theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_89

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the level of misogynist attitudes amongst young people at (a) primary and (b) secondary level. \p Georgia Gould: Through compulsory relationships education, all pupils should learn how to form positive and respectful relationships and develop an understanding of the concepts and laws around misogyny, sexual harassment and sexual violence.

The relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance has been reviewed and updated, with the final guidance published on 15 July. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

The guidance is clear that schools should provide pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to recognise sexism and misogyny and report abuse, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, as well as to build empathy and promote respect for all. Positive action should be taken to build a culture where misogynistic attitudes and behaviour are not tolerated, and any occurrences are identified and tackled.

To help support the sector implement changes following the publication of the revised RSHE guidance, we are piloting a teacher training grant, starting in early 2026.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_90

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of male drop-out rates in higher education for the most recent year for which figures are available. \p Josh MacAlister: The department does not publish statistics on drop-out rates.

Figures on continuation rates, which are the proportion of entrants continuing in their studies one year after entry, are published by the Office for Students. The latest year of data for UK domiciled male entrants studying a full-time first degree, covering those who entered in the 2021/22 academic year, shows that the continuation rate was 84.9%, compared with 89.0% for females.

The requested data on continuation rates is available in more detail here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/student-characteristics-data/outcomes-data-dashboard/. This data has been available since 3 September 2024.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_91

Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the provision of school transportation for children with Special Educational Needs. \p Georgia Gould: The department’s home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home-to-school travel for eligible children. This includes children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of their special educational needs (SEN), disability or mobility problem.

We know that challenges in the wider SEN system are creating pressure on home-to-school travel. We have committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools so fewer children need to travel long distances to a school that can meet their needs. The spending review announcement on 11 June confirmed significant new funding to support special educational needs and disabilities reform and the government is bringing forward a white paper with plans to improve the SEND system. This will reduce the pressure on home-to-school travel over time leaving it better able to meet the needs of those that continue to need it.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_92
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_92

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to help young people (a) develop skills and (b) access opportunities in South East Cornwall constituency. \p Josh MacAlister: As announced in the spending review, the department is making over £1.2 billion of additional investment per year in skills by 2028/29.

This will support and grow the wide range of technical routes and work-based training available for people of all ages, across the country, including South-East Cornwall. This includes:

There are ​a number of post-16 education and training providers in Cornwall ​delivering further education and skills provision. The largest of these is Cornwall College, ​judged as overall Outstanding in their latest Ofsted inspection, and which has campuses throughout Cornwall.

We have also strengthened legislation to ensure all secondary pupils have multiple opportunities for meaningful encounters with providers of technical education and apprenticeships.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_93

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to encourage students to study video game design degrees. \p Josh MacAlister: The government is committed to supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, including computer games design courses, which are vital to the UK’s research base, innovation capacity and Industrial Strategy.

For the 2025/26 academic year, two-thirds of the £1.3 billion Strategic Priorities Grant recurrent funding to higher education providers is allocated to support the provision of high-cost subjects. From this funding, the Office for Students is allocating £289.50 per full-time equivalent student to providers for computer games design students.

The department continues to invest in the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) to improve the quality of computing teaching and increase uptake of computing qualifications. To raise awareness of further study and careers in computing and digital, the NCCE facilitates industry-led outreach events. In July 2025, over 3,000 students attended an NCCE webinar focused on careers in the games industry and further events are being planned in collaboration with partners including British Esports.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_94

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department holds information on the number of students that undertook undergraduate degrees in Games and Animation in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2023-24 academic years. \p Josh MacAlister: In the 2023/24 academic year, there were 15,450 undergraduate enrolments across all UK higher education (HE) providers in the subject area ‘Computer games and animation’ (common aggregation hierarchy (CAH) subject code 11-01-06).

In the 2013/14 academic year, there were 4,065 undergraduate enrolments across all UK HE providers in the subject areas ‘Games’ (Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) subject code I6) and ‘Computer generated visual & audio effects’ (JACS subject code I7).

In 2019/20, a new subject classification system, the Higher Education Classification of Subjects and the CAH, was introduced to replace the JACS. Subjects in both systems have been chosen to match as closely as possible, but counts of enrolments may not be directly comparable between the two systems.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_95

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve the retention of male students in higher education. \p Josh MacAlister: The Office for Students (OfS), as regulator for higher education (HE), has a statutory duty to have regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the whole of the student lifecycle, not just access, but also continuation and success.

