theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 64393 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme: Coronavirus, what steps he is taking to improve the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. \p Ashley Dalton: I would like to reiterate my profound and sincere sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.

The Department has been working with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the administrators of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), to take steps to improve the scheme and process claims at a faster rate. Building on work to scale up and modernise operations through the digitisation of the claims process and increasing administrative staff working on the VDPS, the NHSBSA is engaging with healthcare providers to improve the return rate of medical records, essential to assessing claims, including through submitting subject access requests.

In parallel, Ministers continue to actively consider a range of options for further reforming the VDPS.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Department's press release entitled Major NHS update brings menopause into routine health checks, published on 23 October 2025, what steps he is taking to identify those who are eligible for but have not undertaken health checks. \p Ashley Dalton: The recent announcement that menopause will be included in the NHS Health Check will mean that eligible women can access information on menopause more easily, including information on managing symptoms, where to seek support, and treatment options.

Based on the percentage of eligible people who received an NHS Health Check in 2024/25, we expect that approximately 2.1 million women aged 40 to 55 years old could be given this support in the next five years. If all eligible women aged 40 to 55 years old received an NHS Health Check, we would provide information on the menopause to up to five million women every five years.

We know that there is more to do to improve the impact of the NHS Health Check programme and we are currently piloting an online NHS Health Check which we hope will make it easier for people to access this important health check.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the UK Health Security Agency has made of the fatality rate associated with invasive Candidozyma auris infection. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) routinely monitors the candidozyma auris situation in England and shares information with hospitals and health system partners so they can put in place timely measures to protect patients.

There is no published UKHSA data on fatality associated with invasive candidozyma auris infection, however the UKHSA is closely monitoring situation in England with improved surveillance, including the attributable and all-cause mortality for candidozyma auris.

Candidozyma auris cases have increased in the United Kingdom in recent years. Our most recent epidemiological commentary states that between January 2013 and April 2025 inclusive, a total of 800 candidozyma auris cases, both infections and colonisations, where people are carrying the organism on their skin without any symptom or illness, were reported in England. Reassuringly, the vast majority of these are colonisations, with 87% being colonised, 12% being invasive, and 1% of an unknown specimen type. Colonisation without invasive infection has a negligible risk of negative health outcomes. The UKHSA is currently validating a process for reporting mortality figures as part of future routine data releases. Further information and guidance is available on the candidozyma auris collection page, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/candidozyma-auris
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve public (a) awareness and (b) education on (i) epilepsy and (ii) Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. \p Ashley Dalton: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on epilepsy recommends that clinicians should discuss the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) with patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy, and ensure their understanding of the risk, which will raise awareness of the issue among patients and their families.

Additionally, the Royal College of General Practitioners aims to raise awareness of SUDEP amongst GPs and other primary care professionals, through its e-learning modules on SUDEP and seizure safety, which were developed in collaboration with SUDEP Action and last updated in December 2024.

Health Education England, now part of NHS England, has also developed an Epilepsy Programme in collaboration with SUDEP Action, which is designed to enable healthcare professionals, particularly those who are not specialists in epilepsy, to better understand SUDEP and how the risk of SUDEP can be reduced.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 August 2025 to Question 68971 on General Practitioners: Disclosure of Information, with which stakeholders the impact of information sharing duties on GPs was last discussed; and at what forums this was discussed. \p Ashley Dalton: Keeping children safe is a priority for the Government. The new information sharing duty will clarify when a child’s information should be shared, which should ease the overall burden on practitioners. It will be supported by statutory guidance, and we will work closely with multi-agency partners to ensure effective implementation.

To ensure the impact on general practitioners is effectively captured in the information sharing duty, the Department have consulted the following stakeholders:

- Action for Children;

- Barnardo’s;

- British Association of Social Workers;

- Domestic Abuse Commissioner;

- General Medical Council;

- Royal College of General Practitioners;

- Information Commissioner’s Office;

- Nursing and Midwifery Council;

- Operation Encompass;

- Social Work England;

- Teaching Regulation Agency, Teacher Misconduct; and

- over 400 individual practitioners, including those working in health.

All consultations took place in the form of meetings.

