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1. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Warinder Juss

   Palestine and Gaza

   Palestinian children are the only children in the world who are systematically prosecuted in military courts. Those courts do not meet juvenile justice standards, and Save the Children has found that at every stage of detention, from arrest to interrogation, transfer and incarceration, Israeli soldiers and officials have inflicted physical, mental and emotional abuse and torture on children. What action are this Government taking, with our international partners, to prevent the abuse of well over 300 Palestinian children who are currently being held in Israeli military detention?

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2. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Polar Regions

   The polar regions are areas of growing strategic importance where geopolitics, climate and national security collide. Our national security strategy identified the Arctic and Antarctic as emerging areas of strategic competition. I discussed this with my international counterparts—as well as the hon. Member and the all-party parliamentary group for the polar regions—at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík earlier this month. To protect the UK’s interests, we know we must adapt. That is why I recently launched our updated UK Arctic policy framework.

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3. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Polar Regions

   I thank the hon. Member for his important question. I know that he has a long history of speaking up about these issues. He is absolutely correct: shifting geopolitical and climate dynamics in the Arctic and Antarctic are intensifying strategic interests in new economic opportunities in the polar regions. Those bring with them challenges and pose risks to regional governance and to UK interests overseas and at home, including challenges to our security and stability, domestic resilience and supply chains. That is why we have updated our Arctic policy framework, and it is why I urge Members across the House to join the hon. Member’s APPG for the polar regions, so that we have cross-party consensus on this work.

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4. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Polar Regions

   I regret that I was unable to join my hon. Friend on the trip yesterday to see all of our capabilities. She is absolutely right that our climate and research work in the polar regions is vital. We are working across Government and we have updated the UK’s Arctic policy framework on a number of these matters. That framework sets out our assessment of the key developments in the region, and recognises the Arctic as an area of strategic importance that is vital for UK national security and domestic resilience. It also ensures that we are playing our part in the climate resilience of the region, making sure that our world-leading scientists are there and have the support they need to ensure we play our part in the world.

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5. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Polar Regions

   We are clear that there is no UK security without Arctic security. We are working closely with our partners in the region, including Norway. We will contest malign and destabilising behaviours and activities that threaten our interests and the stability of the region. The United Kingdom is stepping up its investment in and capabilities for defence and deterrence in the High North, deepening the defence co-operation with allies through our NATO-first approach and the joint expeditionary force, to respond rapidly to the emerging threats in the region.

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6. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Topical Questions

   My hon. Friend raises an important topic. I thank him and all those across the House for their efforts on tackling illicit finance. We take the issue seriously and are working across Government, including with colleagues at the Treasury, the Home Office and the National Crime Agency. We are determined to ensure that next year’s illicit finance summit delivers tangible action. The plague of dirty money must be eradicated. As the Minister for overseas territories, I have been raising the issue and will continue to do so with elected leaders in the overseas territories.

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7. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Topical Questions

   I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important topic. The Government are taking action at home and internationally to tackle appalling online abuse towards women and girls, including AI-generated deepfakes and the sharing of intimate images without consent. The UK has introduced some of the strongest measures against this abuse, including making the creation and sharing of deepfakes a criminal offence. We are <span id="173" class="column-number" data-column-number="173"></span>co-developing a model national framework to reduce opportunities for offenders to exploit differences between jurisdictions. There is a global partnership for action on gender-based online harassment and abuse. I will continue to raise this issue with international counterparts and at our summit next year.

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8. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Uma Kumaran

   Topical Questions

   I thank my hon. Friend for raising a topic that he has been speaking about passionately and eloquently for many years. Earlier this month, the Foreign Secretary visited Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian people still living—almost five years on—under the constant threat of Russian strikes, energy blackouts and death. While in Kyiv, he announced a £54 million combined humanitarian and energy support package, which includes £20 million to protect and maintain the electricity, heating and water supply for Ukrainian families ahead of the winter. Alongside that, our £34 million humanitarian package will help about 700,000 vulnerable people, including by maintaining and restoring heating and water services.

