theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help ensure (a) legal and (b) ethical business practices are followed when firms undertake redundancies. \p Kate Dearden: The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay committed to strengthening collective redundancy protections. The Employment Rights Bill will double the maximum period of the protective award that can be made for an employer’s failure to comply with their collective redundancy consultation obligations, from 90 to 180 days’ pay. This will deter unscrupulous businesses from deliberately avoiding their obligations. We are also requiring employers to collectively consult affected employees’ representatives whenever a threshold number of redundancies are proposed across an entire organisation, rather than just at one establishment. This threshold number will be set following a public consultation.
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Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of registered company directors had verified their identity on Companies House by 10 October 2025; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all directors have verified their identity by the time they file their next annual statement. \p Blair McDougall: Over 700,000 individuals have successfully completed step 1 of the IDV process, thereby creating a verified identity. From 18 November, it will be possible to link this information with specific appointments, dependant on the due date of each company’s confirmation statement.

Companies House has undertaken extensive communications to support compliance with the new requirements, including sending over 15 million emails since April 2025 to all active companies at their registered email address. Around 10 million emails have focused specifically on identity verification.

Other communications activity includes a campaign site, paid for advertising, social media and working with various partners.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support (a) high streets and (b) town centres in South Shropshire constituency. \p Blair McDougall: This Department is committed to support constituencies like South Shropshire grow their high streets and town centres. Our Plan for Small Businesses sets out how government will work across departments to tackle high street decline.

This year 500 towns including Ludlow and Bridgenorth developed local plans, as part of the Safer Streets Summer, to develop bespoke local action plans with police, businesses and local councils to crackdown on crime on the high street.

SMEs on the high street will also benefit from the new tools to unlock access to finance, action to address late payments and regulatory costs, improve digital adoption and create easier pathways to business support through the Business Growth Service.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support her Department is providing to small independent funeral directors in response to market pressures from large direct cremation providers. \p Blair McDougall: The government provides comprehensive support for small businesses across all industries, including the UK funeral sector. Resources such as the Business Growth Service, via business.gov.uk, and local Growth Hubs can support small independent funeral directors as they face market pressures from large direct cremation providers.

In addition, the recently announced Small Business Plan sets out this Government’s approach for economic transformation alongside the Modern Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy. The Plan includes proposals to tackle the scourge of late payments, modernise the tax system, improving access to finance, revitalise high streets and equip small businesses with digital skills.
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure compliance with statutory maximum payment terms for suppliers. \p Blair McDougall: This Government is committed to tackling late payments and supporting small businesses and the self-employed.

We launched a consultation in July alongside the Plan for Small Business which closes on the 23rd of October which sets out measures we intend to bring forward in a package of primary legislation. This includes proposals for stricter maximum payment terms and providing the Small Business Commissioner with stronger powers. This will be the most significant legislation to tackle late payments in over 25 years and will give the UK the strongest legal framework on late payments in the G7.
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Mr James Frith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Independent Expert Panel on Corporate Re-domiciliation report, published on 14 October 2024, whether he plans to consult on the proposed UK corporate re-domiciliation regime. \p Blair McDougall: In a written statement on 14 October 2024, the Department welcomed the Independent Expert Panel’s report and committed to consulting on the design of a proposed corporate re-domiciliation regime for the UK, in due course, as part of wider company law reform.
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to provide the Small Business Commissioner with additional powers to help tackle persistent late payment by large firms. \p Blair McDougall: This Government is committed to tackling late payments and supporting small businesses and the self-employed.

