16 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to (a) modernise the current property system, (b) conduct a mass digitisation of documents, (c) increase communicative protections to prevent
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the Home Buying and Selling Reform Roadmap which my Department published on 19 June. It can be found on gov.uk here.
16 Jun 2026·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) the removal of the de minimis exemption and (b) other changes to United States customs arrangements on UK individuals sending (i) personal g
ReplyThe Executive Order on de minimis is a US domestic policy initiative aimed at addressing longstanding US domestic concerns.We understand the challenges associated with these changes and have published resources on business.gov.uk to support exporters. DBT...
16 Jun 2026·Department for Education·Answered
AskedWhat assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of the Government’s proposed reforms to post-16 qualifications on (a) skills development in the creative industries, (b) access to music and creat
ReplyThe department recently consulted on the post-16 level 3 and below pathways reforms and have considered views from specialist institutions on what is best for qualifications and building skills in the creative sector.The department intends to develop V Le...
10 Jun 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedFor what reason young people transitioning from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment at the age of 16 are required to be available for telephone assessments during school hours;
ReplyThe department is committed to ensuring that young people, particularly those with disabilities, learning difficulties and communication needs, can access Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and wider support effectively. Assessment suppliers must conside...
10 Jun 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department has taken to consider the needs of young people with (a) disabilities, (b) learning difficulties, and (c) communication needs who may be unable to advocate for themselves durin
ReplyThe department is committed to ensuring that young people, particularly those with disabilities, learning difficulties and communication needs, can access Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and wider support effectively. Assessment suppliers must conside...
8 Jun 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department has taken to identify the causes of the increase in the (a) incidence and (b) mortality rates of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in England.
ReplyThe Department recognises the importance of understanding trends in rare cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma.The Department supports research into cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (N...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect the health of people using inland waters for recreation.
ReplyThe Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system. Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regul...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to inland waters for responsible recreational users.
ReplyThe Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and encourages safe and responsible access to the countryside through the Countryside Code and support for nationwide water safety campaigns. Pu...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, whether steps will be taken to increase transparency in reporting on the allocation of revenue across infrastructure investment, executive remuneration, shareholder returns and custome
ReplyWe have already taken steps to increase transparency of water company finances. Under the Water (Special Measures) Act, water companies are required to ensure the public has access to clear and concise information on their finances. In March 2026, Ofwat p...
8 Jun 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department is taking to improve the early detection and diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma; and if he will consider developing specific clinical guidance or awareness initiatives for he
ReplyThe Government is committed to improving outcomes for people affected by rare and less common cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma.The National Cancer Plan for England identifies earlier diagnosis as a key priority and includes specific commitments to im...
8 Jun 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether he plans to reassess council tax banding for properties on an individual basis.
ReplyThe Valuation Office will be conducting a targeted valuation exercise to identify properties in scope of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge. Current Council Tax bands will not be revalued and will still apply. The Government is committed to ensuring the...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Education·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to ensure that media and digital literacy education is accessible to children with additional needs.
ReplyFollowing publication of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report on 5 November 2025, vital applied knowledge and skills in media and digital literacy will be embedded into the revised curriculum. There will be a public consultation...
8 Jun 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat funding has been allocated by (a) his Department, (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Research and (c) other publicly funded bodies for research into cholangiocarcinoma in each of t
ReplyGovernment responsibility for delivering cancer research is shared between Department for Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,...
8 Jun 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat assessment has been made of the potential impact of digital-first systems, including SMS-based appointment booking and online triage platforms, on patient access to NHS primary care services;
ReplyThe NHS App provides a core national channel for patients to view, receive, and manage appointments across a range of care settings whilst ‘NHS Notify’ enables National Health Service organisations to send letters, text messages, and emails from a single ...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedWhat progress has been made in clearing the waiting list of Work Capability Assessments for existing Universal Credit claimants awaiting reassessment; and whether there are plans to increase the number
ReplyThe number of outstanding claimants awaiting Work Capability Assessment (WCA) reassessment has been significantly reduced, with 97% of pre-May 2025 cases now cleared. The remaining reassessments continue to be progressed, and we expect processing times to...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure that parents and carers have access to clear, accessible and tailored support to help them manage children’s online safety.
ReplyThe government recognises the vital role parents and carers play in supporting children’s online safety. We launched the 'You Won’t Know Until You Ask’ campaign and the Kids Online Safety Hub to provide them with practical tools to build children’s resili...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedWhat assessment has been made of the potential impact of the Department’s policy of prioritising new Universal Credit claimants for Work Capability Assessments on existing claimants seeking a reassessme
ReplyThe number of outstanding claimants awaiting Work Capability Assessment (WCA) reassessment has been significantly reduced, with 97% of pre-May 2025 cases now cleared. The remaining reassessments continue to be progressed, and we expect processing times to...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that future children’s online safety policy reflects the experiences of children with additional needs.
ReplyProtecting children online is a priority for the Secretary of State. Through our recent consultation, we heard directly from 14000 children and especially reached out to voices that are sometimes missed. Following this, on 15 June, the government publishe...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to tackle online platforms that fail to prevent the promotion of fraudulent content.
ReplyThis government takes the issue of online fraud, including fraudulent advertising, incredibly seriously. DSIT works closely with other departments to address online fraud, including the Home Office, who have overall responsibility for fraud policy. The On...
8 Jun 2026·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps to ensure that online platforms are required to implement proactive systems to tackle fraudulent content.
ReplyThis government takes the issue of online fraud, including fraudulent advertising, incredibly seriously. DSIT works closely with other departments to address online fraud, including the Home Office, who have overall responsibility for fraud policy. The On...