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9. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Torcuil Crichton

   Strengthening Community Resilience

   I pay tribute to the men and women of Scottish and Southern Electricity, who are out there right now reconnecting the homes in the Western Isles that lost power over the weekend due to the storms. Resilience is in-built on the islands, but as other Members have pointed out, we have major problems with connectivity because of the move from analogue to digital phonelines, which means <span id="206" class="column-number" data-column-number="206"></span>that when the power goes out, people do not have the phone or the internet—and they often do not have a mobile signal either. BT and Openreach’s response—to give powerpacks to vulnerable customers who ask for them—is simply not adequate, and mobile phone providers do not have the means to maintain their signal during storms. Will the Minister call in those companies and get them to up their digital game and ensure that there is digital resilience—not just in the places that are easy, but on the edge, where people are vulnerable, isolated from their neighbours, and where the ambulance is an hour away?

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10. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Tonia Antoniazzi

    Cask Ale: Intangible Cultural Heritage

    As chair of the all-party parliamentary beer group, I was really pleased that my hon. Friend, in his role as chair of the pub group, came to visit my constituency of Gower. He realises that there are great challenges for the industry, especially in relation to the UNESCO heritage status that he is speaking about, which I think would be really valuable. Does he agree that there are wider problems in the industry and that we need to big up our communities and pubs and get people back into the pub and enjoying their community beer?

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11. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Tonia Antoniazzi

    Cask Ale: Intangible Cultural Heritage

    Will the hon. Gentleman join me in congratulating John Longden from Pub is the Hub, because pubs are where community lies? Does he also recognise the investment this Labour Government have given to that scheme?

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12. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    I beg to move, That this House has considered SEND provision in rural communities. It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Sir Desmond, and I am delighted to have secured this debate. Discussing this subject in detail will be hard in a 30-minute debate, but I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Minister for her positive engagement with it. Given the time constraints, I will be able to accept only a few brief interventions, largely from those hon. Members who indicated in advance that they will intervene. I will begin by thanking the parents, carers and families of children with special educational needs and disabilities who have contacted my office and shared their experience of the realities of SEND provision in rural communities. Many of the conversations I have had with those constituents in South West Norfolk have been incredibly difficult. The same themes arise time and again: frustration, exhaustion and a profound fear for their child’s future.

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13. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    I entirely agree, and I am sure the Minister will speak about that. Prior to serving as a Member of Parliament, I spent many years as a county councillor in Norfolk, so I was aware of the SEND system and its difficulties from my councillor casework, but nothing could have prepared me for the avalanche of SEND-related cries for help that have arrived from right across my constituency. Since I was elected in 2024, more than 250 families have contacted my office to express serious concerns about the way their children’s needs are being assessed and met by schools and local authorities.

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14. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    The hon. Member is right that investment in technology can make a significant difference to children and young people. Many of the conversations I have had with children and their families describe lengthy consultation processes to find a suitable school, daily <span id="74WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="74WH"></span>battles to secure even the most basic provision, and periods of extreme distress as they struggle to navigate a system that often feels stacked against them. I was keen to secure a debate on this motion because it is clear that children and young people with SEND in rural areas face a distinct set of structural challenges that affect access, equity and outcomes. Those challenges arise not necessarily from higher levels of need but from the complexity and cost of delivering education, health and care services across geographically dispersed communities.

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15. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    I thank the hon. Member, my county colleague from Norfolk, for raising that point, and I entirely agree. I want to explain and give information to the Minister about the experiences I have documented in my rural constituency. I have produced a SEND report, “Rural Realities”, and I have shared a draft with her. Through in-person group sessions, questionnaires and our detailed casework, we have gathered data about what is happening on the ground. At the first SEND roundtable in the market town of Downham Market, it was clear that many of the parents and carers from the local villages did not know one another. They arrived individually but soon discovered that their experiences were remarkably similar. They spoke of not receiving much support in their child’s early years. Health visitors came less frequently, and in many cases an in-person visit did not happen at all. Warning signs and opportunities for support were ignored at primary school, and when their child entered high school, often some distance away in a rural setting, the impact of having little to no support was further compounded. From our own assessments, it is clear that rural areas typically have a limited range of local SEND provision.

