The UK Government takes an actor-agnostic approach to supply chain resilience, focusing on the characteristics and behaviours of technologies and suppliers rather than their country of origin. This ensures that our regulatory frameworks remain objective, proportionate, and resilient to evolving threats.

Ministers receive technical advice from National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on a wide range of cyber threats, including on IoT products. Their assessment is that a compromised cellular internet of things module would not, by itself, enable an end-to-end attack. From a cyber security perspective, risk is managed through the broader set of controls supporting monitoring, resilience and recovery across the system. Advice on managing the security of cellular internet of things modules technology is provided to industry and government by the NCSC.

Consumer connected devices fall within scope of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 and must comply with the requirements of that Act and its underlying Regulations. This includes consumer devices that use cellular internet of things modules and the use of internet-connected vaping devices.

Consumer connected devices, by their nature as consumer goods, would not typically pose a national security threat. Our assessment is that a compromised cellular internet of things module would not, by itself, enable an end-to-end attack. From a cyber security perspective, risk is managed through the broader set of controls supporting monitoring, resilience and recovery across the system. Advice on managing the security of cellular internet of things modules technology is provided to industry and government by the National Cyber Security Centre.

Illegal e-bikes have no place on our roads. My Department has published guidance to make it clear that e-bikes that exceed the legal power and speed limits are treated as motor vehicles and must be registered, taxed and insured. The police have powers to enforce those rules. The same applies to pedal cycles that have been converted using e-bike kits. Consumers should be made aware by those selling such kits that a conversion may mean that a cycle no longer meets the legal definition of an “electrically assisted pedal cycle”.

I share my hon. Friend’s concerns regarding recent safety incidents on the A69 at Warwick Bridge. National Highways is considering in detail with local partners the case for detrunking the A69 and trunking the A689. That is a complex process, and I will ask National Highways to update her when more information is available.

The Government recognises the harm caused by rogue and fraudulent traders to consumers and legitimate businesses.

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the impact that a trader licensing scheme would have on rogue and fraudulent traders. This government is committed to protecting consumers from rogue traders. Consumer legislation already sets out standards consumers should expect when a trader supplies goods and services, as well as remedies if these rights are breached.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 further strengthens consumer law enforcement. For example, enforcers such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can apply to the courts to impose penalties when dealing with consumer law breaches.

Furthermore, the Act allows the CMA to impose monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover for substantive breaches of consumer law without having to go through the courts.

The Government recognises the harm caused by rogue and fraudulent traders to consumers and legitimate businesses.

The Department has not made a formal assessment of the impact that a trader licensing scheme would have on rogue and fraudulent traders. This government is committed to protecting consumers from rogue traders. Consumer legislation already sets out standards consumers should expect when a trader supplies goods and services, as well as remedies if these rights are breached.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 further strengthens consumer law enforcement. For example, enforcers such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can apply to the courts to impose penalties when dealing with consumer law breaches.

Furthermore, the Act allows the CMA to impose monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover for substantive breaches of consumer law without having to go through the courts.

The Government is committed to reducing avoidable emergency admissions for people with neurological conditions by improving earlier diagnosis, strengthening community-based care, and ensuring better coordination between services.

NHS England is encouraging systems to adopt personalised care and support planning, including anticipatory care approaches for people at higher risk of admission. This can involve the use of care plans, rapid access to community teams, and closer monitoring to ensure issues such as infections are identified and treated promptly, reducing the need for hospital admission. National programmes such as Getting It Right First Time and NHS RightCare support systems to identify unwarranted variation and adopt best practice in managing long-term conditions, including for neurological conditions.

NHS England’s service specification for specialised adult neurology services sets out clear expectations for proactive, coordinated care to reduce the risk of avoidable complications. It emphasises early identification of clinical risks, personalised care planning, and timely access to multidisciplinary support, including specialist nurses, therapists, and community services. By promoting regular monitoring, effective management of common complications like swallowing, mobility, and bladder function, and close coordination between primary, community, and specialist care, the specification supports early intervention and continuity of care. This approach helps to minimise preventable deterioration, reduce unplanned hospital admissions, and improve outcomes and quality of life for people.