HE providers registered with the OfS that intend to charge higher level tuition fees must have an access and participation plan (APP) approved by the OfS.

APPs articulate key risks to equality of opportunity in HE, how these will be addressed and the student groups that will be supported through them. The OfS advises HE providers to consider intersections of disadvantage, such as those faced by white working-class men, when creating their APPs, based on credible assessment of risk.

Supporting disadvantaged and underrepresented students in HE remains a priority. The government has allocated £265 million this financial year in student premium funding to support successful student outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_96

Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of withdrawing funding from applied general qualifications in 2026 on the number of students. \p Josh MacAlister: This government is fully committed to the future of T Levels. Where a student wishes to study a large qualification and a T Level exists, they should undertake the T Level. Where we identified that qualifications in T Level routes should be retained for longer, we are retaining these until reformed alternatives are available.

For students who do not wish to take A levels or T Levels, there will be other qualifications in the system, including smaller qualifications in T Level areas which can be combined in mixed programmes. Newly reformed qualifications are now available for delivery at levels 2 and 3.

We published an Equalities Impact Assessment alongside the outcome of the Review of Qualifications Reform, which is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-level-3-qualifications-reform-equality-impact-assessment.

The department expects the impact on student numbers to be mitigated by the phased withdrawal of funding, allowing time for reformed alternatives to bed in.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_97

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of the policies set out in the Cabinet Office policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated on 19 May 2025, for the future of the Turing Scheme. \p Josh MacAlister: The government remains committed to providing opportunities to study and work abroad, especially for those students from disadvantaged backgrounds. That is why we have agreed to work towards association to the Erasmus+ programme on much better financial terms for the UK. The Turing Scheme is now in its fifth year, with placements starting this September. Details on the future of the Turing Scheme will be shared in due course.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_98

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support progression routes into higher education for students studying qualifications other than A-Levels; and what assessment she has made of the accessibility of university entry routes for students applying with qualifications other than A-Levels. \p Josh MacAlister: The department is committed to supporting diverse routes into higher education (HE). Students with qualifications other than A levels can progress to university, with many providers accepting these qualifications.

HE providers are autonomous institutions who set their own entry requirements, many with high or additional entry requirements for some courses. While the department cannot intervene in individual cases regarding university admission policies, we remain committed to supporting progression routes.

The department works closely with sector bodies such as UCAS and Universities UK, as well as individual providers, to ensure that admissions processes are inclusive and transparent. We also work with these bodies to ensure that T Levels are understood by universities as a high quality offer.

The department continues to monitor accessibility and outcomes for students entering via vocational routes and are funding initiatives to widen participation and improve support for all learners.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_99
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_99

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent comparative assessment she has made of trends in the identification of special educational needs and disabilities among (a) boys and (b) girls. \p Georgia Gould: Information on the characteristics of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) are recorded in the school census. Data is not available for independent schools or general hospital schools. As of January 2025, 24.1% of male pupils were identified with SEN, compared to 14.2% of female pupils. 16.8% of male pupils were identified as receiving SEN support, compared to 11.1% of female pupils. 7.4% of male pupils had an education, health and care plan compared to 3.1% of female pupils. Whilst the number of both male and female pupils with SEN has grown since January 2016, the rate of growth has been higher among female pupils compared to male pupils.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_100

Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to recruit qualified Maths teachers in the West Midlands. \p Georgia Gould: High quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving children’s outcomes, which is why the department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new expert teachers in our maintained schools and colleges, over the course of this Parliament.

The department’s measures to encourage talented trainees into mathematics teaching include bursaries worth £29,000 tax-free and scholarships worth £31,000 tax-free. Retaining these teachers is also key and for 2024/25 and 2025/26, we are offering retention payments worth up to £6,000 after tax for mathematics teachers working in disadvantaged schools in the first five years of their careers.

