Written questions by McMurdock.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, what foreign policy objectives that partnership will achieve.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

What steps he is taking to ensure consistency in urgent care provision.

The Model Emergency Department guidance, published in February 2026, sets out a consistent national framework describing the core principles and pathways of high-performing emergency departments. This is supported by guidance on extended emergency medicine ambulatory care services and the Model Acute Pathway, which sets out standards for the first 72 hours in hospital.The Department expects the guidance to support improved patient outcomes by enabling better patient flow, reducing waiting times and overcrowding, and supporting earlier senior decision-making, which are all associated with safer and more timely care.The guidance provides a shared national model to support greater consistency in urgent and emergency care provision, including clearer clinical pathways and more consistent approaches to ambulatory and acute care, while allowing flexibility for local health systems to tailor delivery to local need.NHS England is supporting implementation through national guidance, including companion operating principles, and by asking providers to develop improvement plans aligned to the Model Emergency Department, including demand and capacity modelling. Support is also targeted towards the most challenged organisations through oversight arrangements, improvement teams, and established improvement programmes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that partnership on the economy.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, whether she has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on the risk that the benefits of that programme may not be realised following completion.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of implementing the Model Emergency Department guidance on patient outcomes.

The Model Emergency Department guidance, published in February 2026, sets out a consistent national framework describing the core principles and pathways of high-performing emergency departments. This is supported by guidance on extended emergency medicine ambulatory care services and the Model Acute Pathway, which sets out standards for the first 72 hours in hospital.The Department expects the guidance to support improved patient outcomes by enabling better patient flow, reducing waiting times and overcrowding, and supporting earlier senior decision-making, which are all associated with safer and more timely care.The guidance provides a shared national model to support greater consistency in urgent and emergency care provision, including clearer clinical pathways and more consistent approaches to ambulatory and acute care, while allowing flexibility for local health systems to tailor delivery to local need.NHS England is supporting implementation through national guidance, including companion operating principles, and by asking providers to develop improvement plans aligned to the Model Emergency Department, including demand and capacity modelling. Support is also targeted towards the most challenged organisations through oversight arrangements, improvement teams, and established improvement programmes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the value for money of that partnership.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, what mechanisms are in place to monitor and audit the use of funds provided under that partnership.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, what the cost to the public purse is of that partnership.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether follow-up meetings have been scheduled between Ministers and social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what steps she is taking to encourage other donor countries to increase contributions to the Sudan humanitarian response.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, what discussions Ministers have had with small and medium-sized manufacturers on their access to and awareness of the scheme.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether a record was kept of the discussions between the Prime Minister and social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether representatives of regulators, including Ofcom, were present at the Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, how many businesses in (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock and (c) Essex are expected to benefit from this policy.

The Government cannot provide exact figures for eligible businesses by specific location. Businesses can refer to the Government’s response to the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme consultation on eligibility, published on 16 April, which includes an annex setting out the eligible Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and Harmonised System (HS) codes. The Department for Business and Trade will also publish an online eligibility checker later this year to enable businesses to self‑assess whether they are likely to be eligible for the scheme.

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, what discussions Ministers have had with manufacturers not eligible for the scheme regarding their exclusion.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, what commitments were made by social media companies during discussions with the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether any formal agreements or undertakings were reached between the Government and social media companies following the Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what safeguards are in place to ensure accountability and transparency in funding provided to local organisations.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, whether he held discussions with manufacturing sector representatives about cuts to electricity bills prior to the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether deadlines were set by the Prime Minister for social media companies to implement additional online safety measures.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.