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16. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    Absolutely. A key theme of my contribution is the impact of distance and geography, so I entirely agree with. Lower population density restricts the viability of specialist settings and enhanced mainstream provision, resulting in reduced parental choice and greater reliance on out-of-area placements.

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17. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    Absolutely. I can relate to many of those points, as I know of children and young people travelling significant distances to access suitable provision, affecting their wellbeing, attendance and readiness to learn. It is not uncommon for children my team and I have worked with to travel for an hour and a half in each direction every single day. At a system level, home-to-school transport costs are substantially higher, placing sustained pressure on higher needs budgets and limiting the resources available for early intervention and in-school support. Workforce capacity presents a further challenge. Rural areas experience ongoing difficulties recruiting and retaining specialist staff, including special educational needs co-ordinators, educational psychologists and therapists. That contributes to delays in assessment, inconsistent access to specialist advice and slower delivery of support. When I visit schools across South West Norfolk, the variety in approach is stark. The Government are right to put additional SEND training and capital funding at the forefront of their decision making. Schools can do more to accommodate pupils with additional needs. I have seen that opportunity myself. More must be done to ensure that schools and local authorities embrace that responsibility and are held to account. Specialist support, however, will always be needed. Areas like mine, with historical specialist gaps, should not be overlooked. The trends are clear: a lack of early intervention, rising travel costs and an increase in the number of children requiring specialist support. For too many families, the SEND system no longer provides what it should, instead becoming a source of additional stress and anxiety. When I became an MP, I was determined to help families navigate that system, which is why I became one of only two MPs in the country to employ a dedicated SEND specialist caseworker. I am incredibly proud of the work my casework team have done to help families secure education, health and care plans, progress tribunal cases and, most importantly, obtain the support that children need and deserve. Those experiences have shown me that, despite the challenges facing SEND provision, positive change is possible, but only when local need is recognised and acted on. Earlier this year, I campaigned strongly for a new specialist SEND school in Downham Market, and I was delighted when the Government approved the project and committed £20 million towards the new school at Ryston End. Once completed, it will transform opportunities for children and young people across a large part of Norfolk, bringing specialist provision closer to home. Although I welcome that success, one school alone will not resolve the wider challenges facing SEND provision in rural communities. There are 32,000 children and young people identified as having SEND in Norfolk, including more than 13,000 with an education, health and care plan. Since 2016, the number of EHCPs has risen by 217%. That is placing increased pressure on schools, families and local authorities alike. For rural communities, those pressures are often intensified by distance. Evidence shows that pupils attending special schools in rural areas travel an average of 10 miles each way, compared with approximately 4 miles in urban areas. In the most rural parts of England, one in 10 pupils travels more than 23 miles each way to their <span id="76WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="76WH"></span>appropriate school. Families told me repeatedly that they feel like they have less choice, fewer local services and more barriers to accessing support than families in urban areas.

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18. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Terry Jermy

    SEND Provision: Rural Communities

    Absolutely. The hon. Member makes a really important point about the impact on the wider family. For SEND parents with more than one child, it is incredibly difficult to navigate the logistics of getting to different schools in different locations. We have certainly experienced that in South West Norfolk. Rurality also creates additional layers of bureaucracy because parents are often required to navigate multiple agencies spread across large geographical areas and to repeatedly explain their child’s needs to different professionals. They have to travel long distances to appointments and spend months, and sometimes years, pursuing assessments, reviews and support. The pressures are being felt not only by families but by schools. Three quarters of schools that responded to my survey said they did not feel able to provide adequate support for pupils with SEND using their current resources. Many reported receiving insufficient support from the local authority with SEND and EHCP casework. Worst of all, 46% of parents who responded reported that their child had spent significant time out of school because their needs were not being met. Some families describe children being out of education for months, and sometimes years, and the story is always one of years of disruption with no suitable placement available. Education is not a privilege in this country; it is a right, yet too many children with SEND are being denied that right, not because their potential is lacking but because the system around them is struggling to provide the support they need. For children in rural communities, the challenges are often even greater. That is why I hope the Government will fully consider the added impact of rurality, which I have highlighted through my South West Norfolk SEND report. They must consider the added pressures as part of their wider reforms to the SEND system, so that families across constituencies like mine and those of other hon. Members who have spoken can finally feel heard, supported and confident that their children will receive the education they deserve.

