theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing age stratification in the Skilled Worker visa minimum salary criteria. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under review, and recently published a white Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reform of salary requirements and a wide range of other areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to cap the number of family visas annually. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reforms in relation to Family visas, graduate rules, settlement criteria, and a range of other areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Marie Goldman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Essex Police's share of national funding from the police funding formula adequately reflects the level of policing it provides nationally. \p Dame Diana Johnson: In 2025-26, overall funding for policing will total up to £19.6 billion in 2025-26, an increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared to the 2024-25 police settlement. Essex Police will receive up to £434.1 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £27.9 million when compared to the 2024-25 police settlement, equating to a 6.9% cash increase.

The 2025-26 police settlement ensures that every local policing body in England and Wales will receive the same percentage increase in their Core Grant, offering funding certainty for forces in setting a balanced budget.

Funding for policing in future years beyond 2025-26 will be set out in phase 2 of the Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce car theft in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime and are working with the automotive industry and the police to ensure the strongest response possible to this damaging crime.

Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we have introduced measures to ban electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing and supplying them. We have also introduced a provision in the Bill which allows the police to enter and search premises for specific stolen property which has been electronically geolocation tracked to a particular premises, without the need for a warrant. This includes vehicles.

In addition, the recently established National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group is focusing on steps to prevent and deter theft of and from vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Colum Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a resettlement scheme for Palestinian refugees seeking to join family members resident in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 13 March to Question 35970.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support UK citizens with relatives impacted by the human rights situation in Balochistan. \p Seema Malhotra: Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules. We advise people to consider the most appropriate visa route for their own circumstances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether funding will be allocated to roll out hotspot policing in rural areas. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government has awarded £66.3m in 2025/26 to all 43 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales for the Hot Spot Action Fund. This funding is for high-visibility patrolling in the areas with the highest densities (‘hotspots’) of knife crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as problem-oriented policing to tackle the longer-term drivers of crime.

This funding can be used to roll-out hotspot policing in rural areas if the area has a high density of knife crime and anti-social behaviour relative to the force area. Where funding is specifically targeted is an operational decision for individual PCCs and police forces. West Mercia Police (which includes South Shropshire) has been awarded £1m from this fund in 2025/26.

We are also providing over £800,000 in 25/26 for the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding will support police forces to tackle rural and wildlife crimes, including organised theft and disrupting serious and organised crime groups.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to stop ISIS-K members from using conventional visa routes to travel to the UK from the central Asian republics. \p Seema Malhotra: It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on operational security matters or specific cases. However, all visa applications are subject to comprehensive security checks and we maximise the use of upstream interventions to prevent people who pose a threat to the UK from being able to travel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) mandatory and (b) voluntary registration processes are in place for businesses seeking to operate within the private security sector. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is a Home Office arm’s length body established by the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (PSIA) as the regulator of the private security industry. The SIA sets standards and licenses individuals seeking to perform certain licensable roles in private security. Licensing ensures individuals are appropriately trained, qualified, and vetted to ensure that they are ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence.

Businesses seeking to supply private security operatives under a contract for services must ensure all their partners, directors, managers and supervisors are licensed by the SIA, as well as any frontline staff who perform certain security roles specified in the Act (for example door supervisors and security guards).

It is a criminal offence under s.3 of the PSIA for a person to engage in licensable conduct without a licence, and an offence under s.5 of that Act for a business to supply unlicensed security operatives to perform licensable activities.

Businesses can also choose to sign up to the SIA’s voluntary quality assurance scheme, the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reform visas for care workers seeking employment in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government published the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ on 12 May 2025. The White Paper set out its intention to end overseas recruitment for social care visas. The Government will set out further details in the near future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 February 2025 to Question 30270 on British Nationality: Fees and Charges; for what reason she does not collate information on the reasons for rejecting fee waivers. \p Seema Malhotra: The reasons for rejecting a fee waiver are recorded on each case, but collating this data for the purposes of answering the relevant parliamentary question would have required a manual review of each case.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Jo White:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to amend the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 to allow widows to continue to receive pension income following remarriage. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The 1987 Police Pension Scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.

With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 police pension schemes, all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.

From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.

