The Ministry of Defence is aware of increases in global tungsten prices and continues to monitor developments in critical mineral markets. Tungsten is used in a range of defence and industrial applications, including specialist components, advanced materials and manufacturing tooling. The Ministry of Defence is working with the Department for Business and Trade along with other departments to improve understanding of demand for critical minerals, including tungsten and assess the implications of international market developments.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, this Government would like to see an end to the practice of culling male chicks. The Government is monitoring the rapid progress currently being made with in-ovo sexing and has funded research into the use of dual breed chickens that remove the need to kill male chicks.

A commercial in-ovo sexing system was trialed at a UK hatchery last year to help the egg industry understand the logistics of in-ovo sexing. This Government will engage with the egg industry and technology companies on this issue.

Since the setting of the Public Health England voluntary salt reduction targets, regulations to limit the promotion and marketing of ‘less healthy’ or high salt, saturated fat, and salt (HFSS) food and drink products have been introduced.

This includes the location promotions restrictions which came into effect in October 2022, and which prohibit the placement of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in key selling locations in supermarkets, for instance around checkouts. Emerging evidence suggests a positive reduction in HFSS purchasing from retail with two million fewer in-scope ‘less healthy’ products being sold each day.

Restrictions on the use by retailers of volume price promotions offers, for instance buy two for three, came into force on 1 October 2025. The restrictions aim to reduce the disproportionate promotion of ‘less healthy’ products to consumers which are widespread and effective at influencing food preferences and purchases, particularly for families.

Regulations to restrict the advertising of ‘less healthy” food and drink products targeted at children on television and online came into effect in January 2026, although many advertisers and broadcasters started to voluntarily comply with the restrictions from 1 October 2025. There has been a noticeable change in the type of adverts show on television and online since then.

The Healthier Food Targets and Reporting policy is intended to improve the healthiness of food sales. We will consult soon on the design of the measures, a key aspect of which is what metrics to use and what elements of food and drink those metrics should cover such as, but not limited to, levels of salt.

There are currently no United Kingdom taxes that cover the salt content of food and drink. The Government keeps all taxes under regular review. Decisions about the future development of taxes are made by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in line with the Government’s tax policy-making framework.

Monitoring of the overall purchasing of food and drink shows that in 2023, compared to 2022, purchases of salt increased by 1.4%. Further monitoring of purchasing, for 2024 and 2025, is currently underway and will be published later this year.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey will shortly begin fieldwork for a urinary sodium survey, providing objective, updated population salt intakes to inform future targeted policy action.

The Government has set an ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years. To accelerate progress on this ambition and tackle unwarranted variation across the country, the Cardiovascular Modern Service Framework was published on 7 July 2026. A delivery plan will follow later in the year to support systems to implement the framework.

Since the setting of the Public Health England voluntary salt reduction targets, regulations to limit the promotion and marketing of ‘less healthy’ or high salt, saturated fat, and salt (HFSS) food and drink products have been introduced.

This includes the location promotions restrictions which came into effect in October 2022, and which prohibit the placement of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products in key selling locations in supermarkets, for instance around checkouts. Emerging evidence suggests a positive reduction in HFSS purchasing from retail with two million fewer in-scope ‘less healthy’ products being sold each day.

Restrictions on the use by retailers of volume price promotions offers, for instance buy two for three, came into force on 1 October 2025. The restrictions aim to reduce the disproportionate promotion of ‘less healthy’ products to consumers which are widespread and effective at influencing food preferences and purchases, particularly for families.

Regulations to restrict the advertising of ‘less healthy” food and drink products targeted at children on television and online came into effect in January 2026, although many advertisers and broadcasters started to voluntarily comply with the restrictions from 1 October 2025. There has been a noticeable change in the type of adverts show on television and online since then.

The Healthier Food Targets and Reporting policy is intended to improve the healthiness of food sales. We will consult soon on the design of the measures, a key aspect of which is what metrics to use and what elements of food and drink those metrics should cover such as, but not limited to, levels of salt.

There are currently no United Kingdom taxes that cover the salt content of food and drink. The Government keeps all taxes under regular review. Decisions about the future development of taxes are made by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in line with the Government’s tax policy-making framework.