We are committed to ongoing engagement with health stakeholders as we plan for the effective implementation of the information sharing duty.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the funding settlement for Start for Life services will reflect (a) the widened age range from 0-2 to 0-5 and the (b) increases in the number of local authorities covered by the programme; whether the updated programme guidance will explicitly promote good practice on (i) parent-infant relationships and (ii) infant mental health; and whether it will ring-fence funding to help (A) sustain and (B) develop those services. \p Ashley Dalton: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out a long-term vision to improve the nation’s health by expanding Start for Life services and integrating zero- to five-year-olds health and children’s services into communities, with a strong focus on the critical 1,001 days.

Building on the £126 million investment in Family Hubs and Start for Life services in 2025/26, a further £500 million will support the national rollout of Best Start Family Hubs to every local authority in England from April 2026.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that local authorities are supported to deliver high-quality Start for Life services. National support includes the promotion of good practice in areas such as parent-infant relationships and infant mental health. Updated programme guidance for all local authorities will be designed to support delivery against the programme’s core objectives, drawing on this learning.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of home testing by post for sexually transmitted infections. \p Ashley Dalton: Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning comprehensive, open access sexual health services, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, through the Public Health Grant, which was funded at £3.884 billion in 2025/26. It is for individual local authorities to decide their spending priorities, based on an assessment of local need, and to commission the blend of services that best suits their population, including decisions about online, face to face, or postal testing services.

The UK Health Security Agency published the STI prioritisation framework in 2024, which enables local systems to identify the best suite of interventions for their local populations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) national guidance and (b) regulations on setting a minimum age for body piercings. \p Ashley Dalton: There are no plans to set a national minimum age for body piercings. The Department has produced model byelaws for cosmetic piercing under the Local Government Act 2003 and Local Government (miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982. The purpose of the model byelaws is to recognise and set nationally accepted standards that reduce the spread of infectious diseases and protect public health. Further, the Tattooing and body piercing guidance toolkit, a copy of which is attached, provides local authorities and businesses with information on good standards of practice. These national models and standards help local authorities create clear and consistent byelaws, which is beneficial for both local businesses and the public.

Additional document 1 (pdf, 2905.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help raise awareness among young people of the risks of sudden cardiac death in (a) grassroots sports clubs and (b) higher education settings. \p Ashley Dalton: To reduce the risks of sudden cardiac death, NHS England has a published a national service specification for Inherited Cardiac Conditions that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease or as families requiring follow up due to a death from this cause. This describes the service model and guidance that should be followed to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for specialised Inherited Cardiac Conditions services to investigate suspected cases.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the public in (a) recognising and (b) rejecting health misinformation. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department takes the challenge of health misinformation seriously and recognises its potential impact on public health outcomes. We focus on delivering consistent, clinically assured messaging that builds public trust and confidence, positioning the Department and the National Health Service as reliable sources of health information and advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to help (a) increase the proportion of people with asthma that receive annual check-ups and (b) decrease preventable deaths from asthma. \p Ashley Dalton: The majority of patients with asthma are managed by general practitioners and members of the primary care team, with onward referrals to secondary care where required. The provision of annual reviews is incentivised in primary care through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). Further details on the QOF asthma indicators are available in the QOF guidance, a copy of which is attached.

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the British Thoracic Society, and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network published the guideline Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management, in November 2024, which covers diagnosing, monitoring, and managing asthma in adults, young people, and children. NHS England has also been working jointly with the Health Innovation Networks to form a national respiratory partnership to improve asthma outcomes, including through implementation of this asthma guideline.

Additional Document (pdf, 972.0KB)
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to promote early detection of treatable diseases amongst (a) the public and (b) healthcare workers. \p Ashley Dalton: Each year, over 15 million people are invited for screening, with over 10 million taking up the invitation. In total, this saves approximately 10,000 lives every year and enables many others to make better informed decisions around their health.

The Government delivers 11 screening programmes to detect 33 treatable conditions. The antenatal screening programme also provides information for couples about their baby.

On 14 October 2025, NHS England announced that newborn screening for the rare, life-threatening metabolic disorder hereditary tyrosinaemia type 1 is now being offered to all babies in England.

In early 2026, screening providers will also be able to offer human papillomavirus self-sampling kits to under-screened individuals in the National Health Service cervical screening programme in England. Evidence suggests that self-sampling will increase the numbers engaging with the screening programme.

