theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-10 conversation_33

Mr Louie French:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact miles driven abroad will have on the calculation of the amount of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty payable per vehicle. \p Dan Tomlinson: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs (electric vehicles) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

The Government has ruled out charging tax based on when or where people drive to protect motorists’ privacy. This means non-UK mileage driven by UK registered cars will fall into scope of eVED, as with fuel duty, which does not vary by basis of where a car is driven.

The vast majority of eVED will be paid on travel in the UK; there were an estimated 225 billion car miles in Great Britain in 2024, and over nine billion miles travelled by car in Northern Ireland in 2023.

The government has published a consultation on GOV.UK, which provides further detail on how eVED is intended to work and seeks views on its implementation: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69282ac1a245b0985f034197/eVED_Consultation.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the fiscal cost of Benefit-in-Kind rates for zero-emission company cars, including (a) the cost of the 3 per cent rate in 2025–26, (b) the revenue forgone when the rate was 0 per cent and 2 per cent, and (c) any comparable figures for plug-in hybrid and ultra-low-emission vehicles. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government publishes annual statistics on HMRC’s taxable benefits in kind for company cars. These reports document the number of benefit in kind recipients, the CO2 emissions of company cars and their total taxable value. The latest statistics for the tax year 2023-24 were published in June 2025, and are accessible here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefits-in-kind-statistics-june-2025/benefit-in-kind-statistics-commentary-june-2025(opens in a new tab)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of current fuel duty rates on the road freight and logistics sector; and whether her Department plans to bring forward measures to reduce transport costs. \p Dan Tomlinson: At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to previous levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government increasing fuel duty rates in line with RPI from April 2027. This will save the average van driver £100 next year compared to previous plans, and the average HGV driver more than £800.

The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Mr Louie French:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 27 November to question 92601 on Tourism: Taxation, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Visitor Levies in other jurisdictions on the hospitality sector. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Scottish and Welsh Governments have published their own impact assessments to accompany legislation for the introduction of their visitor levies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new taxation of electric vehicles on reaching the UK's net zero targets. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government intends to create a fair tax system whilst ensuring that driving an electric vehicle (EV) remains an attractive choice for consumers; the transition to EVs is essential to meeting Net Zero targets.

As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028. The rate of eVED for EVs will be half of the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that EVs are cheaper to own and run for the majority of EV drivers. The Government is also providing generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG) and increasing the VED Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs.

As set out by the OBR, the estimated net impact of eVED and other Budget measures, including the ECG and ECS, is 120,000 fewer new EV sales across the forecast period. This is against a baseline which assumes EV sales more than triple from 2025-26 levels by 2030-31, which means the net impact of eVED represents only 2% of total new EV sales in the period.

The Government has set out expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the future annual revenues from pay per mile vehicle tax schemes over the next five years. \p Dan Tomlinson: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

The Government has set out the expected impacts, including Exchequer impacts and behavioural changes, from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential distributional impact of the new taxation of electric vehicles on households with lower incomes. \p Dan Tomlinson: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

The Government set out estimated impacts on household incomes from tax, welfare and public service spending decisions taken at Budget 2025, including eVED. These impacts are available at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69269c6222424e25e6bc31bb/Impact_on_households.pdf

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will be responsible for delivering and administering eVED, so HM Revenue and Customs will not incur additional administrative costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of applying National Insurance to salary-sacrificed pension contributions above £2,000 from 2029 on small and medium-sized employers, pension take-up and long-term pension savings; and whether she plans to bring forward measures to mitigate the impact on pension auto-enrolment and retirement preparedness. \p Torsten Bell: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice.

Small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) are less likely to be affected by these changes. Based on the latest ASHE data (2023/24), 28% of employees of SMEs use pension salary sacrifice, compared to 39% of larger employers.

The government supports all individuals to save into pensions through a generous system of tax reliefs worth over £70 billion a year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what modelling she has undertaken on applying National Insurance to salary-sacrificed pension contributions above £2,000; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of that measure on pension contributions among middle-income workers. \p Torsten Bell: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice.