There are no plans at this time to make any further changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) fingerprints, (b) photos and (c) DNA samples have been collected from illegal immigrants housed in Cheshire in each of the last five years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office and, therefore, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses to determine which illegal immigrants will be tagged. \p Dame Angela Eagle: When granted immigration bail, an individual may have specific conditions attached to their bail, such as electronic monitoring, a residence restriction or other conditions appropriate to the individual. A breach of any of the bail conditions that are set is an offence under s.24(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.

The Immigration Act 2016 Schedule 10 Part 1 paragraphs 2(2) and 2(3) place a duty on the Secretary of State, where appropriate and practical, to electronically monitor those on immigration bail who could be detained because they are subject to either deportation proceedings or a Deportation Order. There is a discretion to apply electronic monitoring (EM) more broadly and this is considered on a case by case basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to close the Asylum Reception Centre at the former RAF Wethersfield site; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the decommissioning is within the timescale outlined in the Special Development Order. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Any updates on the future use of the site will be announced in the normal way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on contingency accommodation for (a) asylum seekers, (b) people granted asylum and (c) people in the country illegally in each year since 2020. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual report and accounts: 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total value of contracts awarded to Clearsprings Ready Homes in relation to housing asylum seekers since 2019. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Contract Values for the AASC contracts, awarded by the previous government, to Clearsprings Ready Homes are £334,000,000 (Wales) and £662,000,000 (South).

These values and further details are available publicly on Contracts Finder:

AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts Finder

AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take legislative steps to extend the definition of domestic abuse to include abuse of kinship carers by people in the wider family of the child that they care for. \p Jess Phillips: The Home Office does not currently have plans to extend the definition of domestic abuse.

The statutory definition of domestic abuse, contained within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, captures a wide range of relationships and applies to kinship carers where they are related to a perpetrator.

The Department for Education published a new Kinship Care statutory guidance for local authorities in October 2024. This sets out the support and services local authorities should provide to children living in kinship care and to kinship carers. The guidance also includes a definition of "kinship carer" to create a common understanding of who they are.

The Government is delivering over 140 peer support groups across England, available for all kinship carers to access alongside a wider package of training and support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) current and (b) historical victims of child sexual abuse in (i) England and (ii) Southampton Test constituency. \p Jess Phillips: We recognise the devastating impacts of child sexual exploitation and abuse on victims and survivors and are committed to ensuring that specialist support is provided to help all victims and with their long-term recovery. Supporting victims of all forms of child sexual exploitation abuse, regardless of whether it takes place online or in our communities here in the UK or elsewhere, is a priority for the Government.

The Home Office funds a range of victim and survivor support services via the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse fund (SVSCSA). These vital national services support child and adult victims and survivors, including through the provision of support lines; in-person and remote counselling for victims and survivors and their families; online psychoeducation resources; and training for professionals working with victims.

Recognising the significant role that therapeutic support can play in helping victims and survivors to recover from the devastating impacts of their abuse, the Home Office has committed a further £1.6 million to scale up national support for adult victims of child sexual abuse. The Home Office will also fund the CSA Centre in 2025/26 to develop and deliver evidence-based training for those working with victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

We will continue to work across Government to ensure that future funding for support services enables victims and survivors to access and receive better care and support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 45761 on Women, when the updated Statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations will be published. \p Jess Phillips: Timeframes for publication of the updated Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations is a matter for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once it has been submitted. Further information is available in the EHRC’s update, published on 14 May online at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/news/update-arrangements-code-practice-consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many decisions on statelessness applications made in 2024 were challenged through administrative review; how many of those reviews have been completed; and how many of those completed resulted in a grant of leave. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce additional safety requirements for (a) temporary events and (b) fan zones to protect pedestrians from vehicle access. \p Dan Jarvis: Homeland Security Group (HSG) works closely with the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), who provide publicly available technical and practical advice relating to Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM). This includes the 'NPSA Public Realm Design Guide for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation' document, available publicly at npsa.gov.uk.

Additionally, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office provides support to local authorities and businesses through the ProtectUK platform (protectuk.police.uk) and networks like the UK-wide Counter Terrorism Security Advisor network, supporting the development of suitable mitigation measures to protect from vehicle incursions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the individual opt-out agreement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 on employee protections. \p Justin Madders: A review of the impact of the Working Time Regulations on the UK labour market was undertaken by the Coalition Government in 2014. It found a decline since 1998 in the incidence of long-hours working despite the existence of the opt-out, and a general trend towards shorter working hours.