This investment is starting to deliver. In the West Midlands specifically, there has been a 20% increase in candidates accepting offers to teach mathematics compared to last year (4 percentage points higher than the total national mathematics increase) and an increase of 340 teachers (headcount) in secondary schools between 2023/24 and 2024/25.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_101

Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission on the potential merits of increasing democratic education in schools. \p Georgia Gould: Teaching about democracy and elections already forms a central part of the national curriculum for citizenship at key stages 3 and 4 and can be taught as a non-statutory topic in primary schools. The government will consider the citizenship curriculum in the context of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and we see potential for lowering the voting age to help boost young people's engagement with the subject. We will also work with the Electoral Commission, the devolved governments and civil society to consider what additional measures can support schools, colleges, and youth groups to roll out practical voter and civic education.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_102

Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average GCSE score was for 16 to 19 year olds in England studying (a) A-levels, (b) Applied General Diplomas, (c) Applied General Extended Diplomas and (d) T-levels in the last year for which data are available. \p Georgia Gould: The average GCSE or equivalent score of students who completed A levels, applied general qualifications and T Levels in the 2023/24 academic year can be found in the attached table.

A breakdown of applied general into diplomas and extended diplomas is not available.

Attainment_qualifications_table (xlsx, 27.5KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_103
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_103

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the result of the trial drone against drone engagement using the APKWS precision-guided rocket conducted by BAE Systems Falconworks unit. \p Luke Pollard: The trial referenced by the hon. Member was conducted by BAE Systems for a multi-rotor Uncrewed Air System (UAS) and the information on the trial can be found on the open internet.

The UK Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing their already strong capabilities. They continuously explore the potential adoption of new equipment, including drones, to ensure they remain at the forefront of operational effectiveness.

This Government launched the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence. We are delivering our commitment to spend 2.6% of GDP on defence, accelerating it to 2027, and we have set the ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament.

A key part of the SDR's vision for UK defence is innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine - harnessing drones, data, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. The SDR recommends that the Royal Air Force should shift towards the greater use of uncrewed systems as an immediate priority.

As part of this transformation, uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Royal Air Force through a broad mix of capabilities to enhance operational effectiveness. This Government is investing an additional £2 billion this Parliament into autonomous systems, including drones, and will establish a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre at initial operating capability by February 2026.

The exact types of uncrewed systems to be procured and the associated investment will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_104
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_104

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the test flight of the General Atomics YFQ-42 drone. \p Luke Pollard: This Government launched the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) which set out the pathway for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence. A key part of the SDR's vision for UK defence is innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine - harnessing drones, data, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer. The SDR recommends that the Royal Air Force should shift towards the greater use of uncrewed systems as an immediate priority.

As part of this transformation, uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Royal Air Force through a broad mix of capabilities to enhance operational effectiveness. This Government is investing an additional £2 billion this Parliament into autonomous systems, including drones, and will establish a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre at initial operating capability by February 2026.

The exact types of uncrewed systems to be procured and the associated investment will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_105
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_105

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Newton Abbot, dated 2 July 2025, on behalf of his constituent L Coombes. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department places significant importance on providing timely responses to correspondence. We sincerely apologise for the delay in this instance and assure the Member that a full response will be provided as soon as possible.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_106
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_106

Iqbal Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to introduce skills retraining and workforce support measures, in the context of the deployment of AI technologies in workplaces. \p Kanishka Narayan: We want to ensure that people have access to good, meaningful work. AI will impact the labour market and Government is working to harness its benefits in terms of boosting growth, productivity, living standards, and worker wellbeing, while mitigating the risks. We’re planning for varied outcomes and monitoring data to track and prepare for these. The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out how we will address key challenges and that includes giving people the skills to get those jobs and spread opportunity to fix the foundations of our economy to seize AI’s potential.

The Government is supporting workforce readiness for AI through a range of initiatives. The new AI Skills Hub, developed by Innovate UK and PwC, provides streamlined access to digital training. This will support government priorities through tackling critical skills gaps and improving workforce readiness. We are also partnering with 11 major companies to train 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_107
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_107

Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to reduce digital exclusion in Beckenham and Penge constituency. \p Ian Murray: We know that digital exclusion is a complex issue, and that a reported 6% of residents in the Outer London - South area do not use the internet. That is why we launched the Digital Inclusion Action Plan which sets out the first five actions we are taking over the next year to boost digital inclusion in every corner of the UK, including in Beckenham and Penge.

