theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on removing the current eligibility criteria for foreign nationals to claim Universal Credit. \p Andrew Western: The Department is playing an active role in work across Government connected to the Home Office’s recent White Paper ‘Restoring Control Over the Immigration System’. This includes membership in the Labour Market Advisory Group alongside the Migration Advisory Committee, Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and Skills England and devolved equivalents. The White Paper sets out ambitious changes including plans to increase the standard qualifying period for settlement and access to public funds benefits from five to ten years.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) prevention and (b) detection measures used to identify fraudulent claims for Universal Credit by foreign nationals. \p Andrew Western: This government takes all cases of fraud seriously and has introduced the biggest package of measures in recent history to reduce welfare fraud, error and debt, which includes new legislation, the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. This contains new powers to modernise our defences and is currently progressing through Parliament.

In 2024-25, we saved an estimated £25bn from our up-front controls and detect activity, with the latter delivering £2bn savings and thereby significantly exceeding our Annually Managed Expenditure savings target.

The Department always checks a person’s identity and immigration status before paying them benefits if they are a foreign national. We verify this information with the Home Office, including through automatic system-to-system checks.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the financial sustainability of the number of asylum seekers in receipt of Universal Credit. \p Andrew Western: People who are in the UK with no immigration status who are applying for asylum are not permitted access to public funds and therefore cannot claim Universal Credit.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the number of foreign nationals in receipt of each benefit across working age welfare spending. \p Andrew Western: There are no plans to start consistently collecting nationality data across all working age benefits. This is because DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing a customer’s eligibility to claim benefits. An individual’s specific nationality does not play a role in this.

The Department checks immigration status when assessing eligibility for benefits, but this information is not collated centrally across all benefit lines and hence is not readily available.

The Department publishes Universal Credit (UC) immigration status and nationality statistics as part of the Universal Credit statistics publication. The latest release of these statistics is included in the latest Universal Credit statistical bulletin. ‘Table 2’ in the latest Universal Credit immigration status and nationality data tables provides information on the number of people on Universal Credit by immigration status, nationality group and employment status, for each month from April 2022 to June 2025.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit. \p Andrew Western: The Department publishes Universal Credit (UC) immigration status and nationality statistics as part of the Universal Credit statistics publication. The latest release of these statistics is included in the latest Universal Credit statistical bulletin. ‘Table 2’ in the latest Universal Credit immigration status and nationality data tables provides information on the number of people on Universal Credit by immigration status, nationality group and employment status, for each month from April 2022 to June 2025.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential security risks posed to military sites by (a) what3words and (b) other digital mapping platforms. \p Al Carns: Defence is committed to maintaining the highest standards of security and will continue to adapt and respond to all threats to safeguard our national defence capabilities.

While we are unable to comment on specific security arrangements including the security risks posed by what3words and other digital mapping platforms, I can assure the hon. Member that we take the security of our sites extremely seriously and we are continually reviewing and updating our security measures.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64210 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the number of civilian visits to Diego Garcia on security. \p Al Carns: Chagossian Heritage Visits to Diego Garcia were routine prior to COVID-19. They are not frequent, are limited in the number of participants and are tightly controlled. Any person visiting Diego Garcia is subject to a number of security protocols.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of joining the European Defence Security Fund. \p Al Carns: This Government has delivered an ambitious security and defence partnership with the European Union. The Strategic Defence Review will strengthen NATO, the cornerstone of the UK’s defence, and it will help grow the economy. It allows us to step up on Euro-Atlantic security together and ensures we are able to explore UK access to Security Action for Europe (SAFE). We are working with our European partners to understand how an arrangement might work. The exact detail of UK participation will be subject to discussions on the specific terms of a UK-EU bilateral participation agreement; we do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of any such negotiations. This Government wants the right deal on the right terms.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days was the Union Flag flown on the Ministry of Defence Main Building in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Union Flag is flown permanently on the Ministry of Defence Main Building.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that communities in (a) rural constituencies and (b) West Dorset constituency can easily access the SAFE European defence funds. \p Al Carns: We are committed to ensuring defence is an engine for growth in all regions across the UK, including West Dorset. Our new Defence Industrial Strategy will be a truly nationwide effort, ensuring that the benefits of every pound spent on defence will be felt across the UK.

