theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of training given to police officers attending people in mental health crisis. \p Sarah Jones: The College of Policing set the professional standards for police in England and Wales. The College’s core guidance includes the initial training for officers under the Policing Education Qualifications Framework which incorporates autism, learning disabilities, mental health including their powers under section 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and vulnerabilities. Through this, officers are taught to assess vulnerability and amend their approaches as required.

The College further promotes the need for frameworks to assess vulnerability, to aid in consistent identification, support decision making, and to trigger appropriate safeguarding action. Such principles and practices are set out in a number of college products, including the Detention and Custody Authorised Professional Practice.

Police officers are not mental health experts, neither are they expected to be. However, the training available to police officers in respect of mental ill health or other vulnerabilities is aimed at equipping them to identify potential issues and to know when interventions from partner agencies and health professionals may be needed.

Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide which additional training their officers should undertake and to set and enforce standards, giving them the flexibility to address their own local challenges, needs and priorities. They are inspected biannually by His Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) whose role is to independently report on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces, including inspecting how forces protect vulnerable people.

The College of Policing’s Approved Professional Practice for mental health is currently undergoing a full review, which will be going out for public consultation in the coming months.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner on the (a) consistency, (b) efficiency and (c) adequacy of the resourcing of firearms licensing. \p Sarah Jones: The Government publishes Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing. The Statutory Guidance was most recently refreshed and strengthened in August this year and it is helping to ensure consistency in the assessment of those who hold, or who apply for, firearms licences across all police forces, in the interests of public safety.

The Statutory Guidance requires all applicants for a firearms licence to provide information from their doctor about whether they have experienced any relevant medical conditions, including mental health conditions and drug and alcohol abuse. There is a defined list of medical conditions which is set out in the Statutory Guidance and in the information that is provided to the applicant’s GP. A firearms marker which all applicant’s GPs are asked to place on the patient’s medical record then ensures that the doctor can alert the police to any material change to the licence holder’s relevant medical condition, to allow the police to then review whether the licence holder remains suitable to hold a firearms licence.

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners. In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council Lead for Firearms Licensing has published performance data for firearms licensing teams in all forces. This includes performance against a target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months, unless there are concerns about the suitability of the applicant.

The Government has no plans to introduce a new central national body for firearms licensing. The Firearms Act 1968 places statutory responsibility for firearms licensing on the Chief Officer of Police of each individual force in England, Wales and Scotland. This framework is supported by the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police issued by the Home Secretary in respect of firearms licensing and by Authorised Professional Practice issued by the College of Policing.
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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to help victims of grooming gangs in Wales. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is committed to tackling all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The police will respond to all allegations of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, ensuring that victims are protected and offenders are brought to justice.

The National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse will cover England and Wales. The Home Secretary has written to the First Minister to confirm this.

We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and safeguarding partners to address ongoing crimes and protect vulnerable children across Wales and the rest of the UK.

We are also providing £2.59 million in 2025-26 for the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Fund, providing a range of support services with national reach. As part of the fund, this year we have provided £193,515 to Cyfannol Women’s Aid.

The Home Office also launched the invitation-to-tender for the national Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) Service contract in September 2025, which will expand coverage from two thirds of local authorities in England and Wales to all local authorities in England and Wales.

The service provides specialist modern slavery and child exploitation expertise to ensure child victims are protected from further harm, prevent possible repeat victimisation or re-trafficking, and promote the child’s recovery. It supports child victims of sexual exploitation and grooming who have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), and the professionals working with them.

The Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) provides specialist support to adult victims of exploitation and trafficking who have been identified through the NRM in England and Wales. This includes adults who experienced sexual exploitation as children.
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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make (a) an assessment of the potential merits of launching a Wales-wide inquiry into grooming gangs and (b) it her policy to tackle ongoing crimes relating to grooming gangs in Wales. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is committed to tackling all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The police will respond to all allegations of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, ensuring that victims are protected and offenders are brought to justice.

The National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse will cover England and Wales. The Home Secretary has written to the First Minister to confirm this.