They will be targeted at local initiatives for boosting digital skills and confidence, widening access to devices and connectivity, and getting support to people in their own communities so everyone can reap the benefits of technology. One of these actions was to launch the £9.5mn Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support and expand local community initiatives to get people online, which we did in August.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_108
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_108

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help safeguard public sector digital infrastructure against cyberattacks. \p Kanishka Narayan: Government is committed to improving the cyber resilience of public sector digital infrastructure, focusing our efforts around the Government Cyber Security Strategy.

We have already made important steps to better understand and mitigate cyber risk and are now accelerating our response to address key risks and better support departments through a more interventionist approach.

This accelerated response will address the long-standing shortage of cyber skills, strengthen accountability for cyber risks, provide greater support for delivery in the form of cyber services, guidance, and hands-on technical support and bolster our response capabilities to fast-moving cyber incidents.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_109
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_109

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent the removal of lawful content online. \p Kanishka Narayan: Safeguards for freedom of expression have been built into the framework of the Online Safety Act. Ofcom is independent but must act in a way that is compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights, including in relation to freedom of expression. This is particularly important as Ofcom develops codes of practice and make enforcement decisions.

In-scope companies must implement safeguards for freedom of expression when fulfilling their duties. The framework's focus on transparency and user reporting will also enable users to more effectively appeal incorrect content removal.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_110
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_110

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions her Department has had with social media platforms on the impact of content removal policies on freedom of speech. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act ensures accountability for tech companies for the safety of their users while upholding freedom of expression online. Ofcom and social media platforms have freedom of expression duties for which they can be held accountable. The Act does not prevent adults from seeking out legal content, nor does it decide what legal content platforms should or should not allow for adults.

The government works closely with Ofcom to ensure the framework is implemented effectively and proportionately, including in relation to freedom of expression. The government regularly engages with a wide range of organisations, including social media platforms, to support implementation.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_111
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_111

Sir Gavin Williamson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Director General for Digital Centre Design was involved in the procurement process that awarded a departmental contract to Public Digital. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not awarded any contracts to Public Digital.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_112
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_112

Sir Gavin Williamson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information her Department holds on the reasons for Bloom Procurement Services awarding a departmental contract to Public Digital. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not hold information on the rationale for Bloom Procurement Services awarding the contract to Public Digital on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_113
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_113

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of banning animal testing. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Government is committed to supporting alternatives to animals in science and will publish a strategy to support their adoption. It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems, so the carefully regulated use of animals in science remains necessary for improving the understanding of how biological systems work, in the development of safe new medicines and in testing chemicals. The legal framework in the UK requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no validated alternatives available.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_114
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_114

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Fylde of 4 September 2025, Official Report, column 435, in which areas the pilot schemes of weekly listing meetings are being run; and if he will make it his policy to publish the outcomes of those schemes. \p Ellie Reeves: This Government is working hard to reduce the court backlog through record number of sitting days in courts and record investment as part of the Spending Review.

The following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Areas have regular meetings with Police Witness Care Units and court centres: East Midlands, North West, South East, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, East of England, London South, Mersey-Cheshire, North East, Thames and Chiltern and SEOCID International, London and South East Division.

These meetings are informal and provide opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of trials.

The CPS is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and HM Courts & Tribunals Service to identify and potentially scale up best practice and has recently conducted a survey in collaboration with both with the aim of creating a national operating model in the future.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_115
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_115

Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for statutory paid bereavement leave (a) for people grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide and (b) in general. \p Kate Dearden: The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can experience. This is why we have introduced a new right to bereavement leave in the Employment Rights Bill which will be available to those grieving the loss of a loved one, including to suicide.

The Bill deals with the introduction of leave only, and we will be consulting further on the detail this Autumn. However, it will be at employers' discretion to offer pay, as many already do.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_116
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_116

Alex Burghart:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what records his Department holds on the (a) meetings and (b) correspondence sent by Lord Mandelson when he was Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. \p Kate Dearden: The Department for Business and Trade do not hold any records on meetings and correspondence sent by Lord Mandelson as his mailboxes from his time as Secretary of State are held by Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) on behalf of the former Department for Business Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who inherited the records of the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) following machinery of Government changes.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_117
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_117

Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of how many small businesses in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency are losing all Small Business Rates Relief when opening their second premises. \p Dan Tomlinson: We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government intends to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026-27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

The Government does not hold data on how many businesses are eligible for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) in individual constituencies. It is worth noting that, if a business expands to a second property, it retains SBRR on the first property for 12 months, and may retain it longer if certain conditions are met.