We launched a consultation in July alongside the Plan for Small Business which closes on the 23rd of October which sets out measures we intend to bring forward in a package of primary legislation. As part the package, the Small Business Commissioner will be given stronger powers to ensure that they are able to tackle the poor payment practices head on. The consultation includes additional measures such as setting maximum payment terms and fining businesses that persistently pay their suppliers late.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) prevalence of phoenixing and (b) potential impact of phoenixing on small businesses. \p Blair McDougall: The Insolvency Service is committed to working closely with HMRC and Companies House to tackle the harm caused by companies who use ‘Phoenixing’ as a means of avoiding liabilities. There is a range of ongoing activity set out in the recent Treasury Minutes – CP 1306 including a desire to develop a detailed cross-government threat assessment.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) additional regulatory and (b) enforcement measures to prevent directors of insolvent companies from engaging in phoenixing. \p Blair McDougall: The Government is keenly aware of concerns around “phoenixing”, and officials at The Insolvency Service are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the civil enforcement regime to evaluate how best to tackle and prevent wrongdoing by directors of insolvent or dissolved companies. Measures were also announced at both the Autumn Budget 2024 and the Spring Statement 2025 committing HMRC, the Insolvency Service and Companies House to increase collaboration to tackle those using contrived corporate insolvencies and dissolutions (often referred to as ‘phoenixism).
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Post Office branch in Flitwick. \p Blair McDougall: The Government does not intervene in decisions regarding the location of Post Office branches, as this remains an operational matter for Post Office Limited. However, the Government-set Access Criteria ensure that, regardless of changes to the network, postal services remain within local reach for all citizens. These criteria require that 99% of the UK population must be within three miles of their nearest Post Office outlet, and 90% must be within one mile. The post office network continues to meet and exceed Government-set Access Criteria at a national level.
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Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that magistrates receive training on (a) coercive control and (b) the longer-term impacts of domestic abuse; and whether any similar training is planned for the future. \p Sarah Sackman: To preserve judicial independence, under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lady Chief Justice has the statutory responsibility for the training of the courts judiciary in England and Wales, fulfilled by the Judicial College.

Domestic abuse is a significant element of initial and ongoing training for magistrates and legal advisers. All magistrates complete induction training on appointment and when authorised in new jurisdictions, before they undertake sittings. Regular continuation training in relation to domestic abuse, in all its forms, is provided thereafter. Magistrates sitting in the family and criminal jurisdictions receive mandatory domestic abuse training. The training is trauma-informed and reflects the wide nature of domestic abuse including coercive and controlling behaviour.

The College regularly reviews its training to ensure it remains high quality and up to date, and reflects contemporary law, practice and procedure.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with Immigration and Asylum Tribunal Judges on the introduction of independent adjudicators to hear asylum appeals. \p Sarah Sackman: It is standard practice not to comment on the specifics of discussions between ministers and the judiciary.

As would be expected, the Lord Chancellor has regular meetings with the Lady Chief Justice and other senior judges.

In line with constitutional conventions, discussions with the judiciary do not cover the merits of policy proposals and are limited to technical matters relating to the operation of the courts and the wider administration of justice.
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Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the provisions in the Employment Rights Bill on backlogs in the employment tribunals. \p Sarah Sackman: The Employment Rights Bill is part of the Government’s commitment to Make Work Pay. The Bill includes measures that strengthens the rights of workers, which we expect will increase demand in the Employment Tribunal.

To address rising demand in the Employment Tribunal, we are working to invest in tribunal productivity measures through the recruitment of additional judges, the deployment of legal officers, the development of modern case management systems and the use of remote hearing technology. This has delivered over 1,500 additional sitting days. The Lord Chancellor allocated 33,900 sitting days for the Employment Tribunals in the financial year 2025/26, the maximum allocation they are able to sit.

We do recognise that there are significant demand pressures on the Employment Tribunals and are therefore working with the judiciary, HMCTS and the Department for Business and Trade on any further actions needed to alleviate pressures on the Employment Tribunals, improve efficiency and reduce waiting times to ensure the Employment Tribunal is able to absorb the impact of the Employment Rights Bill whilst ensuring timely access to justice for claimants and respondents.
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Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many outstanding cases there have been in the Employment (a) Tribunal and (b) Appeal Tribunal in each of the last five years. \p Sarah Sackman: Data on open caseload for the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeals Tribunal is published in Tribunals Statistics Quarterly and data to March 2025 can be found in table S_4 of the main tables here: Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

Figures for ET single claims, ET multiple claims and EAT claims are in columns H, J and K respectively.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the estimated average cost of a prisoner's breakfast is according to the latest available data. \p Jake Richards: Data about expenditure on food and specific meals is not held centrally. Prison food budgets are determined locally (by the Governor in public sector prisons or the Director in privately managed prisons). They are kept under review as part of normal non-pay budget allocation. Our policy sets out clear expectations to provide for three balanced nutritious meals a day, including breakfast and catering managers are provided guidance to support this.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether bereaved families of victims of murder would be protected under the restriction zone requirement in the Sentencing Bill. \p Jake Richards: It is crucial that we have a justice system that punishes offenders and supports victims. That is why increasing restriction on serious sexual and violent offenders is part of our Plan for Change to cut crime and make streets safer.