Individuals earning below £30,000 making pension contributions through salary sacrifice are overwhelmingly protected by a £2,000 cap, with few (c. 5%) making salary sacrifice contributions above this threshold.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes to salary sacrifice arrangements on employees’ pension savings. \p Torsten Bell: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many compliance inspections of money service businesses have been carried out by HM Revenue and Customs in the last twelve months. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC does not record ‘Money Service Businesses’ (MSBs) as a category in its compliance data across all tax regimes. It is therefore not possible to accurately identify the total number of compliance checks in this area of business without manually reviewing case records. Available figures cover compliance checks under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR).

As a statutory supervisor under the MLR, HMRC has carried out 1,008 compliance checks of supervised businesses across all supervised sectors in the period from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025. These interventions form part of the responsibility to protect the UK from money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation, which includes providing guidance and education to support legitimate businesses, fit and proper operating checks, and desk-based and onsite interventions.

Further details on HMRC’s inspection processes are available on GOV.UK: Money laundering regulations: business inspections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 3 December 2025, Official Report, column 991, what the terms of reference are for the investigation. \p James Murray: A leak inquiry is now under way and the government does not comment on the details of leak inquiries.

The Independent Adviser for Ministerial Standards has written to the leader of Reform UK and does not intend to investigate this matter.

The Chief Executive Officer of the FCA has written to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee and the FCA have not launched an enforcement investigation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 4 December to Question 95961 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if she will modify the Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Factsheet, published on 28 November, to reflect that the calculation for the applicable Transition Relief cap for 2026/27 is made from the base liability for 2025/26 before RHL relief has been applied. \p Dan Tomlinson: No, I will not modify the Budget 2025: RHL Factsheet. It is correct.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a child-focused victim-assistance component of any demining funding for Sudan to support (a) prosthetics, (b) rehabilitation and (c) education for blast-injured survivors. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, which leads the international response to grave violations against children in conflict. The UK is providing further funding of £450,000 to United Nations International Child's Fund's (UNICEF) Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism this year, ensuring grave violations against children are recorded and perpetrators are held to account. Since April 2024, the UK has supported the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) with £1.4 million in funding to provide Emergency Ordnance Risk Education Services (EORE) in Sudan, including to Sudanese children. Wherever possible, the UK provides Victim Assistance referrals for medical care and rehabilitation as part of its demining support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Cameroon authorities concerning the recent kidnapping and detention of Christian clergy in the Northeast region. \p Chris Elmore: The UK condemns the kidnappings of Catholic priests and others in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, including 6 priests who have now been released. The UK Government monitors the human rights situation in Cameroon closely and discusses the issues in the Anglophone regions with a range of interlocutors, including at the highest levels of the Cameroonian Government. We continue to call for inclusive dialogue which addresses the root causes of the crisis and urge all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution. We also advocate for the protections of all vulnerable communities through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Chinese authorities concerning the formal arrest of 18 leaders from Zion church in Guangxi Province; and what steps she is taking with international partners to help ensure their release. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the response given to Question 91956 on 26 November.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her United States counterpart on airstrikes in the Caribbean and compliance with international law. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 3 November to question 85121.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in light of the recent ruling on 51Job, Inc. by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, what steps she is taking to ensure that Overseas Territory courts comply with Privy Council rulings in cases involving (a) British investors and (b) pension funds. \p Stephen Doughty: Financial Services regulation is a devolved matter for the Cayman Islands Government. The UK Government works closely with the Cayman Islands authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure robust legal frameworks. Cayman Islands courts operate independently under a well-established legal system based on English common law, providing avenues for parties to challenge harmful actions. I discussed with Premier Ebanks at the recent Joint Ministerial Council how to work together to promote further trade and investment ties, and welcomed the important steps taken by the Cayman Islands Government to promote greater corporate transparency.