We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and safeguarding partners to address ongoing crimes and protect vulnerable children across Wales and the rest of the UK.

We are also providing £2.59 million in 2025-26 for the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Fund, providing a range of support services with national reach. As part of the fund, this year we have provided £193,515 to Cyfannol Women’s Aid.

The Home Office also launched the invitation-to-tender for the national Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) Service contract in September 2025, which will expand coverage from two thirds of local authorities in England and Wales to all local authorities in England and Wales.

The service provides specialist modern slavery and child exploitation expertise to ensure child victims are protected from further harm, prevent possible repeat victimisation or re-trafficking, and promote the child’s recovery. It supports child victims of sexual exploitation and grooming who have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), and the professionals working with them.

The Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) provides specialist support to adult victims of exploitation and trafficking who have been identified through the NRM in England and Wales. This includes adults who experienced sexual exploitation as children
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the point of contact is for the local inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Oldham for victims and survivors; (a) when and (b) how the terms of reference for that inquiry will be consulted on; and what (i) safeguarding and (ii) wellbeing support is in place to support those victims and survivors. \p Jess Phillips: In June this year, Baroness Casey published her independent audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, and the Government accepted every recommendation it made, including establishing a new national inquiry. The national inquiry, equipped with statutory powers under the Inquiries Act 2005, will direct targeted local investigations in specific areas.

The former Home Secretary previously committed in January to provide guidance and establish a £5 million fund which would have supported non-statutory local inquiries. Given that we have since committed to establish a national inquiry with statutory powers, undertaking local investigations, we have discontinued work related to the previously announced guidance and £5 million fund.

In relation to Oldham specifically, the former Home Secretary made a commitment to support Oldham Council in undertaking their own local inquiry. The Department has been in discussions with Oldham Council about the right approach for Oldham, in light of the Government’s commitment to a new national inquiry. We intend to confirm the proposed approach for Oldham alongside further details about the national inquiry in due course.

With regards to safeguarding and wellbeing support, we are committed to ensuring specialist support is provided to victims and survivors. We are currently engaging with victims and survivors participating in the consultation group supporting the establishment of the national inquiry, coordinated by the National Working Group (NWG) charity. This includes ensuring they are able to access support, including therapeutic support (via the NWG).

We are also providing £2.59 million in 2025-26 for the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Fund, providing a range of support services with national reach.

The national inquiry, once established, will develop its own plans for engaging and supporting victims and survivors.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure perpetrators of spiking are (a) detected and (b) arrested. \p Jess Phillips: Spiking is an abhorrent crime and illegal in any form, whether through food or drink, vape, or needle. It can affect anyone, at any time and in any setting, regardless of gender, sexuality or age.

Between January 2021 and June 2023, the police received 19,347 reports of spiking. However, it is important to note that the principal offence rule prioritises recording the most serious offence, which means cases of spiking linked to other offences are captured under that substantive category rather than separately in central data.

Additionally, we assess that spiking crimes are underreported for a range of reasons, including embarrassment, lack of trust in the police or assumption that the police could not help or would not believe victims. To help overcome this and encourage more suspected victims of spiking to come forward, including anonymously if they so wish, the Police have launched an online reporting tool, available on police.uk.

The government is enhancing how the police record and report spiking crimes. From April 2026, spiking will be part of the Police’s Annual Data Requirement which will improve both the quality and quantity of data, as well as the frequency of reporting.

The Home Office will also look to utilise the National Data Quality Improvement Service (NDQIS), a computer-assisted classification tool, to greatly improve the analysis of the data it receives. NDQIS will have a range of benefits including being able to identify crimes which were facilitated by spiking, such as rape or sexual assault. We expect this to give us a better understanding of the scale of spiking and its use in enabling other crimes.

Tackling spiking is a government priority. We are implementing a comprehensive set of actions to strengthen awareness, prevention and detection, enhance support for victims and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice, including:
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment the factors that can prevent adults with positive reasonable grounds decisions from entering support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure all those eligible for support can receive it. \p Jess Phillips: Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.

All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.

Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.

If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.

Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.