Recognising the potential opportunities SAFE could provide for UK industry, we have set out our ambition to explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the proposed SAFE instrument, as soon as the EU’s necessary processes are complete.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications to join the Reserves for the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF were made in each year since 2020. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: I am grateful for the contribution of our Reserve Forces who provide the UK with the ability to meet the threats we face at home and overseas, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that it needs, in a cost-effective way.

Information on the average time to process applications to join the Reserves by Service and year, and the number of people recruited by constituency is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The single Services do not set recruitment targets by constituency.

Information on the number of applications to the Volunteer Reserves is provided in the following table:

Applications to the Volunteer Reserves, broken down by Service, From 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025 (12 months ending each 31 March)

Service

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Naval

2,832

2,393

2,315

2,715

3,024

Army

29,273

23,409

18,271

24,665

31,454

Royal Air Force

4,908

N/A

3,978

4,257

5,297

Source: Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics 1st July 2025

Note:
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to Ukraine as part of its military support package. \p Al Carns: The UK and its partners remain committed to equipping Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend its sovereign territory, in line with its priority requirements. This includes the provision of Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGVs).

We continue to work closely with the Government of Ukraine to ensure that the support we provide aligns with the evolving tactical demands of the conflict.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support families posted abroad with pets following the new Consumer Charter that makes it easier for armed forces families to own pets. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Department is currently trialling a new ‘Global Mobility Allowance’ for Service personnel who are posted overseas. This allowance provides a fixed sum of money at the start and end of an overseas posting. This provides our Service personnel with greater choice and flexibility, allowing them to prioritise expenditure according to their specific needs, which could include transporting a pet overseas.

Allowances for Service personnel and their accompanying families are subject to periodic review. In addition, each Service may propose that a particular allowance be reviewed, or a new allowance introduced, in response to feedback from Service personnel, Continuous Attitude Surveys, Family Federations and other Service-related organisations. The cost associated with relocating pets abroad has not yet been raised via any of those forums and therefore there is no immediate plan to review the topic.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women in the armed forces are equipped with appropriate (a) uniforms and (b) equipment. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is continually seeking to ensure all women in our Armed Forces are equipped with appropriate clothing, including uniforms, and equipment.

Following the House of Commons Defence Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces report, "Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life" published on 25 July 2021, the MOD responded by starting work on improving the experience for women in the Armed Forces, and a branch of that was through updating clothing.

Women’s uniform and equipment is now regularly reviewed and discussed at a Defence-level working group to ensure the equal provision of safe and suitable clothing and equipment to all Service personnel to allow them to deliver their operational outputs and effects.

So far, suppliers have developed more than 85 samples across 38 key clothing items to ensure the female fit meets the requirement. New items now available to women include sports bras, Mess Dress trousers and under-body armour combat shirts.

The Tactical Ballistic Plate project will deliver hard armour plates in a range of different sizes, ensuring greater comfort and integration for all users across Defence. Successful Human Factors Integration trials have been completed across a diverse cohort, that included female representation.

Narrow-fit Scalable Tactical Vest STV are now in service, which provides improved fit and comfort for all personnel, with special measuring available for those who measure outside of the 12 sizes available.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women in the armed forces are equipped with appropriate (a) uniforms and (b) equipment. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is continually seeking to ensure all women in our Armed Forces are equipped with appropriate clothing, including uniforms, and equipment.

Following the House of Commons Defence Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces report, "Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life" published on 25 July 2021, the MOD responded by starting work on improving the experience for women in the Armed Forces, and a branch of that was through updating clothing.