It also found that the vast majority of long-hours workers would not have wanted to work fewer than 48 hours per week if it meant less pay, and that there appeared to be broad based support for the opt-out amongst UK business, long-hours workers, and the wider public.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the 90 day visa-waiver stay limitation per 180-day period on the UK aerospace industry. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Department of Business and Trade does not hold data on the potential impact of visa-waiver stay limitations on the UK aerospace industry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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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 impact of the UK leaving the EU on the level of tariffs applied to the UK by the US. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion. Investment supports around 2.5 million jobs across both countries. Trade is second only to the EU where our trading relationship is worth £813 billion. The level of tariff applied to any country, including the UK, by the US is determined by the US government.

On 8 May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the US, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he plans to take to prevent company directors from dissolving indebted businesses and then establishing a similar business without paying former debts. \p Justin Madders: The Government expects directors to act lawfully and responsibly in respect of the companies they run and that includes ensuring that liabilities and other obligations are discharged before they apply for a company's voluntary dissolution. Those who fail to do so lay themselves open to the risk of personal liability, director disqualification and, potentially, imprisonment. The Government made a commitment in the Autumn Statement 2024 to increase collaboration between HMRC, Companies House, and the Insolvency Service to tackle those using contrived corporate insolvencies and dissolutions to exploit and defraud customers and creditors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to section 2 of  the policy paper entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, updated on 31 March 2025, what the annual operating cost is of the British Hallmarking Council . \p Justin Madders:
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to prevent anti-competitive practices in the domestic beet sugar industry. \p Justin Madders: The Competition and Markets Authority, the “CMA”, is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition cases which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.

Any concerns regarding anti-competitive conduct can be raised directly with the CMA. Details of how to submit information, along with general guidance, can be found on Gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to (a) improve toy safety and (b) protect children’s health. \p Justin Madders: Government is committed to ensuring that only safe products can be sold. Under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, all toys placed on the market must meet essential safety requirements. Following the Government Response to the Product Safety Review, government intends to perform sector reviews of product regulation and will also consider how cross-cutting hazards may impact consumer safety.

Government recently introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill. The Bill powers will allow us to reflect modern supply chains and create a proportionate regulatory framework to ensure UK consumers are protected from risk, regardless of product origin or where purchased.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department has spent on services provided by Saatchi and Saatchi since July 2024; and for what purposes. \p Justin Madders: The Department has not spent any money with Saatchi and Saatchi since July 2024, nor does it have a contract for services with them.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to section 2 of her Department's policy paper entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, updated on 31 March 2025, what the estimated saving is from merging the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies and Companies House. \p Justin Madders: The Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (“CICs”) (“the Regulator”) plays a crucial role in maintaining the CIC model as an effective form of social enterprise. By exploiting the considerable overlap between the Regulator and Companies House, and the close working relationship that already exists between the two, the Government intends to fully integrate the Regulator’s functions into Companies House as part of wider plans to streamline the UK’s regulatory environment. Both organisations are funded by fees, and there are no expected direct savings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in his Department. \p Justin Madders: We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all government departments to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, The ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA), will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.

In addition, in DBT we are also committed to providing all employees with varied opportunities for learning and development, apprenticeships are a core part of this offer. As of End Quarter xx-xxxx-xxxx.8% of DBT’s domestic workforce were on an apprenticeship. We are taking active steps to continue to build on this by offering all new Executive Officer (EO) vacancies as apprenticeships, encouraging those at the start of their careers to consider an apprenticeship route as default. DBT are committed to support the ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA) Programme. As the Department for Business and Trade we understand the importance of skills to drive growth and of providing good quality roles which support fulfilling and long-term careers.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on the import of hormone-treated beef into the UK. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade engages regularly with the US. On 8 May, we announced a landmark economic deal with the US, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump.