For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.
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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of victims of grooming gangs who will have convictions for prostitution expunged. \p Jess Phillips: The Home Office is setting up a disregards scheme for convictions and cautions issued to under 18s for persistently loitering or soliciting in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution, contrary to Section 1 of The Street Offences Act 1959.

A preliminary search of centrally held digital records suggests that 352 individuals have been cautioned or convicted for this offence while under 18, since 1995. We are legislating in the Crime and Policing Bill to disregard and pardon these convictions and cautions.

However, it is not possible to calculate the proportion of the 352 individuals who were the victim of group based child sexual exploitation.

We are aware that victims of group based child sexual exploitation may have been convicted for other offences; the Ministry of Justice is working with the Criminal Cases Review Commission to ensure it is properly resourced to review the applications of victims of Child Sexual Exploitation who believe they were unjustly convicted when their position as a victim was not properly understood.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to introduce a fit and proper persons test for social media platform ownership. \p Kanishka Narayan: The Online Safety Act enables senior management to be held to account. Action can be taken against senior managers who deliberately fail to ensure companies follow information requests from Ofcom. Ofcom will also be able to hold companies and senior managers (where they are at fault) liable if the provider fails to comply with Ofcom's enforcement notices in relation to specific child safety duties.
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Kerry McCarthy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to establish a (a) social media curfew and (b) cap on smartphone screen time for children. \p Kanishka Narayan: It is important that children can seize the opportunities that being online offers whilst being safe. The Online Safety Act provides protections for children from illegal and harmful content online

We continue to explore evidence around the impact of social media on children. We will not hesitate to take further action to protect children from online harm, if evidence shows it is needed.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make a comparative assessment of the (a) growth and (b) global market share of the space industry in (i) the UK and (ii) other G7 countries. \p Kanishka Narayan: As part of its ongoing space policy development, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) already makes comparative assessments of the growth and global market share of the UK space industry, drawing on data from a wide range of countries (including other G7 economies). These assessments ensure that the UK’s space sector performance is understood in its international context, using the latest available evidence.

The UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2024 report estimated the total income of the UK space sector to be £18.6 billion in 2022/23 and the 2023 report Expanding Frontiers has details about countries’ percentage market shares. DSIT will continue to analyse and monitor data on the UK’s place in the global space industry.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many different (a) iOS and (b) Android apps are run by government departments. \p Ian Murray: There is currently no central register of apps across government.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 69 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, on what areas of technology with potential defence interest have the Advanced Research and Invention Agency held recent discussions with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. \p Kanishka Narayan: As an independent research body custom built to fund high-risk, high-reward scientific research, Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has autonomy in its project choice and partnerships and has regular discussions with a number of public bodies, including DSTL. ARIA is not currently working on a defence project with DSTL.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of contracts awarded under European Space Agency programmes supported by UK funding have been secured by UK-based organisations since 2020. \p Kanishka Narayan: Since 2020, ESA has awarded €2.05 billion worth of contracts to UK entities, spanning industry and academia. This has been distributed across more than 69,000 contracts to UK space sector. We are unable to provide the proportion of UK contracts awarded to total ESA contracts because this is withheld by ESA due to commercial sensitivities.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure Henley and Thame constituency has 99% gigabit coverage by 2032. \p Kanishka Narayan: As part of Project Gigabit, Gigaclear is delivering a contract across South Oxfordshire to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial rollout plans. Approximately 3,300 premises in Henley and Thame constituency are currently included in this contract, which is expected to complete by 2026.

Additionally, approximately 250 premises within the constituency are included in a Project Gigabit contract being delivered by CityFibre covering Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and East Berkshire. This contract is currently expected to complete by 2029.

