HS2 will deliver faster, more reliable journeys between London and Scotland, while providing additional capacity on the West Coast Main Line to support improved rail services.

The final timetable has not yet been agreed and will be subject to consultation closer to the start of service. However, current assumptions involve maintaining the frequency of services from London to Glasgow and delivering significantly faster end-to-end journeys for passengers.

HS2 will deliver significant benefits for Scotland. Subject to future timetable and operational development, HS2 will aim to maintain the frequency of services to Scotland, increase the number of available seats for Anglo-Scot journeys and deliver an end-to-end journey experience that is an estimated 20 minutes faster.

The Commission has considered the proposed changes to the educational outreach model.

The proposed changes involve the development of a smaller, Westminster-based team, which would operate a UK-wide digital outreach service. Under the current model, in 2025/26 only 9% of Members were involved in a school outreach visit and 32% of constituencies received no outreach visits at all. The new service aims to significantly improve on these figures, with much greater opportunities for Members to join in with digital sessions with their local schools. The total, combined reach of the new service is expected to be the same as or greater than the current service by the third year of its operation.

Evidence of demand for current digital services has been considered, including the “Learn with the Lords” programme, where three quarters of schools request online over in-person experiences to meet a Member of the House of Lords and learn more about their work. This programme reaches every nation and region of the UK every year. The team has also conducted research into organisations who are delivering ambitious and successful digital outreach models including the Royal Ballet and Opera, North East Museums, the National Gallery, BBC Bitesize and The Shakespeare Curriculum. This research has demonstrated the large-scale need from schools for this type of educational offer from UK Parliament.

Education and Engagement is part of the wider Participation team and shares the strategic aim of the Participation team to reach every part of the UK with its range of public engagement services.

In financial year 2025/26, Education and Engagement’s combined services reached every constituency in some form. In the longer-term, the team aims to increase the scale of services every constituency receives. Part of achieving this aim will include the creation of a digital outreach model, to replace the current regionally-based model. Under the current model, in 2025/26, 32% of constituencies received no outreach visits at all. The new service aims to significantly improve on these figures, with much greater opportunities for Members to join in with digital sessions with their local schools. The total, combined reach of the new service is expected to be the same as or greater than the current service by the third year of its operation.

The Commission has also endorsed a recommendation from the Education and Engagement Team to put in place regional allocations for slots for schools to visit Parliament and the Parliamentary Education Centre, meaning, for the first time, that all UK regions and nations will be given a fair and equitable allocation of opportunities to visit.

In terms of Parliament’s overall engagement work across the UK, a number of different programmes continue to provide opportunities for the public to participate, including UK Parliament Week, teacher training activity delivered around the country, the travel subsidy scheme supporting visits to the Parliamentary Education Centre, Learn with the Lords, and wider outreach undertaken by select committees. Taken together, these channels mean that Parliament will continue to have a strong and visible presence beyond Westminster, even as the Education Outreach service evolves.

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We are working closely with various stakeholders to ensure that workers understand and claim their new rights under the Employment Rights Act. I know how vital trade unions are not just to organising, but to educating workers on their rights at work. I am so proud that they have been instrumental to development and implementation of these rights, and we look forward to continuing to working with them closely.

The Government held the first-ever UK-EU summit last year, where we announced a new common understanding that is good for bills, for borders and for jobs. We look forward to going further at the next UK-EU summit, which will be held at the earliest possible opportunity.

The UK supports the EU’s efforts to promote sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour within global value chains. We will continue to review the impact of measures taken by the EU and other countries, including, as my hon. Friend suggested, to see what lessons can be drawn from other jurisdictions to inform the UK’s approach.

SMEs, individuals and communities should look at the national advice that is published and check on gov.uk/protect, so that they can take the advice. It is simple and it is up there.

The Government has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations, including its obligations under the UK-China Bilateral Investment Treaty. It would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further on the dispute at this stage.

The Government are harnessing the worldwide reach of our diplomatic and trade networks to boost Scottish exports and attract inward investment. We have already delivered deals with India and the United States. I was recently in New Zealand and Australia on a defence-focused visit, meeting with key investors and banging the drum for our world-leading shipbuilding capability. As we speak, the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Kirsty McNeill), is leading a trade mission to China promoting Scottish tech innovation and expertise, along with Glasgow chamber of commerce and representatives from five Scottish cities, including Glasgow.

One of the regrettable aspects of the SNP-led Scottish Government’s record has been their failure to fully harness the capability of city regions and the economic contribution they can make. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland is in China along with Glasgow chamber of commerce and representatives from Glasgow and four other cities. At the moment, they are focused on a trade mission to the Shanghai international technology fair, specifically to champion the region’s world-renowned strengths in technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

This Government is committed to being an international leader on environmental issues. This includes tackling climate change, delivering our clean energy superpower mission, achieving our net zero and other environmental goals, while supporting economic growth. As set out in the Trade Strategy, we will maintain our right to regulate in pursuit of our ambitious climate and environment goals in any and all new trade agreements. Additionally, we will seek outcomes in trading frameworks, including at the WTO, that support sustainable trade, and drive initiatives that support trade in environmental goods and services.

The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. ISDS does not remove governments’ right to regulate in the public interest, including with respect to the environment. We jealously and zealously guard this right.

The Government is aware that some developing country exporters may face extra competition as a result of UK agri-food tariff suspensions. However, there are potential opportunities for addressing cost-of-living pressures faced by UK families. Therefore, it is right we review our tariffs to help alleviate some of these pressures.

The Government welcomes views on the impacts of suspending tariffs on any of the specific products listed in the call for input which launched on 27^th May and closes on 24^th June 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.