The UK Government respects the impartiality of the Cayman Islands Courts. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for the Overseas Territories, and its decisions are binding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Zarah Sultana:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Question 92229, whether his Department paid for British armed forces personnel to attend courses in Israel since October 2023. \p Al Carns: The British Armed Forces pay for overseas courses that they attend.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2025 to question 93243 on Defence: Procurement, for what reason was Project Magenta cancelled. \p Luke Pollard: A routine programme review found Project Magenta was no longer viable in terms of cost or time. The review led to an alternate solution that was not available at the time of project approval.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to implement increased defence expenditure to improve the preparedness and readiness of the armed forces. \p Luke Pollard: As outlined in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, Defence will increase expenditure to transform the Armed Forces into a more lethal integrated force, equipped for the future. On 25 February 2025, the Prime Minister announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War—rising to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, and to 3% in the next Parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow. We have already boosted defence by £5 billion this year. The Defence Investment Plan will set out how the Ministry of Defence will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review including steps to improve preparedness and readiness of the Armed Forces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June to Question 57673 on Military Intelligence, if he has a target date for the full implementation of the Digital Targeting Web. \p Luke Pollard: The Department aims to deliver the first elements of the Digital Targeting Web, or a 'Minimum Viable Product', in 2026. What these first deliverables will consist of is still being defined. Plans will be continually reviewed to respond to emerging threats and adjusted as necessary.

No target date has been established for the full implementation of the Digital Targeting Web.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34903 on Defence: Procurement, if he will list the other sectors outside the defence sector who will be consulted on the Defence Small and Medium Enterprise Support Hub. \p Luke Pollard: Development of the new Defence Office for Business Growth is well underway. It continues to consult a wide variety of stakeholders, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), prime contractors, Regional Defence and Security Clusters, and trade associations representing their members operating both within and outside of the defence sector.

The Office will also work with the Department for Business and Trade’s Business Growth Service, where relevant, to consult with the non-defence sectors included within the Modern Industrial Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34903 on Defence: Procurement, how many staff will be employed as part of the Defence Small and Medium Enterprise Support Hub. \p Luke Pollard: Whilst the exact number of staff employed by the Office for Small Business Growth is still under development, it is anticipated that staffing levels will be adjusted to reflect demand placed upon its services. Funding for the Office, including staff costs, is included within the £770 million Government investment into the delivery of the Defence Industrial Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34903 on Defence: Procurement, who will lead the Defence Small and Medium Enterprise Support Hub. \p Luke Pollard: I am pleased to confirm that Senior Civil Servant, Tim Ketton-Locke has been appointed to lead the office and took up post on 3 November 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Storage facility for over 900 vehicles completed at MOD Ashchurch, published on 5 March 2025, if he has a target date for the demolition of 58 existing buildings as part of the Vehicle Storage and Support Programme. \p Luke Pollard: The Vehicle Storage and Support Programme (VSSP) remains on schedule and work at MOD Ashchurch will be completed in 2027.

Demolition of all 58 existing buildings as part of the VSSP, has been completed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the UK Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme. \p Luke Pollard: The Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme (MEWP) comprises two constituent parts, the first of which, the Maritime Electronic Warfare Systems Integrated Capability (MEWSIC), has entered the final testing phase with installation at the Royal Navy’s Integration facility at Portsdown Technology Park underway.