Proposals for new modern service frameworks (MSFs) will be assessed by the National Quality Board against a clear set of criteria, including: the strength of the case for change; the presence of relative consensus around a genuinely ambitious, long term outcome goal; the existence of a strong cross system partnership coalition; and the potential for digital by default models of care and service transformation. This is essential in ensuring that MSFs have a high impact and remain credible, and that development capacity is focused where the approach can add the greatest value. The process for assessing applications for future MSFs is currently being developed.

The Government is committed to reducing avoidable emergency admissions for people with neurological conditions by improving earlier diagnosis, strengthening community-based care, and ensuring better coordination between services.

NHS England is encouraging systems to adopt personalised care and support planning, including anticipatory care approaches for people at higher risk of admission. This can involve the use of care plans, rapid access to community teams, and closer monitoring to ensure issues such as infections are identified and treated promptly, reducing the need for hospital admission. National programmes such as Getting It Right First Time and NHS RightCare support systems to identify unwarranted variation and adopt best practice in managing long-term conditions, including for neurological conditions.

NHS England’s service specification for specialised adult neurology services sets out clear expectations for proactive, coordinated care to reduce the risk of avoidable complications. It emphasises early identification of clinical risks, personalised care planning, and timely access to multidisciplinary support, including specialist nurses, therapists, and community services. By promoting regular monitoring, effective management of common complications like swallowing, mobility, and bladder function, and close coordination between primary, community, and specialist care, the specification supports early intervention and continuity of care. This approach helps to minimise preventable deterioration, reduce unplanned hospital admissions, and improve outcomes and quality of life for people.

Proposals for new modern service frameworks (MSFs) will be assessed by the National Quality Board against a clear set of criteria, including: the strength of the case for change; the presence of relative consensus around a genuinely ambitious, long term outcome goal; the existence of a strong cross system partnership coalition; and the potential for digital by default models of care and service transformation. This is essential in ensuring that MSFs have a high impact and remain credible, and that development capacity is focused where the approach can add the greatest value. The process for assessing applications for future MSFs is currently being developed.

The Department is aware of the increasing role of technology in vapes. That is why the Tobacco and Vapes Act includes broad powers to regulate the technological features of vapes and associated software. In October 2025, we launched a call for evidence to inform potential policy proposals for future vape regulations, including in relation to the role of technology in vapes.

The Government, working with the devolved administrations where appropriate, is committed to consulting on how we will make use of new powers. We have already consulted on measures relating to introducing vape-free places and are planning to consult on introducing restrictions on vaping and nicotine product packaging, vape appearance, and changing where and how vapes are displayed in shops soon. These measures will help to reduce the appeal of vapes to young people whilst still enabling them to be accessed and used by adult smokers seeking to quit.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the levels of claims to The Motor Insurers’ Bureau from victims of collisions caused by e-bikes that do not comply with legal limits on power and speed.

The Department is working with the Motor Insurer’s Bureau to understand the impact of illegal e-bikes on car drivers’ insurance premiums.

One of the first things I announced when appointed as the Secretary of State for Justice was a £40 million extra investment to strengthen prison security, including £10 million for counter-drone measures such as netting and wire. I recently visited Woodhill prison to look at how we are tackling this growing threat and committed a further £35 million to install heavy-duty grilles on windows at 17 of our most high-risk prison sites.

This Government are committed to delivering a truly national civil service, one that lives and breathes the communities that we represent across the UK. We have exceeded our target, having relocated 23,000 roles from London, and are now committed to over 50% of the senior civil service and our fast streamers being based outside London by 2030, so that our leadership is closer to the communities that we serve. We have also launched three new thematic campuses in Aberdeen, Manchester and the west midlands, building on the success of those in Sheffield, Leeds and Darlington. This work will drive a truly national civil service, and it will only continue.

