visit. While the Home Office does not make a specific assessment on the impact of ASB on people’s decisions to move home, tackling ASB remains a priority to help ensure people feel safe in their neighbourhoods.To support this, every police force in England and Wales now has an anti-social behaviour lead in place who will work with communities, stakeholders and the public to implement their individual ASB.

What plans he has to introduce national minimum staffing level guidance for NHS services.

There are no plans to introduce national minimum staffing level guidance. Staffing levels are determined locally, supported by national guidance and regulated by the Care Quality Commission.Guidance from the National Quality Board entitled Safe, sustainable and productive staffing, from 2016, and Developing Workforce Safeguards, from 2018, are designed to ensure a consistent, scientific, and evidence-based approach to staffing levels and to improve governance and board accountability relating to staffing decisions. Both guidance documents are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nqb-guidance.pdfhttps://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Developing-workforce-safeguards.pdf