Monitoring of the overall purchasing of food and drink shows that in 2023, compared to 2022, purchases of salt increased by 1.4%. Further monitoring of purchasing, for 2024 and 2025, is currently underway and will be published later this year.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey will shortly begin fieldwork for a urinary sodium survey, providing objective, updated population salt intakes to inform future targeted policy action.

The Government has set an ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years. To accelerate progress on this ambition and tackle unwarranted variation across the country, the Cardiovascular Modern Service Framework was published on 7 July 2026. A delivery plan will follow later in the year to support systems to implement the framework.

If salt reduction policies were implemented, we would consider the health benefits of these as part of the policy development cycle. It is recognised that if the food industry lowered the salt content of commonly consumed foods, it would help to support reducing the population’s salt intake.

Government is providing a range of support to decarbonise heavy industry while keeping competitiveness.

In May, government announced a new £470m funding package for chemicals and ceramics to back decarbonisation and resilience in these sectors.

Government also offers a range of support to enable hydrogen use in industrial sectors, including business models for production and transport and storage; and in September 2025, government also signed a contract with Padeswood, the UK’ first carbon capture-enabled cement plant.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund also made around £500m available to support UK industry to decarbonise.

Government continues to keep its approach under review.

The £625 million Construction Skills Package investment is expected to deliver up to 60,000 additional skilled construction workers, supporting a sustainable talent pipeline across the sector. This includes increased teaching provision, improved teaching quality through ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (C‑TECs), teacher industry exchange programmes, and expanded on-site experience for learners. A new Foundation apprenticeship will provide a clear entry route into the sector, alongside existing apprenticeships, and supported by close collaboration with industry and targeted incentives for employers.

As part of the Construction Skills Package, we are using targeted communications campaigns to raise awareness of opportunities in construction and highlight the sector’s role in creating pathways to good jobs and progression. This includes tailored promotion of construction skills opportunities for individuals, including women, and those returning to the workforce, working closely with partners across government such as DWP and local job centres.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) supports a range of initiatives designed to encourage more women into construction careers, including Onsite Experience hubs, SkillBuild, Go Construct and Women into Home Building. These programmes help raise awareness of opportunities in the sector, support entry into training and employment, and widen the pipeline of talent available to employers.

The Government recognises the important role that onsite low carbon technologies can play in reducing emissions, improving energy resilience and supporting industrial competitiveness.

Through programmes such as the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), which made around £500 million available to support UK industry to decarbonise, and wider support for industrial decarbonisation, we are helping businesses invest in technologies including electrification, energy efficiency and onsite generation.

The government’s approach to 5G and mobile connectivity is set out in the ‘UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Plan’ on GOV.UK. The government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have standalone 5G by 2030, delivered through commercial investment. The Digital & Technologies Sector Plan (GOV.UK) outlines the Industrial Strategy’s approach to 5G and Advanced Connectivity Technologies. We have already begun to invest in ACT, with over £300 million spent since 2022 to promote R&D through the Open Networks Programme and Technology Missions Fund.

The Government is committed to supporting UK industry to decarbonise while ensuring that this does not mean deindustrialisation.

Last year, the government set out the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, which will drive forward ambition for UK business operating in the clean energy space. Clean energy is one of our fastest growing sectors, bringing jobs in areas like nuclear, offshore wind, and electricity networks.

Free allowances in the UK Emission Trading Scheme and the forthcoming UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism protect UK industry from being undercut as it decarbonises. In addition, this year, 500 of our most energy intensive businesses will see a cut to their bills, with thousands more getting discounts in 2027.

A cross-economy delivery plan setting out how Carbon Budget 7 will be met will be published as soon as is reasonably practicable, in line with the Climate Change Act 2008.

The Industry Training Boards (ITBs) play an important role in supporting skills development for the sectors that fall within the scope of their respective industries, as defined by legislation made under the Industrial Training Act 1982. Aviation engineering is not, however, included within the scope of either the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) or the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

The ITBs raise a levy on in-scope employers, which they use to make better provision for training within their industry. This includes identifying skills needs in their industries, maintaining occupational standards and competence, funding support for apprenticeships and skills training, promoting careers in their industries, helping employers recruit and retain new entrants, and investing in sector-specific skills programmes. These activities help ensure employers in their industries have access to the skilled workforces needed to meet current and future industry demand.