Conversion practices are an abhorrent and insidious form of abuse, perpetrated by people who believe that being LGBT is not only wrong but can be forcibly changed. This Government will ban that abuse.

Based on Ofcom’s Connected Nations reporting for gigabit coverage in the constituency of Carlisle, as of January 2026, 91% of premises had access to gigabit-capable broadband, which is a significant increase from 69% in January 2024 and is above the UK gigabit coverage average of 88%. This has been assisted by Project Gigabit. Across Carlisle, over 4,750 premises have already received a gigabit-capable connection, with an additional 1,770 still expected to be given coverage, via the Project Gigabit contract covering Cumbria which is being delivered by Fibrus.

Through a combination of commercial market and government subsidised delivery, government is ensuring 99% of UK premises will have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032. In support of this, Building Digital UK (BDUK) is currently refreshing its delivery plans for the remaining premises not included in Project Gigabit or any commercial plans.

BDUK has asked all suppliers to confirm their interest in any further projects through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, though delivery through this route is likely to be limited and BDUK expects most remaining coverage will be provided through Project Gigabit contracts.

Based on Ofcom’s Connected Nations reporting for gigabit coverage in the constituency of Carlisle, as of January 2026, 91% of premises had access to gigabit-capable broadband, which is a significant increase from 69% in January 2024 and is above the UK gigabit coverage average of 88%. This has been assisted by Project Gigabit. Across Carlisle, over 4,750 premises have already received a gigabit-capable connection, with an additional 1,770 still expected to be given coverage, via the Project Gigabit contract covering Cumbria which is being delivered by Fibrus.

Through a combination of commercial market and government subsidised delivery, government is ensuring 99% of UK premises will have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032. In support of this, Building Digital UK (BDUK) is currently refreshing its delivery plans for the remaining premises not included in Project Gigabit or any commercial plans.

BDUK has asked all suppliers to confirm their interest in any further projects through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, though delivery through this route is likely to be limited and BDUK expects most remaining coverage will be provided through Project Gigabit contracts.

On April 1 2026, we announced that Best Start Family Hubs in newly funded areas are open to families, as the government delivers on its pledge to ensure there is a hub in every local authority and building towards our ambition of having have 1,000 hubs and 2,000 network sites across England by the end of 2028.

The new guidance, published 30 March, set out how we will expect local authorities to deliver on Best Start Family Hubs, backed by over £900 million.

Hubs are there to create connections - between health visitors, early years providers, social care, employment services, the voluntary sector - so that families experience support as something joined-up and intuitive. Our guidance states that local authorities should work with families, communities and partners to join up services, to innovate in how they deliver them, to work in partnership. Local authorities are now developing clear plans to set out how they will deliver in practice.

We are going further to help them meet this challenge. Test, Learn and Grow Accelerators are now underway in Manchester and Northumberland, bringing together Hubs, schools and early years settings to ensure families can access the right support earlier, and in one place. By sharing this learning, we will help shape the future of Best Start services nationally to embed the path to change, working in partnership, locally and nationally, to deliver.

This is the most significant expansion of joined-up health, education and family support since Sure Start, and it will be felt in every constituency in the country, giving every child the best start in life.

All voters, including blind and visually impaired voters, should be able to vote independently and secretly. In its reports on elections in 2024 and 2025, the commission found that there have been improvements to the support available and that returning officers provided a range of accessibility equipment and support. The commission will publish a report on the May 2026 polls in the autumn, including consideration of accessibility. However, there is more to be done, and the commission has recommended improving awareness of the support available, including providing clear information on poll cards and in polling stations.

This Government are and remain committed to the successful delivery of the borderlands inclusive growth deal. In March, the UK and Scottish Governments approved a deal reset, which confirmed a more deliverable and affordable financial profile. The reset will boost the delivery of key projects such as the Chapelcross development and the mountain bike innovation centre in Innerleithen, and will help the deal to make a real difference to the south of Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 123092 on 31 March 2026.