Through the Sentencing Bill, we are introducing a new power which will allow restriction zones on offenders to be imposed on offenders on licence, where appropriate. These will restrict certain offenders to specific areas – so their victims know they are safe wherever else they want to go. Licence conditions for offenders convicted of murder are determined by the independent Parole Board.

We are working to finalise the operation of, and eligibility for, these zones, subject to the passage of the Sentencing Bill.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions in Part Two of the Sentencing Bill on victims of domestic abuse. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Sentencing Bill includes a range of measures that will strengthen protections for victims of domestic abuse and ensure the justice system responds robustly to offending. These measures will help to ensure that prisons never run out of space again and dangerous offenders can be kept off the streets.

We are introducing a new judicial finding of domestic abuse at sentencing, which will help ensure domestic abuse offenders are better identified and monitored throughout the system. This will support stronger protections for victims, whether the perpetrator is in custody or in the community.

The Bill also retains a different release point for the most serious violent and sexual offenders and gives judges full discretion to impose immediate custody in cases involving significant risk of harm to an individual – including to protect victims of domestic abuse. In addition, we are imposing tough restriction zones for serious sexual and violent offenders, which limit the movement of perpetrators rather than victims.

These reforms are part of our wider commitment to a justice system that punishes offenders, protects the public, and supports victims – including those affected by domestic abuse.
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Section 133 (1ZA) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 on people wrongly convicted of crimes. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act provides for the Secretary of State to pay compensation to an individual who has suffered a miscarriage of justice, subject to meeting the statutory test. This is administrated by the Miscarriages of Justice Application Service (MOJAS). Annual data is published on MOJAS setting out number of applications and who is eligible for compensation.

The Law Commission is currently undertaking a review of the criminal appeals process, including the test for compensation payable for miscarriages of justice under section 133, and we look forward to their report in 2026.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Credit taper in incentivising part-time work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help improve the availability of (a) free and (b) independent benefits-related advice services in Nottingham. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to make further savings after the implementation of the Universal Credit Act in April 2026. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the forthcoming changes to Universal Credit Health element for new applicants from 2026 on costs to local government. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of users of the Your Apprenticeship app in each month since 12 February 2025. \p Andrew Western: The Your Apprenticeship App has been developed with input from apprentices to ensure it meets their needs. The app allows apprentices to track their progress throughout their apprenticeship journey and to record evidence of their knowledge, skills and experience required to demonstrate occupational competency. As of 14 October, there have been almost 60,000 downloads and over 285,000 page views by users of the app.

The first phase of development is the minimum viable service, and this is being rolled out through a gradual onboarding of users as government continues to develop, test and enhance the functionality available.

In early testing the government identified a subset of users on the Android platform who could not access some features of the app. A solution was quickly implemented with users confirming it to be resolved.

Users are encouraged to contact the apprenticeship support team if they experience difficulties or have queries about the Your Apprenticeship app.
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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of the creation of a national advice workforce development fund. \p Andrew Western: Skills England will identify and address skills gaps across all sectors. It works with employers, training providers, and local authorities to ensure the skills system reflects real-world workforce needs, both nationally and locally.

Through 16-19 funding, the Adult Skills Fund and apprenticeships, the department provides funding for education, training and qualifications across a range of sectors. This will support people on pathways that will be relevant to roles in the advice sector.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support the growth of apprenticeships in Eastleigh constituency. \p Andrew Western: This government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners across the country, including in Eastleigh, and support the Industrial Strategy.

In August, the department introduced new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors, as well as shorter duration apprenticeships. These flexibilities will help more people learn new high quality skills at work and fuel innovation in businesses across the country.