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19. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Sureena Brackenridge

    Topical Questions

    As online abuse such as the sharing of intimate images without consent increasingly crosses borders, what are the Government doing with international partners and technology companies to protect women and girls, and ensure that criminals cannot exploit differences in countries’ laws to escape justice?

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20. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Morgan

    Domestic Farming and Food Supply

    It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Jeremy. I want to start by thanking the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart) for securing this debate. She knows agriculture is a devolved issue. We are committed to working closely <span id="114WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="114WH"></span>with the devolved Governments as we work to support UK farmers and boost the nation’s food security. I welcome her focus on UK matters today, alongside the various insights she has brought from Northern Ireland. Before I respond to the debate, Chair, allow me to begin by stating that farmers are the backbone of our food system, rural economy and national resilience. Yet I recognise that many are working under extraordinary pressure, with volatile markets, extreme weather, animal disease, and rising input and energy costs.

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21. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Morgan

    Domestic Farming and Food Supply

    Matters of taxation are for the Chancellor. More will be known in the Budget tomorrow, but I can certainly share that I work closely with my colleagues in Northern Ireland. Under my previous ministerial responsibility, I was delighted to visit Northern Ireland, and hope to do so in future on the important issues being discussed today. The importance of the pressures that I have mentioned cannot be overstated. Agriculture alone contributes £14.5 billion to the economy, and the wider food and drink sector contributed £153 billion in 2023. The agrifood sector employed 4.1 million people in 2025. Food security is about national security.

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22. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Morgan