In addition to this, the Government continues to deliver the NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease prevention programme, which aims to detect those at risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease for people aged between 40 to 74 years old. In 2024/25, the NHS Health Check engaged over 1.4 million people and prevented an estimated 500 heart attacks and strokes. To improve access to the programme we are piloting an online NHS Health Check so that people can undertake a check at a time and place convenient to them.

Employers across the NHS have their own arrangements in place for supporting their staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and board level scrutiny through health and wellbeing guardians.

We will also roll out Staff Treatment hubs to ensure that staff have access to high quality support for mental health and back conditions.

At a national level, NHS England has made additional support available. This includes a focus on healthy working environments, tools and resources to support line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their wellbeing, and emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to make (a) apheresis and (b) immunoabsorption treatments available for vaccine damage patients when doctors feel it would be beneficial. \p Ashley Dalton: In the very rare event where an individual may have suffered a severe adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine, care and treatment will be managed by National Health Service local specialist services, augmented as appropriate by national specialist advice, with any treatment dependent on the individual’s clinical needs.

The Government remains committed to research to improve the diagnosis and treatment in those rare cases where individuals may have suffered a severe adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Since the start of the pandemic, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has allocated more than £110 million of funding for COVID-19 vaccine research, including consideration of issues around vaccine safety. As part of this, the Department commissioned a £1.6 million programme of work through the NIHR, to understand the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome, a rare condition of blood clotting with low platelets following vaccination for COVID-19.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2025 to WPQ 87695, what plans the Commission has to improve the efficiency and workability of the IT system in the immediate future. \p Nick Smith: The House of Commons Commission has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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James Wild:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects the HousePapers mobile app to be replaced. \p Nick Smith: The HousePapers mobile app is being replaced by improved web apps for both Houses, offering a seamless way to access all parliamentary business papers on the go.

The new web apps will operate on any device, including desktops, mobiles and tablets, and should ensure that more Members, their staff, and anyone interested in the work of Parliament, are able to access the information they need more readily.

The new web apps will be launched by Tuesday 13 January 2026. They will allow users to access:

There will be no gap in service for existing users of the HousePapers app, which will continue to provide parliamentary papers until after the launch of the new web apps, and all the documents are also available from the Commons Business and Lords Business webpages.

More information will be available at the House Services Fair for Members and their staff on 9 and 10 December, and further communications will follow nearer to the launch.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 40025 on Parliamentary Estate: Detergents, whether the list of cleaning products that are not certified as cruelty-free has changed since April 2025. \p Nick Smith: The list of cleaning products used on the Parliament Estate that are not certified as cruelty-free has not changed since April 2025.

Our cleaning contractor continues to look for suitable cruelty-free alternatives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much Companies House has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years. \p Blair McDougall: Since the 2020/2021 financial year, Companies House spent the following amounts on external translation and interpretation services:

2025/26

2024/25

2023/24

2022/23

2021/22

2020/21

£18,896

£8,925

£0

£0

£0

£13,924
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to re-introduce postal verification for trustees of (a) companies and (b) charities who are otherwise excluded from these roles due to lack of digital accessibility. \p Blair McDougall: Identity verification at Companies House is a new requirement for company directors. Some charities are incorporated as companies, and some companies limited by guarantee call their directors ‘trustees’. Only trustees who are company directors must verify under the new requirements. Previously no identity verification process existed for these roles. Individuals can verify their identity through Companies House routes or via an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. The process has been designed to be as straightforward and accessible as possible and where identity cannot be verified online, users may be directed to complete the process in person at a participating Post Office.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many companies registered with Companies House were a). trading b). dormant and c). pending strike off action for each year from 2015 to date. \p Blair McDougall: The following table shows the total size of the Register of Companies and the trading status of companies in the specified periods:

Financial Year

Total register at end of period

Trading Status

Trading

Dormant

2015-16

3,678,860

3,191,442

487,418

2016-17

3,896,755

3,398,018

498,737

2017-18

4,033,355

3,528,417

504,938

2018-19

4,202,044

3,681,450

520,594

2019-20

4,350,913

3,811,504

539,409

2020-21

4,716,126

4,159,227

556,899

2021-22

4,894,356

4,294,680

599,676

2022-23

5,116,743

4,474,920

641,823

2023-24

5,350,759

4,697,033

653,726

2024-25

5,427,787

4,757,947

669,840

The following table shows the status of entities on the register at the start and end of the reporting period:

Financial Year

Total register at end of period

Effective register at end of period

In course of dissolution

In liquidation

2015-16

3,678,860

3,433,780

160,419

84,661

2016-17

3,896,755

3,648,478

159,802

88,475

2017-18

4,033,355

3,770,022

172,455

90,878

2018-19

4,202,044

3,926,374

185,065

90,605

2019-20

4,350,913

4,064,063

194,049

92,801

2020-21

4,716,126

4,410,236

210,732

95,158

2021-22

4,894,356

4,499,342

293,784

101,230

2022-23

5,116,743

4,645,402

364,998

106,343

2023-24

5,350,759

4,876,374

365,033

109,352

2024-25

5,427,787

4,872,293

443,076

112,418

Figures in both tables are extracted from management information. They are unaudited and subject to change.

Due to timing differences, discrepancies can occur between the register status statistics and the trading status statistics. Consequently, the trading status statistics have been adjusted proportionally to align with the Official Statistics publication.

A review of the statistics regularly published is ongoing.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to support the hospitality sector. \p Kate Dearden: We recognise that hospitality businesses are at the beating heart of communities, providing not just a place to socialise but essential services and local jobs. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.

In April, we launched a Taskforce to review premises licensing and develop proposals for a more balanced system that safeguards communities while supporting responsible businesses. These reforms form part of the Small Business Strategy, which is designed to tackle late payments, improve access to finance and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

We are also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We continue to work closely with the sector through the Hospitality Sector Council to address challenges.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Industrial Strategy on trends in the level of private sector investment in the West Midlands. \p Blair McDougall: The Government will use the Office for National Statistics dataset (Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Volume Index Capital Service) to analyse investment trends. This dataset releases regional level data annually; Government will analyse sector-level trends once the data is released. Information on specific investment commitments in regions can be found in the Industrial Strategy Quarterly Report excel tables on GOV.UK (published on 7th October 2025), such as the Boeing contract from US Air Force that will create 150 high-skilled jobs in Birmingham.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Industrial Strategy on the fiscal position of the UK. \p Blair McDougall: Since publication, over £250 billion of investment commitments have been made into the IS-8, boosting our frontier industries. These commitments will enhance their rate of growth and in turn bring in higher tax revenues.

Fiscal policy is a matter for the Treasury, and the Chancellor has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility to produce an economic and fiscal forecast to be published alongside the Budget on 26 November.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium sized enterprises in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency. \p Blair McDougall: Government published its Small Business Plan (Backing your Business) in July 2025, delivering comprehensive support for small and medium sized businesses. The plan outlines five ambitious actions: fixing fundamentals by ending late payments; unlocking finance through a stronger British Business Bank; backing the everyday economy by revitalising high streets, opening international trade opportunities and future proofing business skills through digital technologies and AI.

We are committed to providing core funding to a network of Growth Hubs across England. All businesses in Ely and East Cambridgeshire can visit their local Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Growth Hub for free, tailored advice.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of regulatory changes on compliance costs for SMEs. \p Blair McDougall: The Government is committed to reducing regulatory compliance costs for SMEs and announced in March a commitment to reduce the administrative burden of regulation for all businesses by £5.6 billion by the end of this Parliament. We have already announced a number of specific measures to ease the regulatory burden on SMEs, including our efforts to modernise corporate reporting requirements. This will include exempting tens of thousands of companies from producing Strategic and Directors' Reports, helping to deliver annual savings of around £230 million.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Industrial Strategy on trends in the level of private sector investment. \p Blair McDougall: The Government published its first Industrial Strategy Quarterly Update on 7th October 2025 on GOV.UK, which contains information on the £250bn worth of investment commitments since the Industrial Strategy launched, and trends for business investment, gross value added, employment and productivity.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any trade unions have not provided full accounts to the Certification Officer in the last three years. \p Kate Dearden: The Certification Officer provides high-level information about compliance with the requirement to submit an annual return in his Annual Report to the Secretary of State each year. This report is laid before both Houses of Parliament by the Secretary of State and published on the Certification Officer's website. The Certification Officer’s report for 2024/25 was published on 7 July 2025 and is available online.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on levels of hiring confidence among small and medium-sized enterprises. \p Kate Dearden: My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This analysis includes consideration of increases in labour costs for businesses and the subsequent effects, as well as assessments on the impacts to micro, small and medium businesses in line with the Better Regulation Framework.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that new regulations on zero-hours contracts reflect (a) seasonal and (b) fluctuating work patterns in the (i) hospitality, (ii) agriculture and (iii) other seasonal sectors. \p Kate Dearden: We appreciate that work can fluctuate seasonally for certain sectors. The Employment Rights Bill provides powers for the zero-hours measures to cater for seasonal work through regulations. We will consult employers, trade unions, and other stakeholders to inform these regulations.