To support the growth of apprenticeships, the government provides £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19 to 24-year-old apprentices who have an education, health and care plan or have been, or are, in care. We will also pay employers up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25, when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the document entitled Backing your business, published on 31 July 2025, what steps her Department plans to take to tackle sector-specific labour shortages identified by industry groups through its policies on future-proofing skills, outlined in Chapter 5 of that document. \p Andrew Western: Skills England aims to understand the nation’s future skills needs and drive growth by mobilising employers and partners to co-create solutions that address national and regional skills priorities. Skills England’s second report, ‘Skills for Growth and Opportunity’, outlines key sector-specific skills needs.

The department is aligning our skills system with priority sectors to tackle labour shortages. This includes funding uplifts for priority 16-19 courses, establishing new Technical Excellence Colleges and introducing short courses funded through the Growth and Skills Levy.

Recognising that not all parts of the skills system work as well for smaller businesses, we have introduced flexible apprenticeship models including flexi-job apprenticeship agencies to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in sectors with short-term, project-based work, such as construction.

Within the construction package announced this year, the Construction Industry Training Board is doubling its new entrant support team programme to help SMEs overcome administrative barriers and better recruit, engage and retain apprentices.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding was allocated to English for Speakers of Other Languages provision in 2024-25; what is the budget for 2025-26; and what proportion in each case was allocated as grants to local authorities. \p Andrew Western: Funding for adults to develop the English language skills they need is made available across government – from the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education.

The department supports adults aged 19+ in England who speak English as a second or additional language to access English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), subject to eligibility requirements. ESOL funding is not ringfenced.

Currently 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These are responsible for deciding how to make best use of their ASF to meet their local needs, including ESOL.

The department continues to be responsible for the remaining ASF non-devolved areas although colleges, local authorities and other training providers in non-devolved areas have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their ASF allocation to meet local skills needs, including ESOL provision.

The department supports 16 to 19-year-olds through funding that is allocated to schools and colleges and enables students to take part in either study programmes or T Levels, which includes funding specifically for English courses where appropriate.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department plans to collect to assess the effectiveness of its targeted support to help SMEs offer apprenticeships. \p Andrew Western: Small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are important to the economy and to apprenticeships. They provide valuable opportunities for younger apprentices and apprentices from disadvantaged areas.

The department collects and publishes data on apprenticeship starts in SMEs. Around 40% of apprenticeship starts are in SMEs and they account for more than 100,000 apprenticeship starts each year.

The government pays full training costs for young apprentices aged 16-21, and for apprentices aged 22-24 who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan or have been, or are, in local authority care, when they undertake apprenticeships with non-levy paying employers.

For all other apprentices, employers that don’t pay the levy are required to co-invest 5% towards apprentice training costs.

The government also pays £1,000 to both employers and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHC plan or have been, or are, in local authority care.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 29583 on Apprentices: Artificial Intelligence, whether she will plans to evaluate the outcome of adult AI literacy and reskilling programmes by (a) occupation and (b) region. \p Andrew Western: We fund post-16 education, training and qualifications through 16-19 funding, the Adult Skills Fund and apprenticeships. This can support people at all stages of their lives to train and reskill in a range of sectors – including in response to changes in technology such as AI.

Skills England will provide the single authoritative voice on the country’s current and future skills needs, and co-design new approaches with industry and regional partners

to improve the skills of our workforce, collaborating with a wide range of interested

parties across the skills system.

We are investing £187 million to bring digital and AI learning into classrooms and support over 4,000 graduates, researchers, and innovators in areas like AI, cyber security and computer science. We will also train 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030 through our new industry partnership with major tech players. Skills England is working with DSIT to mobilise the government-industry partnership that will deliver on this commitment.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to disability payments on the number of claimants in poverty. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department published an updated assessment of the poverty impacts of the benefit changes announced at Spring Statement with revisions to reflect the proposed changes since tabled. This estimates that there will be 50,000 fewer individuals in relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/30 as a result of the changes. This includes a reduction in poverty for both children and working age individuals.