The other half of MEWP is the Electronic Warfare Countermeasure (EWCM) Project which will deliver a trainable decoy launcher designed to counter anti-ship missiles and enhance survivability. Critical Design Review for the project was conducted mid-November 25 as part of preparation for production readiness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many TEKEVER AR3 uncrewed air platforms he has procured since 5 July 2024. \p Luke Pollard: For reasons of operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers of TEKEVER AR3 uncrewed air platforms procured by the Ministry of Defence.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Underwater robot could improve pipeline and cable security, published on 9 June 2025, when the last trial on underwater robots took place. \p Luke Pollard: It has not been possible to provide the answer within the timeframe given, I will write to the hon. Member as soon as practical and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many private aircraft landed at Leuchars Station between 28 September 2025 and 6th October 2025. \p Luke Pollard: A total of twenty civil private aircraft used Leuchars during that period.
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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to publish a detailed roadmap for improving national missile defence capabilities, including timelines and funding commitments. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review announced up to £1 billion of investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence. This announcement responds to the threat the UK faces and will shape our future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the UK’s vulnerability to long-range missile threats, including ballistic and cruise missile systems; and what steps he is taking to strengthen integrated air and missile defence as part of the Strategic Defence Review. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review announced up to £1 billion of investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence. This announcement responds to the threat the UK faces and will shape our future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timeline is for the Warrior disposal plan up to its out of service date in 2027. \p Luke Pollard: As of 8 December 2025, there are 388 Warrior vehicles in service in the active fleet and those yet to start the disposal process:

Variant

Total

FV510

191

FV511

59

FV512

70

FV513

32

FV514

36

FV515

0

Total

388

The Out of Service date for Warrior is 2027 with all vehicles to be withdrawn from service by the end of the decade. Any vehicles that remain beyond this will be classed as surplus to requirements.

The Ministry of Defence does not provide a breakdown of equipment by unit or sub-unit for reasons of operational security.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Simon Hoare:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the official closing date under section 14 of the Inquiries Act 2005 was for the public inquiry entitled Al-Sweady Inquiry. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The final report of the Al-Sweady Inquiry was published on 17 December 2014. The last members of the Inquiry staff were released in January 2015 and final administrative wind-up procedures completed in March 2015.The chair of the Inquiry, Sir Thayne Forbes, wrote to the then Secretary of State confirming the fulfilment of his terms of reference (a so-called Section 14 letter), on 20 March 2015.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date was the Gazelle AH Mk1 helicopter withdrawn from service In Northern Ireland. \p Al Carns: The Gazelle AH Mk1 helicopter was withdrawn from service in Northern Ireland on 26 October 2023.
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Zarah Sultana:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Question 92229, which courses British armed forces personnel have attended in Israel since October 2023. \p Al Carns: Fewer than five British Armed Forces personnel have studied on non-combat military academic courses in Israel since October 2023. Which courses they attended is being withheld in order to protect personal information.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 27 November on MOD Security Review, HCWS 1103, how many contracts have been placed for Remote Piloted Aerial Systems since 5 July 2024. \p Luke Pollard: The Department has placed nineteen contracts relating to Remote Piloted Aerial Systems since 5 July 2024.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025 to question 94926 on Ajax Vehicles: Health and Safety, if he will set out the criteria that will allow the pause to be lifted. \p Luke Pollard: Investigations by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch supported by the Army Safety Investigation Team and General Dynamics are ongoing. Further detail will be available once the investigation has concluded. Any decisions on the pause will be made by Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will be funded through a) the Exchequer, b) energy suppliers or c) another source. \p Chris McDonald: As stated in the Modern Industrial Strategy, the Government intends to fund the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme by bearing down on costs across the energy system to ensure that the scheme is delivered in line with our wider priorities to deliver affordable power for businesses and households. For example, the proposals in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's recent consultations on changes to inflation indexation of the Renewables Obligation and Feed-In Tariffs schemes, if implemented, could contribute to that goal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of penalties for non-compliance with the UK's Register of Overseas Entities. \p Blair McDougall: The Government recognises the challenges of enforcing financial penalties on overseas entities but remains committed to ensuring compliance with the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE) requirements. Companies House has strengthened its enforcement strategy, introducing robust procedures to address non-compliance with penalties, and will continue to monitor the effectiveness of enforcement. Non-compliant entities are also prohibited from selling, leasing, or raising finance on their property until they meet the ROE requirements. The Government will also carry out a Post-Implementation Review in 2027 to assess the effectiveness of the ROE.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year. \p Kate Dearden: We are unable to provide details on the total spend on LinkedIn membership fees and other subscriptions by the Department for Business and Trade in the last financial year. The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what mechanisms within the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal will ensure that pharmaceutical products launched in the UK with a lower price than in the US will not trigger Most Favoured Nation rebates. \p Chris Bryant: We have secured the first and only deal with the US that delivers zero percent tariffs on pharmaceutical products – the lowest rate offered to any country.