    Domestic Farming and Food Supply

    The hon. Member is a real champion on farming issues, as was very evident from my time in Cornwall over the summer with the Prime Minister. I know that he is a real champion on those issues. I obviously cannot comment on speculation. There is an indication that there might be announcements tomorrow that will be supportive of our farming community, but I ask him for a little more patience ahead of the Chancellor’s statement tomorrow. I thank the hon. Member for Upper Bann for identifying specific issues. Trade is a very important matter that of course affects Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. To address the pressures that were raised by farmers in Northern Ireland and across the country, markets must work fairly. UK farmers should not be undercut by imports produced to lower standards. We will maintain our food and animal welfare standards. We will use quotas, exclusions and safeguards where necessary, and open new export opportunities for high-quality UK produce.<span id="115WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="115WH"></span> The last four deals we concluded, with Switzerland, India, the Gulf Co-operation Council and South Korea, created new opportunities for Northern Irish exports, while protecting sensitive sectors such as pork, poultry and eggs. Tariffs on Northern Irish beef, lamb and dairy exports will be removed in the Gulf and reduced further in Switzerland. Tariffs on whisky exports to India have been halved and will continue to go down over the next 10 years. We also have a global network of 16 agrifood and drink attachés who create new opportunities for export and help businesses to access markets around the globe. So far this year they have removed 26 barriers, worth nearly £90 million annually. The proposed SPS agreement with the European Union is intended to remove the routine border checks and costly paperwork, reducing friction for exporters and supporting the UK’s food supply and security. The agreement will remove almost all SPS checks and certificates between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. That will reduce costs for a whole range of businesses and increase choice for consumers. I know Northern Irish farmers welcome the deal. They see the benefit in removing checks on used agricultural machinery such as tractors, which are often bought from Great Britain. As another example, seed potatoes will be easier to bring in, and Northern Irish farmers will be operating under the same rules, for example on pesticides, as the rest of the UK. We are also supporting farmers across the United Kingdom, including in Northern Ireland, through our programme of fair dealing reforms. On 2 October, the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza of this season was confirmed in Scotland, and we have now had our first case in England. Stringent biosecurity remains the best defence for protecting the health and welfare of birds, and reducing the risk of avian influenza entering kept bird populations. On bovine tuberculosis, it is worth stating that the Government are developing a cattle vaccine and a DIVA—detect infected among vaccinated animals—skin test, widening sensitive testing, expanding badger vaccination and working towards TB-free status for England by 2038. The reason I stress those points is that the hon. Member for Upper Bann made a number of points about enforcement at our borders and illegal meat. I can confirm that the Government continue to work across Departments to develop a new framework, in <span id="116WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="116WH"></span>partnership with the Home Office, Border Force, the Food Standards Authority and others. More details will be published in due course. With regard to tax matters that have been raised in the debate, I recognise that when the Government initially announced reform to the agricultural property relief and business property relief in 2024, there was significant concern in the industry about the impact. The Government listened to those concerns and acted, going further to protect more farms and businesses. Up to £5 million can still be passed on free of inheritance tax, depending on people’s individual circumstances. Farming families will be able to pass the family farm down to their children, just as previous generations have done. Let me turn to the points raised about the certainty to invest and planning issues. The farming roadmap was published earlier this year. We recognise that those in the sector need confidence to invest to grow their businesses, plan for the future and secure farms for the next generation. These are important for profitable food production and resilience to global shocks. In England, through our farming roadmap, we have set a new long-term direction for the sector—one that is more profitable, productive, sustainable and resilient, and that will be better able to withstand climate, market and geopolitical shocks. Through the roadmap, we have committed to maintaining domestic food production at least at current levels, and our commitment to farmers is backed by a record £11.8 billion for sustainable farming and food production over this Parliament. This year, £788 million in new funding has been committed to boost productivity, develop new technologies and maintain a healthy natural environment. Support includes £225 million for capital grants, £173 million for productivity and innovation, and £15 million for on-farm reservoirs to strengthen drought resilience. On red tape and bureaucracy, I recognise farmers’ frustration with ever-increasing bureaucracy. Regulation is necessary to address risks, but compliance requirements can be a burden and slow growth. We are delivering actions through the Government’s regulation action plan to reduce these burdens on farmers and will take further action. The pressures facing UK farming are real, and no responsible Government should dismiss them. I thank the hon. Member for Upper Bann for her insight into the issues raised in today’s debate. Our task is to stand alongside farmers, strengthen profitability and resilience, and to ensure that UK farming can continue to produce the food on which we all depend. <em>Question put and agreed to.</em>

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23. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    Iran: Uranium Enrichment

    We have raised the UK’s serious concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, and that includes the Foreign Secretary raising it directly with Foreign Minister Araghchi. Iran has accumulated over 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60%—a level that goes beyond any credible civilian justification. Iran’s ongoing lack of International Atomic Energy Agency co-operation led us, together with 22 countries, to vote to report Iran to the UN Security Council for its continued non-compliance and refusal to allow inspectors access. A negotiated solution remains the way to address Iran’s nuclear programme, and we are working with partners on that.

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24. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    Iran: Uranium Enrichment

    With the greatest respect, the Foreign Secretary raised very serious concerns at the highest levels about Iran’s nuclear programme and a series of other issues, just as previous Foreign Secretaries—including many Conservative ones—have raised serious concerns directly with Iran. We are absolutely clear: Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. We are committed to working with others to ensure that it does not.

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25. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    Afghanistan: Support for Women and Girls

    We are all deeply alarmed by the systematic discrimination and exclusion of women and girls from public life, education, employment and decision making in Afghanistan. That is why we are providing £105 million a year to support the Afghan people, and our aid reached 5 million Afghans last year, including 3 million women and girls. We continue to press the Taliban directly on women’s rights, and we work through our international partnerships to raise these important issues.