The assessment is available at Spring statement social security changes – updated impact on poverty levels in Great Britain, July 2025 - GOV.UK.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care entitled Inquiry into the financial impact of a terminal diagnosis, published on 9 September 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department supports people nearing the end of life through the Special Rules for End of Life. These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods, and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. The recent UC bill ensures that all Special Rules for End of Life claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.

The Department values the insights and perspectives provided by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care and has noted the many recommendations made in the report.
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Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has issued to work coaches on (a) tailoring (i) work and (ii) work search requirements for a (A) single parent and (B) lead carer down from a maximum of 30 hours a week to reflect their circumstances and (b) temporarily removing the requirement to (1) work and (2) search for work because of (a) bereavement, (b) fleeing domestic abuse and (c) other circumstances; and if he will publish that guidance. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Work coaches have access to up-to-date guidance which includes information on tailoring work and work search categories for single parents and lead carers in a way that takes account of their circumstances. In certain circumstances the requirement to undertake work and work search activities can be eased, these include bereavement, fleeing domestic abuse and other circumstances as listed in the guidance below.

Universal Credit guidance is deposited in the House of Commons Library twice yearly. https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2287171/files
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety Executive plans to update its Standard Occupational Classification asbestos mortality statistics to include (a) deaths over 75 and (b) non-occupational exposures. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Health and Safety Executive does not currently plan to change the basis for its mesothelioma and asbestosis mortality statistics by last occupation of the deceased. These statistics use routinely collected data from the Office for National Statistics (for deaths in England and Wales) and National Records of Scotland (for deaths in Scotland) which currently only includes coded information on last occupation up to age 74 for deaths in England and Wales. The accuracy of occupational information is known to decline at older ages.

The purpose of these statistics is to examine the relative frequency of recording of different occupations across this standard age range as evidence about the occupations most likely to be substantial sources of past asbestos exposure. These kinds of analyses cannot directly address the question of non-occupational exposure or provide a definitive assessment of past sources of occupational risk. They do however, together with other research evidence, help to identify the kinds of work associated with the highest risks historically.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

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Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will hold discussions with Centrepoint on taking steps to help tackle youth homelessness. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Ending all forms of homelessness is a priority for this Government, and we are committed to tackling youth homelessness. My department plays a key role and works closely with homelessness stakeholders including Centrepoint, who provide invaluable support to young people.

I have met Centrepoint previously and would welcome the opportunity for further discussions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_55

Antonia Bance:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many supported housing residents have (a) reduced their working hours and (b) left employment due to the interaction of Housing Benefit and Universal Credit rules in the last five years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not held.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_56

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential savings to the public purse of enabling young people in supported accommodation to increase their working hours without losing access to affordable housing. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for young people living in supported and temporary accommodation, including the different income tapers used by each benefit.

Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, residents in Supported or Temporary Accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rules would apply to all these groups.

We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while considering the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions on DWP housing support will be taken in the round and measures which best meet Government goals, within the current fiscal environment, will be prioritised.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_57

Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children in households impacted by No Recourse to Public Funds living in poverty. \p Dame Diana Johnson: No such estimate has been made.

In developing a Child Poverty Strategy, the Taskforce is considering all children across the United Kingdom.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_58

Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent guidance his Department has issued to (a) Jobcentre Plus and the (b) National Careers Service on advising graduates entering occupations with high task exposure to AI. \p Dame Diana Johnson: There are no departmental operational instructions or guidance which refer to graduates entering occupations with high task exposure to AI.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_59

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding she has allocated to tackle the asylum case backlog. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office does not have a separately identifiable budget for tackling the asylum case backlog. All costs involved are scored against Home Office business-as-usual budgets that cover all asylum cases regardless of age.

You may find Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK useful, more specifically, the latest 2025 report and the accompanying core data table.

You can also see Migration transparency data - GOV.UK, table ASY_04 of Immigration and Protection data which contains information on the cost of asylum.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_60

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with the police on taking steps to help ensure that people who incited (a) hatred and (b) violence during the Unite The Kingdom march in London on 13 September 2025 are held to account; and whether she plans to exclude from the UK people who incited (i) hatred and (ii) violence who are not (A) British citizens and (B) resident in the UK. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Secretary and Minsters have regular discussions with policing partners on a range of issues.   Decisions on how to police individual protests are for Chief Constables, who are operationally independent and best placed to assess local threat and risk.