We will aim to cover the remaining premises that are not currently included in Project Gigabit or suppliers’ commercial delivery plans as far as possible as funding becomes available, in line with the objective of achieving nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032.
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Llinos Medi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 41189, what was the total value of (a) rents and (b) royalty fees paid by private businesses to the Crown Estate in Wales in the 2024-2025 financial year. \p James Murray: The Crown Estate’s Integrated annual report and accounts are published each year, and laid before Parliament. These set out details of The Crown Estate’s financial returns and information on how it delivers value for the long-term benefit of the UK. The Crown Estate will provide separate reporting for Wales in its 2025-26 accounts.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reforms to the tax and benefits system for young people in supported accommodation. \p James Murray: The Chancellor regularly engages with Cabinet colleagues across a wide range of policy issues including tax and welfare.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has plans to consult with representatives of choirs and other vocal ensembles on the scope of Orchestra Tax Relief. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government supports the creative industries, including orchestras, through funding and via the tax system. Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) was introduced to recognise and sustain the distinct cultural and economic activity associated with orchestral productions.

Under current rules, qualifying concerts must be performed by a group of at least twelve instrumentalists. The human voice is not considered an instrument for these purposes. However, orchestra concerts with a vocal element are eligible for the relief providing that the orchestra has at least 12 instrumentalists, and the instrumentalists are the primary focus.

In considering any changes to existing tax reliefs or introducing new ones, Government has to consider a wide range of factors, including the specific aims of the relief, the costs and complexity of designing and administering new provisions, and fairness.

Decisions on tax are taken by the Chancellor at fiscal events, in the context of overall public finances.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Cycle to Work tax exemption initiative on the economy. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Cycle to Work Scheme is made available as a Benefit in Kind and uses the tax exemption for the employer-provision of cycles and associated safety equipment. The scheme was introduced in 1999 to to encourage employees to commute by bicycle by offering a tax-efficient route to access relevant equipment.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) commissioned independent research to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cycle to Work Scheme, alongside carrying out economic research on the bicycle market’s implications for the scheme’s success. The evaluation and the economic research were published in April 2025.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of personal allowance threshold freezes on people in each income decile for each year from 2015 to date. \p Dan Tomlinson: The previous government made the decision to freeze the income tax Personal Allowance at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028.

The previous government published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) setting out the impacts.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the UK delegation attending the fourth Meeting of Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control plans to (a) oppose the extension of the scope of application of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products beyond tobacco products to electronic nicotine delivery services and (b) help ensure that proposed amendments of the Treaty follow the proper procedures. \p Dan Tomlinson: The procedures for amending the World Health Organization Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products are laid down in Articles 38 and 39 of that treaty. These stipulate that any proposals need to be communicated to parties at least six months before the session at which they are proposed to be adopted.

As no such communication has been made in this case, if any proposals for extending the Treaty to electronic nicotine delivery services were to emerge, they would need to be considered at a future Meeting of Parties (MOP) rather than this MOP. The UK would always seek to ensure that any proposals to amend the Treaty follow the proper procedures.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Valuation Office Agency's guidance entitled Practice Note 3: 2023: Major International and Regional Airports has been updated for the (a) 2026 business rates revaluation and (b) phasing out of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Valuation Office Agency's guidance will be updated for the 2026 revaluation and will be published when the Rating List is compiled on 1 April 2026.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November 2025, CP 1424, what steps she is taking to help ensure an equitable geographic distribution of the 350 new banking hubs; whether the rollout will prioritise areas that have recently experienced bank branch closures; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the new digital pass for identity verification will be accessible for people with limited digital (a) access and (b) literacy. \p Lucy Rigby: Earlier this month, I published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out a range of interventions to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This included a key focus on addressing barriers around access to banking and digital inclusion.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for customers. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 190 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment.

The locations of banking hubs are independently determined by LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments. LINK will carry out an assessment wherever a branch closure is announced or if they receive a community request.

LINK will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services. Some of the criteria that LINK considers are whether there is a bank branch remaining, population size, number of shops on the high street, distance to the nearest bank branch, public transport links and vulnerability of the population.