It delivers mitigations on the US’ ‘Most Favoured Nation’ policy and preferential terms for UK medtech exports – helping expand access to innovative treatments for patients and driving crucial investment in the UK.

The UK and the US have confirmed the headline terms of this deal. Further work to finalise underpinning details is ongoing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the US Trade Representative's press release entitled U.S. Government Announces Agreement in Principle with the United Kingdom on Pharmaceutical Pricing, published on 1 December 2025, what the other commitments referred to are. \p Chris Bryant: As set out by the Secretary of State in his written statement to Parliament on 2 December, we have secured a zero percent tariff on all pharmaceuticals exported to the US - the lowest rate offered to any country. The UK has also secured preferential terms for the UK’s medical technology exports for three years, meaning no additional new tariffs on medical technologies.

This agreement was supported by the government’s commitment to investing 25% more in new innovative medicines – the first major increase in over two decades – which will support improved access to new medicines for NHS patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Sir Gavin Williamson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how does the government assess the risks to UK citizens’ personal data and national security when collaborating with foreign genomics companies, especially in countries with restrictive or divergent data-security regimes. \p Chris McDonald: The UK has one of the most robust data protection regimes in the world, with all organisations required to comply with our legislation to safeguard UK personal data when transferring it overseas. Our data regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office, has powers to take enforcement action and issue hefty fines. Individuals who consider that their data has been misused can also take legal action.

The UK Government is committed to harnessing the power of genomics as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, while mitigating potential risks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to develop standards to help with procurement and encourage AI adoption amongst SMEs. \p Blair McDougall: In July, the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce published ten recommendations to help the UK’s SMEs become the most digitally capable and AI confident in the G7 by 2035. We are now working to deliver these recommendations.

We have already partnered with Google on a series of events to help SME leaders around the UK explore how AI can help them.

DSIT has published AI Management Essentials to help SMEs implement responsible AI governance practices.

Also, we are prioritising SMEs in our new system to give them a fair chance at public contracts, with departmental targets and a new SME Procurement Education programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact on businesses of current delivery times for parcels between the UK and the EU during the festive period. \p Blair McDougall: The government recognises that the proper functioning of postal services is vital for businesses, particularly small businesses engaged in international trade. However, parcel delivery times are an operational matter for postal operators to address as private businesses operating in a competitive market.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 to Question 94768 on Criminal Proceedings: Evidence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of lost, missing and damaged evidence collapsed court cases in the context of steps taken to reduce the court backlog and deliver successful trials; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of collating adequate data. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice does not collate data on cases that are not progressed due to lost, missing or damaged evidence. We keep our data gathering processes under constant review and will need to consider whether the areas identified in the question can feasibly be collected.

Reducing the number of cases which are either delayed or collapse all together due to lost or missing evidence or mislaying of documents is important. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve timeliness and efficiency in our criminal courts, we asked Sir Brian Leveson to undertake a review of the court operations and make recommendations designed to boost court efficiency in Part 2 of his review. We are awaiting that report in the New Year and will look to act on its recommendations. It is vital that all partners, across the justice system, work together to create a sustainable justice system, including through the Criminal Justice Board, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Liam Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year. \p Jake Richards: The Budget 2025 was announced on 26 November 2025 and table C.2 confirms our Spending Review settlement of £2.3bn for 2026-2027, £2.3bn for 2027-2028, £2.3bn for 2028-2029 and £2.0bn for 2029-2030.