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26. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    Afghanistan: Support for Women and Girls

    We engage with a wide range of experts on these issues, and I would certainly welcome a chance to discuss these matters with the academics the hon. Lady references, but I can absolutely assure her that the Department engages with a huge range of civil society and expert organisations. That is very important in informing our work on these issues.

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27. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    Afghanistan: Support for Women and Girls

    The Chair of the Select Committee is a long-standing champion on these issues, even before her time chairing the Committee, and she and I have discussed these issues on many occasions. We always welcome a conversation with her about these matters, and I am sure that the Minister for International Development, who has responsibility for Africa, and indeed the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Chris Elmore), who works on preventing sexual violence, would be happy to sit down and discuss these issues with her.

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28. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    UK Nationals Detained Abroad

    We take all allegations of arbitrary detention very seriously, considering all available information and any opinions issued by the UN working group on arbitrary detention. Our support is tailored to each individual, and may include raising welfare or concerns about process, where needed. Reflecting our commitment to supporting British nationals detained overseas, we have appointed the right hon. Alistair Burt as our first envoy for complex consular detentions to work on these matters, and I am working with him very closely on this.

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29. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    UK Nationals Detained Abroad

    I can confirm that, most recently, the Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal’s case with his Indian counterpart on 24 September at the UN General Assembly. I will be very clear: we recognise the immense toll that nine years in detention have taken on Mr Johal and his family, and I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for his constituent. His release on bail is a welcome development, but we recognise that eight cases <span id="164" class="column-number" data-column-number="164"></span>remain outstanding, and it is crucial that those processes are resolved as quickly as possible within India’s independent legal system. We consistently raise concerns about his case at every appropriate opportunity.

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30. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    UK Nationals Detained Abroad

    As the right hon. Member knows, I take the case of Ryan Cornelius and Charles Ridley very seriously, as I do any of the other related cases. I have raised that case with the UAE at a high level, and I will continue to do so. Indeed, I have discussed it with our envoy, Alistair Burt, and I am very happy to discuss it further with him. On Sudan, as the right hon. Member knows, the international community, including this country, must do more to tackle that crisis. Yesterday, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend announced further sanctions against suspected perpetrators of sexual violence and other atrocities, including in El-Fasher. We continue to raise concerns with all the countries that are in any way involved in that conflict to urge them to de-escalate, stop arms supplies and bring peace to Sudan.

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31. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    UK Nationals Detained Abroad

    The Foreign Secretary and I take this case incredibly seriously, and the Prime Minister also raised it with President Trump. As I have said on a number of occasions, we condemn in the strongest terms the politically motivated prosecution of Jimmy Lai. The national security law was imposed on Hong Kong to silence China’s critics. For someone who is 78, a 20-year sentence is tantamount to a life sentence. We are deeply concerned for his health. This is a priority for the Government, and we raise the case at every possible opportunity, both directly with China and with other partners.

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32. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephen Doughty

    Topical Questions

    I assure my hon. Friend that the UK’s commitment to international law does not depend on the outcome of elections. We have been clear that settlements are illegal under international law and that Israel must comply with its obligations. We have been clear that the occupation is unlawful.

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33. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephanie Peacock