The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report published on 11 September sets out the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system. This includes exploring a number of reforms to incentivise investment and improve the operation of the business rates system, including how SBRR could be enhanced to more effectively support investment and expansion among small businesses.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_118
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_118

Kim Leadbeater:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance HMRC issues to employees who work in companies entering administration who (a) have not received P45s and (b) are being taxed under emergency codes; and whether her Department plans to take steps to provide more support to employees who have been disadvantaged in insolvency cases. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC does not issue specific guidance to employees of companies entering administration regarding P45s or emergency tax codes.

Where a company is in administration, the administrator, who is a regulated Insolvency Practitioner, is responsible for issuing relevant documents, such as P45s, to former employees.

A customer may be assigned an emergency tax code if HMRC has not received updated income details following a change in circumstances. Once HMRC receives the correct information, the tax code will be adjusted accordingly. Guidance is available to all customers on emergency codes and how to update a code on Gov.UK.

HMRC undertakes reviews of processes regularly and is open to receiving any specific suggestions for improvements in administrating tax within its responsibilities.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_119
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_119

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many video games studios have received (a) Video Games Tax Relief and (b) Video Games Expenditure Credit since they were introduced. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government recognises the importance of the creative industries, including the key role they play in driving economic growth. Video games jobs are highly productive at nearly double the average national output, and technology developed by games businesses contributes an estimated £1.3 billion output to the UK economy each year.

Video games companies benefit from the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC), which was introduced on 1 January 2024 and provides a tax credit of 34 per cent on UK video games development costs. All new games must claim VGEC from 1 April 2025 and VGTR will expire in April 2027.

HMRC publish annual creative industry tax relief statistics on gov.uk, that can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/creative-industries-statistics
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_120
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_120

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of potential impact of the Video Games Expenditure Credit on levels of (a) employment, (b) investment, (c) studio formation and (d) IP development. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government recognises the importance of the creative industries, including the key role they play in driving economic growth. Video games jobs are highly productive at nearly double the average national output, and technology developed by games businesses contributes an estimated £1.3 billion output to the UK economy each year.

Video games companies benefit from the Video Games Expenditure Credit, which provides a tax credit of 34 per cent on UK video games development costs.

It is too soon to conduct an assessment of VGEC’s impact given it was introduced on 1 January 2024, after which there will be a lag of at least 12 months as accounting periods end and corporation tax returns are filed. An evaluation of the Video Game Tax Relief (VGTR), which VGEC is replacing, was published in July 2017. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/video-game-tax-relief-evaluation.

The government will continue to work with industry to monitor the VGEC and its effectiveness on an ongoing basis.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_121
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_121

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 71209 on Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties, if she will make an estimate of the amount of tax that will be raised from Double Cab Pick Up vehicles being taxed as cars in (a) 2025-6, (b) 2026-7, (c) 2027-8, (d) 2028-9 and (e) 2029-30. \p Dan Tomlinson: The estimated amount of tax that will be raised from double cab pick-up vehicles being treated as cars has been estimated as follows:

2025-26

2026-27

2027-28

2028-29

2029-30

Exchequer Impact (£m)

140

235

270

280

285

As with most tax measures in the Budget the main uncertainties in this costing relate to the size of the tax base and the behavioural response to the measure in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_122
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_122

Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to establish a sustainable funding model for social welfare advice services. \p James Murray: The Government recognises the important role that social welfare advice services play in supporting individuals.  For example, DWP provide grant funding to Citizens Advice, who deliver Help to Claim support for customers to apply for Universal Credit. In addition, the Money and Pensions Service, which is sponsored by DWP, continues to provide impartial, free money and pensions guidance directly to consumers.