Of which we must spend the following split to complete the 14,000 prison place programme: £1.2bn for 2026-2027, £1.2bn for 2027-2028, £1,2bn for 2028-2029 and £1.14bn for 2029-2030. This is a total investment of £4.7bn over this period.

All other areas of spend will be subject to future allocations discussions in the usual way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Jeremy Corbyn:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reforms to jury trials on minority ethnic groups. \p Sarah Sackman: A full Equalities Impact Assessment will be published alongside legislation as is usual practice. This will include an assessment of the potential impact of these reforms on minority ethnic groups. The criminal court reforms are not expected to impact trial outcomes, only how trials are heard.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year. \p Jake Richards: The Ministry of Justice does not hold a specific membership with LinkedIn. However, our spend on LinkedIn for the financial year 2024/2025 was £155,247.65.

Please note this cost covers multiple recruitment services and advertising that span across all our operationally critical frontline roles. For example, those in HMPPS and HMCTS. All our campaign activity is data driven to maximise our reach to our target audiences.

The Department’s spend for other subscriptions in 2024/2025 is £628,213.00. These subscriptions/memberships cover things such as The Solicitors Regulation Authority, The Bar Council, and the Office for National Statistics and ensure we are able to operate compliantly and effectively.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Robert Jenrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to visit HMP Wandsworth. \p Jake Richards: Ministers regularly visit prisons across the country. Any plans to visit specific prisons will be notified to the relevant Members of Parliament in advance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to publish detailed data on reoffending outcomes by (a) sentence type, (b) offence type, and (c) offender characteristics. \p Jake Richards: We publish proven reoffending statistics quarterly, including detailed data by sentence type, offence type, and offender characteristics. The next publication is due at the end of January 2026 (Proven reoffending statistics - GOV.UK).

We are tackling the root causes of reoffending by investing in a range of services which address offenders’ underlying criminogenic needs and support their rehabilitation journey. This includes education, employment, accommodation and access to substance misuse treatment.

For example, to support employment, we are delivering vocational courses, a future skills programme, and expanding the prisoner apprenticeship scheme. All 93 resettlement prisons have key roles in place to prepare prisoners for employment on release, and we have launched regional Employment Councils, which for the first time bring businesses together with prisons, probation, and the Department for Work and Pensions to support prison leavers.

Reoffending rates for adults sentenced to less than 12 months in custody remain high – in the latest data, just over 60% reoffended within a year. Ministry of Justice research shows that community orders and suspended sentences are up to 4 percentage points more effective at reducing reoffending than short custodial sentences. That is why we are introducing a presumption to suspend custodial sentences of 12 months or less via the Sentencing Bill, and expanding Intensive Supervision Courts (ISCs), which aim to reduce reoffending by diverting individuals from short custodial sentences into enhanced community-based orders.

We are not, however, abolishing short sentences. Judges will always have the power to send offenders to prison where they have breached a court order, where there is a significant risk of physical or psychological harm to a particular individual, or in exceptional circumstances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the level of reoffending rates of people convicted of immigration offences and sentenced to short custodial terms. \p Jake Richards: The term “immigration related offences” covers a wide range of offending behaviour including making illegal entry to the country, overstaying leave to remain, employing illegal workers and facilitating breaches of immigration law.

As a result, providing reoffending data across all of these offence types would come at disproportionate cost and it is difficult to make generalised assumptions about future risk of offending.

More broadly the Government is tackling the root causes of reoffending by investing in a range of services which address offenders’ underlying criminogenic needs and support their rehabilitation journey. This includes education, employment, accommodation and access to substance misuse treatment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-10)

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Simon Hoare:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the official closing date under section 14 of the Inquiries Act 2005 was for the public inquiries entitled (a) Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard Lodge at Manchester Prison on 28 August 1998 and (b) Azelle Rodney Inquiry. \p Jake Richards: The Chairs of the Bernard Lodge and Azelle Rodney Inquiries completed their investigations and submitted reports, which were published on 15 December 2009 and 5 July 2013, respectively.