We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef - with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. Imports of hormone treated beef will remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that any agricultural imports coming into the UK will meet the highest food standards.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number of UK citizens by occupation who reached the end of their 90-day limit for staying in the EU (a) since the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force and (b) in the last 12 months. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Department for Business and Trade does not hold the statistical information requested.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for junior mineral exploration companies in the UK; and if he will introduce financial incentives to increase exploration of critical minerals. \p Sarah Jones: The Department for Business and Trade recognises the challenges that junior mining companies face when fundraising for mineral exploration projects. A secure supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK's economic growth and security, industrial strategy ambitions, and clean energy transition. As we work through our industrial and critical mineral strategies, we will further explore funding mechanisms which will encourage UK companies to play a role in securing our supplies and capitalise on economic opportunities, as the demand for resilient and responsible sources of critical minerals grows. UK junior mining companies have already benefitted from HMG funding including grants available through the Automotive Transformation Fund.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will request that the British Business Bank make an assessment of the potential merits of support for a central finance facility for credit unions. \p Gareth Thomas: Credit Unions offer vital support, advice, and affordable finance to members. While there are no immediate plans for a central finance facility for Credit Unions, the government is committed to supporting underserved communities in all the nations and regions of the UK. In December 2024, the British Business Bank launched the Community Enable Funding programme, which is aimed at Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving smaller businesses in underserved communities. Unlike Credit Unions, CDFIs are unable to raise customer deposits and so this central financial facility is expected to boost the growth of the social lending sector.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed UK-US trade agreement on the future of the NHS. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: On 8th May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States.

The NHS will never be on the table for any trade agreement and the US trade deal will not lead to privatisation of the NHS. The NHS is not for sale under any circumstances, and this Government is firmly committed to keeping healthcare free at the point of use for everyone.

This Government will continue to act in Britain’s national interest – for workers, for business and for families.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact the UK-US trade deal on meat products sold in the UK. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: On 8th May, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States.

We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate.

Imports of hormone treated beef remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that any agricultural imports coming into the UK will meet the highest food standards.
wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to integrate critical minerals recycling into the circular economy strategy; and if he will support the development of a processing hub for (a) tin and (b) other critical minerals in the South West. \p Sarah Jones: A secure supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK's economic growth and security, industrial strategy, and clean energy transition. We recognise the importance of recycling critical minerals and as we work with DEFRA to develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action and evaluate what interventions may be needed.

The South West of England is home to significant deposits of tin, tungsten and lithium, and the new Critical Minerals Strategy, which will be published this year, will set out how we will enhance the UK’s domestic capabilities, including mining, processing and recycling. The National Wealth Fund’s recent investment of £28.6m into the South Crofty tin mine will support our endeavour to onshore more of the value chain for critical minerals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_50

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if they will make it their policy to not provide (a) translation and (b) interpretation for speakers of non-UK languages for services provided by their Department. \p Justin Madders: Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

DBT employ teams based in priority markets around the world and those teams often use local language skills to help UK businesses access opportunities to export their goods and services globally. Likewise, they will use local language skills to promote the UK to a global audience, and in particular to attract high value investment to the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_51

Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the individual opt-out agreement under the Working Time Regulations 1998 on levels of exploitation in low-paid employment. \p Justin Madders: A review of the impact of the Working Time Regulations on the UK labour market was undertaken by the Coalition Government in 2014. It found a decline since 1998 in the incidence of long-hours working despite the existence of the opt-out, and a general trend towards shorter working hours.

It also found that the vast majority of long-hours workers would not have wanted to work fewer than 48 hours per week if it meant less pay, and that long-hours working was generally more prevalent in high income and highly skilled occupations compared to lower income and medium and low-skilled occupations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_52

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to section 2 of her Department's policy paper entitled New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, updated on 31 March 2025, when the administrative costs of regulation baselining exercise will conclude. \p Justin Madders: The government has committed to cut the administrative costs of regulation to business by 25% by the end of this Parliament. To do this, we must determine the cumulative administrative costs of regulation which has not been done for 15 years. At that time, the exercise took approximately 18 months, which was consistent with efforts of other countries that have undertaken similar exercises.

We are working in partnership with businesses to understand their real-life experiences of regulatory compliance to establish a robust regulatory baseline. We will publish an update on this baseline exercise and our expected timelines in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_53

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to remove barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK Internal Market Scheme enables businesses to move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland without customs proceses where products are not at risk of entering the EU.

From 1 May, new arrangements for parcels and freight movements have significantly simplified the process for providing information and moving relevant products, and the Government has also announced it will continue important Trader Support Service arrangements beyond 2026.