In September, the government set out plans for a new government-backed Digital ID scheme. This Digital ID will make it easier for people across the UK to use vital government services, but will also streamline verification processes across private sectors too, such as when opening a new bank account. As part of the government’s forthcoming consultation on the new Digital ID scheme, the government will look at how to make the scheme inclusive, such as by integrating assistive technologies for those with physical or cognitive disabilities, and ensuring that physical alternatives are available for those without smartphones.
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Andrew George:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the economic impact of bank branch closures on high streets for local businesses; and what steps are being considered to mitigate these. \p Lucy Rigby: Banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. Whilst the Government does not make economic estimates regarding the impact of branch closures, the Government does understand the importance of face-to-face banking to high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for customers. That is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs on high streets across the UK by the end of this Parliament. More than 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 190 are already open.

This Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets and supporting the businesses and communities that make our town centres successful. Alongside the £5bn funding for Pride in Place, we have announced a suite of tools to support communities to improve their high streets, including: High Street Rental Auctions giving councils the power to auction the lease of long-term vacant premises; a Community Right to Buy for communities to take ownership of local buildings they value; and streamlining the compulsory purchase process to help local authorities regenerate high streets.
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Andrew George:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to promote (a) community banking models and (b) cooperative financial institutions to improve access to banking services in underserved areas. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises the importance of diversity in the UK financial services sector, including community banking and co-operative models such as credit unions. These institutions provide valuable options for local communities, including underserved areas, by offering savings products and affordable credit.

To support this, the Government is pursuing plans to reform the credit union common bond, making it easier for credit unions to grow and serve more members. We have also asked the FCA and PRA to publish a report on the mutuals landscape by the end of 2025 to inform future policy development.

In addition, some building societies are exploring innovative ways to deliver banking services alongside their branch networks, such as through multi-bank kiosks with deposit ATMs. The Government welcomes these industry-led initiatives that improve access to banking services for customers.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of bank closures on footfall in (a) town centres and (b) high streets. \p Lucy Rigby: Banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. Whilst the Government does not make estimates regarding the impact of branch closures on town centre footfall, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to high streets and is committed to championing sufficient access for customers. That is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs on high streets across the UK by the end of this Parliament. More than 240 hubs have been announced so far, and over 190 are already open.

This Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets and supporting the businesses and communities that make our town centres successful. Alongside the £5bn funding for Pride in Place, we have announced a suite of tools to support communities to improve their high streets, including: High Street Rental Auctions giving councils the power to auction the lease of long-term vacant premises; a Community Right to Buy for communities to take ownership of local buildings they value; and streamlining the compulsory purchase process to help local authorities regenerate high streets.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_99

Andrew George:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made on implementing the provisions in Schedule 8 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 on access to cash; and what discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the effectiveness of its powers to enforce those provisions. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 granted the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the responsibility and powers to seek to ensure the reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. The FCA introduced regulatory rules to protect access to cash in September 2024. Its rules ensure cash continues to be a viable method of payment for the millions of people who depend on it by providing reasonable access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for individuals and businesses, including free services for personal accounts.

The FCA is required by law to keep its rules under review and has been closely monitoring the impact and effectiveness of their regime during its first year. It will commence a formal evaluation of its regime in due course.

The Government meets regularly with the FCA to discuss a range of topics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_100

Ben Maguire:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of implementing a pilot scheme for banks to provide standardised anti-money laundering checks for use in property transactions. \p Lucy Rigby: The requirements for anti-money laundering checks in property transactions are set out in the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs). The MLRs are not prescriptive in setting out precisely how banks and other regulated firms should undertake anti-money laundering checks, but instead require firms to take a proportionate approach commensurate with their assessment of the risk. Each bank will therefore have its own policies and procedures within this broader framework. The Government keeps the MLRs under periodic review to ensure that requirements remain effective and proportionate for all regulated sectors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_101

Andrew George:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises have access to affordable banking services in rural areas. \p Lucy Rigby: The government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to rural and coastal communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for both business and personal customers. This is why the government is working with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs by the end of the Parliament.

While decisions on branch provision are commercial decisions for banks themselves, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance requires firms to conduct a robust impact analysis. Firms must show they have considered customer needs and identified potential reasonable alternatives. The FCA also expects engagement with stakeholders at least 12 weeks before closure and firms must ensure that any replacement services, such as banking hubs, are in place before a branch closes. These measures aim to ensure closures are implemented fairly and transparently.