The Bill already allows businesses flexibility while abiding by the legislation. For example, businesses will still be able to use contracts which offer variable numbers of hours of work at different times of the year. It also allows guaranteed hours offers to take the form of limited-term contracts, where reasonable.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) Employment Rights Bill and (b) changes to employers' National Insurance Contributions on small and medium-sized businesses. \p Kate Dearden: My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments These include assessments on the impacts to micro, small and medium businesses in line with the Better Regulation Framework.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from the changes to employer NICs by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_139

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of preventing (a) housing developers, (b) management companies and (c) housing associations from imposing blanket bans on amateur radio antennas. \p Chris McDonald: The Department for Business and Trade has no plans to make an assessment on preventing companies from imposing blanket bans on amateur radio antennas.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_140

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage businesses to offer work experience placements to recent university graduates. \p Chris McDonald: The government encourages work experience through various initiatives spanning various departments. The Department for Business and Trade published the UK’s Industrial, Trade and Small Business Strategies, which were developed in partnership with business, with positive feedback from leading business organisations. For example, the Industrial Strategy will provide an additional £1.2bn of investment in the skills system by 2028-29.

The Department for Work and Pensions has an established strong network of partnerships with external training providers, universities, and graduate employment platforms to enhance graduate employment opportunities.

DWP are reforming Jobcentre Plus to create a new, more personalised employment support service across Great Britain. This new service will move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and recognise that individuals – including graduates – have different needs. It will provide tailored help to find good, meaningful work and support progression in employment, with a stronger focus on skills and careers.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_141

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps are being taken to simplify access to the Business Support programme. \p Blair McDougall: There is fantastic support available to businesses across the UK, but we know many SMEs find it difficult to navigate the system. That is why we launched the Business Growth Service as part of the Small Business Plan, making it easier and quicker for businesses to get the help, support and advice they need to start, grow and succeed. It will be the nationally recognised brand for business support, with a single online access point at business.gov.uk, delivered in partnership with public bodies, devolved governments and the private sector.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_142

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Post Office (a) litigation, (b) compensation schemes and (c) public communications related to Horizon IT. \p Blair McDougall: No public funding commitments nor costs have been incurred to date with regards to litigation.

At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government set aside £1.8 billion of funding for redress payments from 2024-25 in addition to around £200 million that had already been distributed. This is not a target or limit. As of 31 October 2025, approximately £1,273 million has been paid to over 9,500 claimants.

As part of the spending review settlement over £500 million has been committed over the Parliament to allow the Post Office to implement its Strategic Transformation Plan, including the replacement of the legacy Horizon computer system.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_143

Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support diversification in (a) vineyards, (b) farm shops, (c) tourism and (d) other small rural business. \p Blair McDougall: The Department’s flagship plan for Small and Medium Sized Business is giving rural businesses the tools they need to grow and diversify. Our plan will help businesses to tackle late payments, improve access to finance, and streamline licensing. Targeted funding and Growth Hubs will provide tailored advice alongside sector-specific schemes to encourage innovation and local investment. DBT also provides advice and support for businesses via business.gov.uk, including access to the Business Academy and international market teams. These measures help rural businesses to thrive, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_144

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much the Competition and Markets Authority has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years. \p Kate Dearden: The total spend by the CMA on translation and interpretation services for the past five financial years is as follows:

Financial Year

Net Total Spend by Invoice Payment Date per Financial Year (£s)

2020/21

10,860.58

2021/22

8,677.07

2022/23

10,085.18

2023/24

19,012.28

2024/25

13,218.41

Total

61,853.52
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_145
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_145

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will issue guidance on the interaction between his Department's proposed probationary period and employees’ rights to claim unfair dismissal under the Employment Rights Bill. \p Kate Dearden: The Government’s Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap, published in July 2025, reiterated our commitment to producing guidance to ensure that employers and employees understand the Plan to Make Work Pay’s changes to employment law, including unfair dismissal day one rights and the statutory probation period.