    Cask Ale: Intangible Cultural Heritage

    It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter (Jacob Collier) on securing this debate. He is a strong champion for his constituents, local employers and our brewing traditions. For decades, our heritage policies have focused on physical buildings and monuments, and we are expanding that by recognising living heritage: the crafts, skills and community traditions passed down through generations. This debate is a brilliant way to illustrate that. My hon. Friend made a strong case for the heritage, and explained the traditions associated with cask ale brewing with colour and detail. The support for this debate is reflected by the attendance and contributions from hon. and right hon. Members from across the House today. I recognise that my hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Baggy Shanker) originally applied for and championed this debate. Following the ratification of the 2003 UNESCO convention, we launched the nationwide search to document our living history, and the upcoming launch of the domestic inventories will be an important milestone. We have heard a strong argument for the inclusion of cask ale, led by the Campaign For Real Ale, the Craft Beer Channel and grassroots supporters and amplified today by my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter and by hon. and right hon. Members from across the House. Cask Ale Culture has been formally submitted and is currently being assessed by an independent panel. Alongside living traditions, DCMS continues to protect physical pub heritage. More than 12,000 listed buildings in England are current or former pubs. Through our arts everywhere fund and our £200 million investment in heritage to 2030, we are helping communities to restore and safeguard historical venues. We have heard from right hon. and hon. Members—I will not attempt to list them all—speaking about their local brewers, including Allanwater Brewhouse in Stirling and the Dancing Duck in Derby, and the sheer number of pubs—I believe it was 132—that my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (John Whitby) quoted. To answer one of the questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter, next year, DCMS will launch a public consultation on safeguarding living heritage to identify the practical steps needed to keep these traditions alive. I encourage the brewing industry and the pub sector to take part. Cask ale protects skilled jobs, strengthens communities and preserves practical crafts. It is a vital living tradition. My hon. Friend rightly mentioned the proposed closure of Marston’s brewery in Burton upon Trent, which I know he raised directly with the Prime Minister during Prime Minister’s questions. Carlsberg Britvic’s proposal is a blow to the workforce, the local community and the identity of Burton upon Trent and the surrounding <span id="70WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="70WH"></span>area. Brewing is part of the fabric the area, and with more than 300 potential job losses and workers facing uncertainty, the Government stand ready to support them through Jobcentre Plus and the rapid response service. We will ensure that tailored support is available to help people to find new opportunities and to protect their livelihoods. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will remain in close contact with Carlsberg Britvic throughout the consultation process.

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34. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephanie Peacock

    Cask Ale: Intangible Cultural Heritage

    I was about to answer the right hon. Member’s question. Of course, that would be for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and I will speak to Ministers directly following this debate. While this debate is not on that particular issue, I absolutely recognise that it is integral to the right hon. Member’s area and the surrounding area. I will speak to DEFRA Ministers directly. The right hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton West (Warinder Juss) rightly highlighted the closure of Banks’s brewery. Of course, that announcement comes alongside Molson Coors proposing the closure of Sharp’s brewery in Rock. Both companies have pointed to the decline in cask ale demand. I totally hear the points that the right hon. Member made. UK cask ale volumes have halved in less than 10 years. I think we heard a statistic from my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter about cask ale sales accounting for 5% of the market today compared with 50% in the 1990s. We are seeing a decline, but there are some positive signs. Industry data reveals a 50% increase in young adults aged 18 to 25 regularly drinking cask ales in pubs. We want that renewed interest to grow, and we heard a number of examples of how we might do that, including the Hemel Old Town Beer festival mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (David Taylor), or the local festival that the shadow Minister mentioned—I wish him luck in judging the competition. Pubs and hospitality venues are essential social infrastructure. They combat loneliness, bring generations together and provide places to bring people together in our communities.

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35. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephanie Peacock

    Cask Ale: Intangible Cultural Heritage

    I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that important point. As he illustrates, and from the visit that the Prime Minister made when he was the Mayor of Manchester, I am sure that he will be very supportive. I do not want to speak for him, but I will reflect it to his Parliamentary Private Secretary.<span id="71WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="71WH"></span> I see the importance of pubs in my area and my constituency of Barnsley South. I take this opportunity to thank and pay tribute to Dan at the Cross Keys pub in Darfield, who has made the pub a brilliant community hub. As he moves on, I wish him and the team the very best. It is just one of the brilliant pubs that Barnsley has to offer. I attended the British Beer and Pub Association dinner and awards evening earlier this month and had the privilege of meeting John Longden, the chief executive officer of Pub is The Hub. I join Members from across the House in paying tribute to him and the work that he has done. As many Members will know, Pub is The Hub is a not-for-profit that helps rural and remote pubs to diversify their businesses and to provide essential local community services. The evening saw brewers, pub operators, suppliers and patrons celebrate the industry, with awards presented to extraordinary community champions. To support pubs and venues directly, the Government have launched a £10 million hospitality grant. Over £3 million of that funding has been awarded to Pub is The Hub to support its work. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced a £210 million funding package for our high streets, including £125 million for derelict buildings and £65 million for community ownership. The Government have previously supported pubs through alcohol duty reforms, including introducing and expanding draught relief for products below 8.5% alcohol by volume and cutting duty on qualifying draught drinks in February 2025.