The Government will continue to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the rest of the UK market on a permanent basis, and take forward its manifesto commitment to protect the UK internal market going forward.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_54

Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much additional funding her Department has allocated for special educational needs provision to Lancashire County Council since the Autumn Budget 2024. \p Catherine McKinnell: Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to over £12 billion. Of that total, Lancashire County Council is being allocated over £219 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £18 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is an 8.8% increase per head of their 2-18 year old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.

In addition, local authorities will receive a separate core schools budget grant for high needs in the 2025/26 financial year. We plan to publish individual local authorities’ allocations later in May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_55

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed levy on higher education provider income from international students on Scottish universities. \p Janet Daby: This government welcomes international students who enrich our university campuses, forge lifelong friendships with our domestic students and become global ambassadors for the UK. Our world-class higher education (HE) sector can offer a fulfilling and enjoyable experience to international students from around the world.

The Immigration White Paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base. This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on HE provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around this in the Autumn Budget. Analysis of the potential impacts is based on the levy applying to English HE providers only. We will fully consult all the devolved governments on the implementation of the international student levy.

In March, Professor Edward Peck was appointed as substantive Chair of the Office for Students. Professor Peck will continue the excellent work of interim Chair, Sir David Behan, focusing on the sector’s financial sustainability and increasing opportunities in HE.

Moreover, in November, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits in line with forecast inflation. The maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535. In return for the increased investment we are asking students to make, we expect the sector to deliver the very best outcomes, both for those students and for the country.

Alongside this, we expect all universities to have a sustainable business model. Our forthcoming plans for reform of the HE sector will set out how we will support universities in this regard.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_56

Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of electrotechnical apprenticeships in equipping the workforce with skills in renewable technologies. \p Janet Daby: Upskilling the country’s workforce is vital to meet the government’s clean energy 2030 target, with apprenticeships playing an important role in supporting employers in clean energy industries to develop the skills they need.

Employers and learners can benefit from a range of apprenticeship standards to develop electrotechnical skills, such as the level 6 electrical and electronic engineer standard and the level 6 electro-mechanical engineer standard.

The first Skills England report, ‘Driving Growth and Widening Opportunities’, published in September 2024, included an overview of the skills needs in the green workforce. Skills England will build on this initial skills needs assessment to ensure the renewables sector has access to high quality training which meets their needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_57

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of the number of apprenticeships delivered by the hair and beauty sector. \p Janet Daby: The number of ‘hair and beauty’ related apprenticeship starts in England is published in the Apprenticeship accredited official statistics publication, which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/66bd1260-5cd4-4769-1f8e-08dd8e2f6934. These were last published in March 2025. They include full year figures from 2019/20 to 2023/24, and year to date figures for 2024/25 (August 2024 to January 2025).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_58

Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of funding for apprenticeships. \p Janet Daby: This government is widening the apprenticeships offer into a levy-funded growth and skills offer. This will create opportunities for learners of all ages and give employers greater flexibility to address critical skills shortages in their workforce, while driving economic growth.

As a first step, this will include shorter duration apprenticeships and new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors. This will fuel innovation and help more people learn new high quality skills at work.

Future funding for the growth and skills offer, including apprenticeships, will be determined following the spending review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-20 conversation_59

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to (a) increase educational attainment and (b) improve career opportunities in all regions of the UK. \p Catherine McKinnell: ​​​​All children and young people should have the opportunity to succeed. That is why, through our work to deliver the Opportunity Mission, this government will work in partnership with those inside and outside of government to break the unfair link between background and success.

High and rising standards across education are at the heart of this mission. As one of the department’s first steps for change, we are committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 expert teachers. We have also introduced new regional improvement for standards and excellence teams and launched an independent, expert-led Curriculum and Assessment Review that is looking at the key challenges to attainment.

The government is also developing a comprehensive strategy for post‐16 education and skills, to break down barriers to opportunity, support the development of a skilled workforce, and drive economic growth through our Industrial Strategy across all areas of the country.

We have established Skills England to ensure we have the highly trained workforce needed to deliver the national, regional and local skills needs of the next decade. It will ensure that the skills system is clear and navigable for both young people and adults, strengthening careers pathways into jobs across the economy.