Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Wednesday 4 February 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Matt Turmaine asked about benefits for Watford residents and reassurance for non-digital natives regarding access to public services.
  • Julia Lopez inquired about the impact of tax bills on free drugs for charities and life sciences firms.
  • James Asser questioned the importance of industry-level offers of resources and training for STEM sectors.
  • Sin Berry requested a UK digital sovereignty strategy to enhance resilience and security in digital technology.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Matt Turmaine Lab Watford
NHS Social Care
Context

This question follows up on Labour's strides in deploying digital technologies for public service accessibility. The MP seeks specific benefits for his constituents and assurances for those not digitally literate.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend please outline how this will benefit the residents of my constituency of Watford, while also offering some reassurance to those who are not digital natives that they will still be able to access the public services they need?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

My hon. Friend has always been a powerful champion for the good people of Watford. This Government are determined to make sure that national and local public services are more easily accessible online, through things such as the NHS app, and that people can get driving licences and information about benefits online. However, we are really concerned about those without digital skills. That is why we launched the first digital inclusion plan in a decade, including free digital skills training, which my hon. Friend’s constituents can take advantage of.

Answered
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Q2 Julia Lopez Con Hornchurch and Upminster
NHS Taxation
Context

This question addresses a concern raised by charities about tax bills being issued for free drugs, impacting patient care and clinical trial availability.

Question

Charities and life sciences firms are telling me that this Government have begun to issue tax bills on free drugs, such that one company is stopping a compassionate access scheme and withdrawing two critical cancer drugs, and more could follow suit. This is a disaster for patients, a disaster for securing clinical trials, and a disaster for this Government’s cancer strategy. Will the Secretary of State and the Chancellor commit to stopping those bills as a matter of urgency, for the sake of patients and of our vital life sciences industry?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

This Government are transforming life sciences through the biggest ever investment in research and development, and a 10-year NHS plan that will radically reduce the time for drugs to get to clinical trial. We are also ensuring that our pharmaceuticals sector has a proper deal, including with the NHS. That is how we get better services for patients, and I am proud of this Government’s record.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to stop issuing tax bills on free drugs was not addressed.

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Q3 James Asser Lab West Ham and Beckton
Education Science & Technology
Context

The London Design and Engineering university technical college has received an outstanding Ofsted report, highlighting its contribution to preparing students for employment.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that an industry-level offer of resources and training at that stage in education is vital if we are to have thriving science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

Yes, I do. That is why this Government are expanding high-quality apprenticeships and technical pathways, such as the ones on offer in my hon. Friend’s constituency. We are investing £725 million to deliver more apprenticeships for young people and rolling out new apprenticeship units in priority areas such as engineering, alongside a £150 million partnership with mayors to connect young people to local opportunities. We are giving young people the skills, hope and opportunities they need to build a better life. That is what this Labour Government are all about.

Answered
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Q4 Siân Berry Green Brighton Pavilion
Foreign Affairs Science & Technology
Context

Concerns raised about UK's reliance on US tech giants and the need for a resilience-focused digital strategy.

Question

Despite all that President Trump is doing to wreck global stability, our Government still spend billions a year on digital technology contracts, including with US tech giants. Will the Secretary of State immediately put together a UK digital sovereignty strategy to build our resilience and security, as France and Germany are doing?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

We are already investing £500 million in our sovereign AI unit to back our brilliant AI entrepreneurs and start-ups, because we believe more competition in this area is good for Britain and good for the world.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to develop a UK digital sovereignty strategy was not made explicitly.

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