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36. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Stephanie Peacock

    Cask Ale: Intangible Cultural Heritage

    The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. As the Tourism Minister, I absolutely echo and agree with the point that he is making. I was about to say that pubs were included in the recent announcement on additional business rate support, which is 15% in 2026-27 and will be 20% from April. That will save the average pub £1,100 a year. Members would not expect me to anticipate the Budget tomorrow, and we look forward to hearing the Chancellor in the Chamber tomorrow afternoon. The sector relies on skilled people. We see industry taking the lead with the launch of the British Beer and Pub Association Academy, opening its doors to degree apprentices to build the next generation of pub leaders and brewing managers. The Government want to back <span id="72WH" class="column-number" data-column-number="72WH"></span>them, and this Government are transforming the apprenticeship levy into a new growth and skills levy in England. We are fully funding apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 and offering a £2,000 hiring payment to non-levy-paying small businesses that recruit young apprentices. Backed by £1 billion, that investment will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships by March 2029, helping to train the next generation of brewers, coopers and cellar staff. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns) for highlighting the rich brewing history of Carlisle, from the historic state management scheme to its independent brewers. She and a number of other Members asked whether the Government have considered extending a guest beer arrangement model to England, akin to the guest beer provision in the Scottish pub code. Ministers are giving it their consideration and DEFRA colleagues regularly discuss market access and competition with industry representatives. We will continue to listen to brewers and publicans on how best to sustain consumer choice, but given the interest in those policy areas, I will make sure I speak to the relevant Ministers following this debate. I end by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter and all Members from across the House for bringing this debate to the House. I look forward to working with colleagues across the House to safeguard the brewing future.

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37. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Sean Woodcock

    Council Housing

    Will my hon. Friend give way?

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38. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Sean Woodcock

    Council Housing

    Will my hon. Friend give way?

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39. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Sarah Edwards

    Draft Renewables Obligation and Electricity Capacity (Amendment) (British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme Excluded Electricity) Regulations 2026

    I also lend my support to these regulations and the British industrial competitiveness scheme. As the Minister knows, I have <span id="6" class="column-number" data-column-number="6"></span>long campaigned on business energy costs, about which we have talked at length, so I am really pleased to support this initiative. One of the businesses in my constituency, Alcon, is an advanced automotive manufacturer that will be applying to the scheme, which it is pleased to welcome. I am a member of the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, which similarly welcomes this initiative and particularly the payment to include 2026, as the Minister said. I ask the Minister to speak to his good friend, the Chancellor, about further initiatives to help those businesses that do not currently qualify for the scheme. If we want growth in every postcode, we have to make sure that, as much as possible, we deal with the energy costs that we know are stifling all businesses, not just those in advanced manufacturing and other eligible sectors. I lend my support, but I ask the Minister to join me in petitioning to make sure that we support all businesses across the country, not just in Tamworth.

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40. 27 Oct 2026·Parliament·Labour·Sarah Champion

    Afghanistan: Support for Women and Girls

    It is not just Afghanistan where we see a rollback in the protection of women and girls. Last week, I was in Sierra Leone, working with parliamentarians there to try to prevent sexual-based violence. As part of that trip, we went to the maternal health unit in Freetown, where the UK has been supporting the health industry for the last 20 years. We cut all of our funding to that last year, which means there is now no money for procurement or for any healthcare in that country. What are we going to do for countries where we have cut all our funding to help them transition in a meaningful way, rather than presenting them, basically, with a death sentence?

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