The FCA also has responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. As part of this responsibility, the FCA must also seek to ensure that there is reasonable provision of free withdrawal and deposit facilities in relation to personal current accounts, and requires LINK, as the cash coordination body, to make a cash access assessment when a branch or ATM closes. In circumstances where LINK considers that a community requires additional cash services, the financial services sector will provide a suitable shared solution, such as an ATM, cash deposit service, or shared banking hub, for cash users in that community.

Alternative options for personal and business customers to access banking include the online and mobile banking, telephone banking and the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Post Office is required by the Department for Business & Trade to ensure that 95% of the total rural population across the UK is within 3 miles of their nearest Post Office.

The government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy sets out a 10-year plan to ensure the UK remains a leading global financial centre, supporting innovation, investment, and consumer access. While the strategy focuses on growth and competitiveness across the sector, we recognise the importance of access to banking services in rural communities. HM Treasury continues to work closely with the financial services industry, regulators, and stakeholders to monitor provision and explore solutions, such as shared banking hubs and digital infrastructure, to maintain access to essential services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_102

Barry Gardiner:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK listings requirements for fossil fuel companies are consistent with (a) the Supreme Court ruling in Finch v Surrey County Council and (b) the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion, which both require Scope 3 emissions to be included in project Environmental Impact Assessments. \p Lucy Rigby: Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) delivered an ambitious modernisation of the UK’s listing rules, to bring the UK in line with international best practice. From 19 January 2026, the UK’s new Prospectus regime will cut the paperwork firms need to produce when they IPO and raise capital, while providing better, more relevant information to investors.

The government’s work to finalise the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) is a core part of the government’s ambition to make the UK a global hub for green and transition finance activity. These standards are based on the interoperable standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board in June 2023 and aim to support long-term investor decision making by providing high quality and comparable information and on sustainability-related risks and opportunities that businesses face.

The government consultation on UK SRS closed on 17 September. The government is currently processing feedback and will publish its response in due course along with the final set of standards for voluntary use. Separately, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that they will be consulting soon on how UK SRS is applied to publicly listed companies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_103

Jess Asato:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has (a) implemented a domestic abuse policy for staff and (b) trained line managers to effectively respond to staff who are experiencing domestic abuse. \p Dan Tomlinson: HM Treasury provides ongoing guidance to all staff on how to handle domestic abuse. The guidance provides comprehensive information on how to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and outlines the steps managers can take to offer appropriate support.

HMT is also a member of the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse which provides additional resources to ensure all of our staff are able to recognise key signs and have additional support materials to hand to enable them to support staff members who may be experiencing domestic abuse.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_104

Llinos Medi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a cut in VAT for the hospitality sector in Wales. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK.

VAT is a reserved tax, applying UK wide. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, including alcohol, whether served in hospitality establishments or sold in supermarkets. HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £10 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater.

The Government is supporting the hospitality sector through the business rates system. To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026/27. Ahead of these changes being made, we have prevented RHL relief from ending in April 2025 by extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_105

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she expect to receive the Payments Forward Plan from the Payments Vision Delivery Committee before 18 December 2025. \p Lucy Rigby: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 30 October 2025 to PQ UIN 85107.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_106

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on hospitality by the No10 business unit since 4 July 2024. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: 10 Downing Street engages with businesses from a variety of sectors to deliver economic growth, in collaboration with other government departments. There has been no hospitality expenditure by the No10 Business Team since 4 July 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_107

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 29 August 2025, to Question 69015, on Government Department: Official Cars, whether the Cabinet Office has released information on expenditure on Ministerial cars through the Government Car Service under the Freedom of Information Act since 4 July 2024. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government Car Service (GCS) transferred to the Cabinet Office from the Department for Transport, as a result of a machinery of government change, on 1st April 2025. Freedom of Information (FOI) requests relating to GCS prior to that date were answered by the Department for Transport.

Since 1st April 2025, information on expenditure has been released by the Cabinet Office in response to FOI requests, where appropriate, and in line with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.