DWP’s settlement at Spending Review 2025 provided DWP with funding to continue delivering these services.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_123
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_123

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that older people entitled to Home Responsibilities Protection compensation are not excluded from claiming due to identity verification requirements. \p James Murray: Customers who are unable to access their Personal Tax Account can apply for Home Responsibilities Protection by completing a print and post form (CF411) which is available on GOV.UK. Alternatively, they can contact the National Insurance helpline to request a paper form.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_124
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_124

Carla Denyer:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to (a) monitor and (b) assess the risk posed by climate emissions to UK (i) financial stability and (ii) pension funds. \p James Murray: The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is responsible for identifying and addressing risks to the UK financial system. The FPC’s latest remit was set out by the Chancellor in November 2024. It sets out that the Committee should regard the risks posed by climate change, including physical and transition risks, as relevant to its primary objective, and consider how these risks could impact financial stability over the near and long term, including where appropriate through its stress testing frameworks. The remits for the Financial Policy Committee and Prudential Regulation Committee also make clear that they should support the Government’s approach to accelerate the transition to a climate resilient, nature positive, and net zero economy.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_125
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_125

Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of allowing lenders to offer mortgages of over 4.5 times buyers’ income on the financial stability of mortgage lenders. \p Lucy Rigby: The loan-to-income (LTI) flow limit restricts the share of new mortgages that lenders can issue at or above 4.5 times a borrower’s income. It is set by the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC), which is responsible for identifying and addressing systemic risks to UK financial stability.

In July 2025, the FPC judged that the system-wide cap—limiting high-LTI mortgages to no more than 15 per cent of all new owner-occupier lending—continues to provide appropriate protection against the build up of unsustainable household debt which could pose risks to financial stability in an economic downturn.

However, to ensure the LTI flow limit is implemented proportionately and efficiently, the Committee recommended that the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) amend implementation of the flow limit to allow individual lenders to increase their share of high-LTI lending, provided the aggregate flow remains consistent with the 15 per cent limit. Details on this recommendation can be found in the FPC’s July Financial Stability Report.

The government supports the FPC’s changes, maintaining resilience of the financial system while supporting responsible access to home ownership.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_126
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_126

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help improve small business confidence in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. \p Lucy Rigby: The government recommitted to the devolution agreement with Greater Lincolnshire in September 2024, meaning that Greater Lincolnshire is now receiving £24 million as Mayoral Investment Funding each year as per their devolution agreement.

Through the Levelling Up Fund, the government is providing £10 million for ‘Thriving Gainsborough’, improving the marketplace and increasing footfall, investment and employment.

More generally, the government recently published ‘Backing your business: our plan for small and medium-sized businesses’ which set out a long-term direction for the Government’s support for smaller firms across the country. This included going further than any previous government with the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments, unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support businesses to invest, removing unnecessary red tape, revitalising the high street as a place to do business, and delivering growth boosting support with a new Business Growth Service to unlock business potential.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_127
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_127

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to prevent sanctioned individuals from using trusts to conceal their (a) identities and (b) assets. \p Lucy Rigby: The government is committed to preventing sanctioned individuals from misusing trusts to conceal their identities and assets. To this end, we have strengthened the transparency of the beneficial ownership of trusts through our various registers, including our world-leading People with Significant Control (PSC) register, our Trust Registration Service (TRS), and the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE). As of 1 September 2025, any individual can apply to Companies House for disclosure of trust information held on the ROE.

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) continues to enhance its implementation and enforcement capabilities. OFSI has opened a record number of investigations this year, reflecting a commitment to robust financial sanctions enforcement. In 2025 OFSI also published a series of reports assessing sectoral threats and vulnerabilities relating to financial sanctions, including a Legal Services Threat Assessment, to help industry implement sanctions where trusts are being misused.

In response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK has imposed robust sanctions designed to disrupt funding streams to the Russian regime and prevent those supporting it from benefiting from UK services. Under the UK’s trust services sanctions, trust services must not be provided to or for the benefit of designated persons. Since 16 December 2022, it is also prohibited to provide new trust services to or for the benefit of persons connected with Russia.

For the Legal Services Threat Assessment Report, click here: OFSI_Legal_Services_Threat_Assessment.pdf
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_128
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_128

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential (a) impact of the Lifetime ISA price cap on prospective first-time buyers in the South East and (b) merits of introducing regionalised property caps on Lifetime ISAs. \p Lucy Rigby: Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

HMRC commits to publishing all research in their Annual Report and Accounts. The findings from all strands of research on the LISA will be published in due course.

The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.
wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_129
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-19 conversation_129

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the 25% withdrawal penalty on Lifetime ISAs on the level of first-time buyers purchasing a property valued marginally above the £450,000 cap. \p Lucy Rigby: The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is designed to help people buy their first home or save for later life. You can withdraw funds (plus a government bonus) to buy a first home under £450k, from age 60, or if terminally ill.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.

The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.