The Government will work alongside Acas and other partners to ensure the development of practical guidance. We will ensure there is time for employers to prepare and familiarise themselves with the requirements of these changes before they are implemented in 2027.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_146

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the operational framework of the Trade Remedies Authority on steel safeguards due to expire at the end of June 2026. \p Chris McDonald: Steel remains a Government priority, with plans being developed for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year.

The steel safeguard is a temporary measure and is set to expire in June 2026 in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and cannot be extended further.

We held a Call for Evidence throughout July to gather stakeholder views on future policy options. We are currently reviewing all options and potential impacts carefully. Our long-term approach will be robust, evidence-based, and aligned with domestic and international obligations.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_147

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements will be in place to ensure cross-departmental decision-making between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Office in the implementation of the (a) Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme and (b) Veterinary Medicines Health Situations Scheme after 1 January 2026. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Cross-departmental decision-making arrangements are an internal Government matter. There is extensive cross-departmental engagement on this matter, including at official and ministerial level - and both within the UK Government and with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). In addition, DAERA is included in the Veterinary Medicines Working Group. This engagement also concerns the implementation of the two schemes, and the Government is confident that they will be delivered by 1 January.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_148

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's news story entitled Veterinary medicine supply in Northern Ireland beyond 2025, updated on 13 November 2025, how many veterinary medicine products are expected to be (a) withdrawn and (b) altered in Northern Ireland after 31 December 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Many businesses have already taken the steps to make the required adjustments so we are confident that the disruption to veterinary medicines supply will be limited.

After extensive stakeholder engagement, our current estimate is that between 10-15% of authorised products that are currently supplied will be discontinued. However, most of these discontinued products are not currently sold in Northern Ireland or are generics with multiple alternatives available. We have identified fewer than 20 products where discontinuation would pose significant risks to animal health and welfare if these risks were not addressed; the two schemes that we are introducing will serve to address those risks.

Although these figures may change as pharmaceutical companies take steps to adjust before the end of the year, we are not expecting to see a significant change and continue to monitor the situation closely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_149

Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the economic contribution of small-scale, family-run farms to local economies in England. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra does not collect data which classifies whether farms are family-run and does not hold any data on the economic contribution of small-scale, family run farms to local economies in England.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_150

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide advance notification to (a) veterinary practices and (b) farm businesses in Northern Ireland of changes to the availability of veterinary medicines. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Continued access to veterinary medicines for Northern Ireland at the end of the grace period is a government priority and we continue to engage extensively with industry stakeholders across the supply chain to support them with the availability of veterinary medicines beyond the grace period, including through the Veterinary Medicines Working Group (which includes industry bodies and experts), in person in Northern Ireland and through meetings with industry bodies and businesses across the sector, including vets and farming businesses. Where it concerns key industry bodies, such as the Northern Ireland Veterinary Association, my officials have regular meetings and will continue to do so until into the new year.

We have also published extensive guidance. This guidance again targets the full breadth of the sector, including specific information for farmers and vets. In addition, we will publish webinars later this month, for which we are currently collecting questions via an online forum. We intend to provide further information on products under the Veterinary Medicines Health Situation Scheme next month.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_151

Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on consumer (a) transparency and (b) trust if precision bred seeds and plant reproductive materials are labelled but the food and feed derived from them are not. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels, whether that be mandatory or voluntary, so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

For Precision Breeding, Defra has established additional measures for transparency and regulatory oversight, including public registers. These registers published by Defra and the Food Standards Agency, will ensure that information about precision bred plants approved for marketing and for use in food and feed is available in the public domain.
wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-19 conversation_152

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of delaying until close to 31 December 2025 the issuance of operational guidance on changes to the supply of veterinary medicines from 1 January 2026 to (a) veterinary practices and (b) suitably qualified persons in Northern Ireland on their ability to adequately prepare for the changes. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There has been no delay in the issuance of operational guidance. Guidance was published in June and updated in October and November. Updated guidance also includes specific references to vets and suitably qualified persons.

In addition, we continue to engage extensively with stakeholders across the sector, including those representing vets and suitably qualified persons.

The two schemes will take effect from 1 January 2026; we will monitor their effectiveness and consider further reviews if needed. We remain confident that the schemes can address supply gaps if they emerge.