The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our society; however, this does not extend to violent behaviour and attacks on police officers.

Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond. During the Unite the Kingdom protest, the Metropolitan Police Service arrested 24 people - for a variety of offences including for violent disorder, affray, assaults, and criminal damage - and are seeking to identify others.

It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.

A person who is not a British citizen may be excluded from the UK on the grounds that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good. Exclusion is normally reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour such as inciting violence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_61

Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to strengthen trauma-informed training for police officers responding to domestic abuse cases. \p Sarah Jones: In our manifesto, we committed to strengthening training on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) for policing to ensure that all officers have the right skills to investigate all VAWG offences, included domestic abuse, and provide consistent support for victims.

The Home Office has already invested £13.1 million this year into the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP). This funding includes an uplift of nearly £2 million to deliver a robust package of training improvements.

Launched in April 2025, the NCVPP provides coordinated leadership within policing to drive up operational standards and skills across all 43 forces in their response to VAWG crimes.

Through the NCVPP, we are working closely with the College of Policing to develop strengthened, specialist training for officers across all operational levels - frontline, specialist, and leadership.

Grounded in academic research and behaviour change science, new training programmes will prioritise trauma-informed learning to ensure that all officers are well equipped to manage VAWG offenders and provide support to victims.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_62

Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many businesses were (a) fined and (b) prosecuted for employing illegal immigrants each year since 2015. \p Alex Norris: In 2015, 2206 civil penalties were issued for illegal working. Information on illegal working civil penalty statistics has been published since 2016 as part of the Home Office Immigration Transparency Data and can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a3015732d2c63f8693437d/immigration-enforcement-data-apr-jun-2025.ods on tab CP02.

The data reflects the total number of penalties issued, rather than the number of businesses affected, as fines have been imposed on both sole traders and limited companies.

The below table provides the number of convictions for employing illegal workers since 2015. Prosecution is targeted at the most persistent offenders.

Year

Individuals convicted for employing illegal workers

2015

4

2016

8

2017

4

2024

1

Total

17
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_63

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the appointment of Immigration Adjudicators on the asylum backlog. \p Alex Norris: The Home Secretary confirmed in a statement to the House of Commons on 1 September that further information regarding Tribunal system reforms will be provided in due course. The statement can be accessed here: Borders and Asylum - Hansard - UK Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_64

Ms Stella Creasy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Economic note: Appendix Family Reunion, suspension of new applications, published on 4 September 2025, if she will publish the equalities impact assessment for that note. \p Mike Tapp: Impacts on vulnerable individuals and equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, we consider equality impacts throughout the policy development process, refugee family reunion is no exception. The Home Office will not be releasing the Equality Impact Assessment as the policy is still in development as part of wider reform.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_65

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse was for the Independent Office for Police Conduct produce the Updated summary published for 2017 IOPC investigation linked to child sexual abuse in Rotherham. \p Jess Phillips: On 19 September 2025, following requests from complainants and other interested persons for further detail, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) published a further summary of the Operation Amazon investigation, which formed part of the series of investigations under Operation Linden.

The IOPC does not routinely publish the costs of individual investigations and reports. The Home Office holds no additional information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_66

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on how much it cost for the Independent Office for Police Conduct to carry out the Operation Amazon investigation linked to child sexual abuse in Rotherham. \p Jess Phillips: I refer the Hon Member to letter sent to her from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding the costs for Operation Linden. A copy of the letter was placed in the House Library. As noted in that letter, “the total operations cost of the 91 investigations [which comprised Operation Linden], calculated until end March 2021 was estimated at just over £6 Million”. The Home Office holds no additional information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-15 conversation_67

Dan Carden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to review the framework for complaints handling by departments. \p Anna Turley: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) - which is independent of Government - launched a new set of cross-Government complaint standards in October 2022, with the aim of making complaint processes quicker, easier and to help organisations learn from complaints.

The Cabinet Office supports the PHSO in disseminating its standards across Government.