Written questions by Franklin.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts on the level of employment in the video games sector.

As set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK video games sector. In April this year we launched the £30 million Games Growth Package, doubling funding to invest in UK games businesses, create new opportunities and develop future talent. Under competition law, responsibility for investigating the impact of mergers and acquisitions on competition falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s independent competition authority sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade. The Government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers and expertise to investigate the benefits and risks of mergers in relation to competition, including those that may impact the video games sector.

Whether his Department has had discussions with Electronic Arts on the potential impact of its proposed acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners on the level of jobs and investment in the UK.

Under competition law, responsibility for investigating the impact of mergers and acquisitions on competition falls to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s independent competition authority. The government has ensured that the CMA has significant powers and expertise to investigate the benefits and risks of mergers in relation to competition.In some cases Ministers can intervene on public interest grounds, but these are limited to matters relating to financial stability, media plurality and public health emergencies.

If she will review the restrictions applied to the Network Railcard; and if she will take steps to permit its use on weekday morning services before 10am.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the automatic addition of service charges to customer bills.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the use of provisional licence holders riding mopeds displaying learner plates (L-plates) to undertake commercial delivery work; and whether she plans to introduce measures to pr

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) lowering the minimum age for routine breast screening to 40 and (b) offering annual screening on (i) early detection rates, (ii) patient o

Awaiting answer.

Whether he plans to review evidence on chemical exposure from plastic baby products, including feeding bottles, dummies and teethers; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the regulatory

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of prisoner transfer arrangements for serious sexual offenders.

This Government is committed to deporting foreign national offenders through every means available, including Prisoner Transfers. In the year ending March 2026 deportations of FNOs, including murderers and rapists, were up 13% compared to the previous yea...

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of UK Music's recent Black Music Means Business report.

We welcome the publication of UK Music's landmark Black Music Means Business report, which highlights that Black music is a central commercial engine of the sector but rightly notes that equity and career progression have not kept pace. We will soon launc...

What steps his Department is taking to improve early and equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for people living with ataxia.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, including rare ataxias, under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. We published the fifth annual England action plan in February 2026, where we report on the steps we have t...

Whether clause 2 of the Armed Forces Bill includes a Foundation Strategic Authority within the definition of a local authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

Clause two of the Armed Forces Bill includes unitary authorities and Foundation Strategic Authorities in England within the definition of a Local Authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006. This is because each one is legally classified a...

Whether clause 2 of the Armed Forces Bill includes a unitary authority within the definition of a local authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

Clause two of the Armed Forces Bill includes unitary authorities and Foundation Strategic Authorities in England within the definition of a Local Authority in section 343AZB(3) of the Armed Forces Act 2006. This is because each one is legally classified a...

When he plans to publish the implementation plan for delivering the Government's commitment to provide universal access to Fracture Liaison Services across England by 2030.

Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.Integrated care boards (ICBs) remain well placed to make decisions according to local need.The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expe...

What progress has been made towards delivering the Government's commitment to provide universal access to Fracture Liaison Services by 2030; and when he plans to publish a timetable setting out the

Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.Integrated care boards (ICBs) remain well placed to make decisions according to local need.The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expe...

What assessment she has made of the reasons for the continued difference in survivor pension entitlements between the Police Pension Scheme 1987 and the 2006 and 2015 Police Pension Schemes in relatio

Serving police officers have access to the 2015 police pension scheme, which provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. All eligible police officer...

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions in funding for the Primary PE and Sport Premium from the 2025-26 to the 2026-27 financial year on participation in physical education and schoo

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a framework to enable parish councils to remunerate elected parish councillors.

Parish and town councils may already pay a basic allowance to their councillors. It is up to individual councils to set levels of allowances appropriate for their individual circumstances.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absence of remuneration for parish councillors on the recruitment and retention of those councillors.

Parish and town councils may already pay a basic allowance to their councillors. It is up to individual councils to set levels of allowances appropriate for their individual circumstances.

What consideration he has given to (a) introducing safeguards and (b) reviewing legislation relating to the circumcision of infants and minors for non-medical reasons.

Departmental officials will be engaging with stakeholders, particularly in Muslim and Jewish communities, regarding non-statutory measures to improve patient safety relating to the circumcision of male infants and minors for non-medical reasons.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current statutory framework for parish councillors.

The Government believes that the current statutory framework for parish councillors is proportionate and adequate. When parliamentary time allows, the Government intends to introduce legislation for a range of measures to create a clearer and consistently...