Women’s uniform and equipment is now regularly reviewed and discussed at a Defence-level working group to ensure the equal provision of safe and suitable clothing and equipment to all Service personnel to allow them to deliver their operational outputs and effects.

So far, suppliers have developed more than 85 samples across 38 key clothing items to ensure the female fit meets the requirement. New items now available to women include sports bras, Mess Dress trousers and under-body armour combat shirts.

The Tactical Ballistic Plate project will deliver hard armour plates in a range of different sizes, ensuring greater comfort and integration for all users across Defence. Successful Human Factors Integration trials have been completed across a diverse cohort, that included female representation.

Narrow-fit Scalable Tactical Vest STV are now in service, which provides improved fit and comfort for all personnel, with special measuring available for those who measure outside of the 12 sizes available.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's assessment of what constitutes NATO qualifying defence expenditure includes investment in (a) energy infrastructure and (b) energy security projects such as Great British Energy. \p Luke Pollard: Spend on energy infrastructure and energy security projects does not constitute NATO qualifying core defence spend.

The Government has long argued that investment in things like energy security is vital to national security and this will be considered for inclusion under NATO's new 1.5% definition on resilience.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact the pause in Project MORPHEUS on warfighter effectiveness; and what interim measures are in place to extend the service life of the BOWMAN system. \p Luke Pollard: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason outstanding pension payments to veterans under the McCloud Pension Remedy are being delayed. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The implementation of the McCloud Pension Remedy represents one of the most complex undertakings ever associated with Public Sector Pension Schemes, affecting over three million individuals

Within the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, the scale of delivery and the technical challenges involved have unfortunately resulted in delays for some members in receiving their Remedial Service Statements. However, the Ministry of Defence is making significant efforts to address these challenges and remains fully committed to ensuring that all members receive their Remedial Service Statements as promptly as possible, with a firm deadline of 31 March 2026.

Regular updates on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 Remedy are available on GOV.UK via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans#pension-remedy
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Jeremy Corbyn:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether B61-12 nuclear bombs have been delivered to the UK. \p Luke Pollard: It is longstanding UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any location.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's proposed disapplication of Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 on public safety. \p Simon Lightwood: My Department has made no such proposal. It is for local authorities to determine how to use the powers at their disposal, including those within the Highways Act 1980.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on introducing low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on mainline trains. \p Simon Lightwood: Following the Spending Review, we have secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology, to improve on board passenger Wi-Fi on mainline trains. We are currently considering the most appropriate procurement and delivery approach, with a preliminary notice period issued on gov.uk. Funding will be made available in 2026 as part of the settlement period.

However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels. Network Rail's Project Reach will address mobile connectivity in 57 key mainline tunnels.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has spent money on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has spent money on social media influencers since July 2024. Influencers can be effective in reaching audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisation is leading strategy for the transfer from (a) the privately owned train operating companies to the Department for Transport Operator (DfTO) and (b) from DfTO to Great British Railways. \p Simon Lightwood: The Public Ownership Programme Directorate has been established in the Department to oversee and manage the transfer of passenger services from private ownership into public ownership.

DfT is the lead Government Department for the rail sector transformation programme which includes the creation of Great British Railways and the coming together of more than 17 existing organisations – including Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group, DFTO, parts of DfT, and 14 separate Train Operating Companies – into a single organisation.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what mechanism the DfT Operator Limited and Network Rail will be brought into Great British Railways. \p Simon Lightwood: GBR will integrate track and train and bring together activities from more than 17 existing organisations – including Network Rail and DFTO. To avoid delay resulting from highly complex transfers of assets, people and contracts that would otherwise be required during implementation, GBR will be created out of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the (a) Southeastern and Network Rail Alliance and (b) proposed Anglia Railways will be integrated into Great British Railways. \p Simon Lightwood: The Southeastern alliance and Anglia Railways will trailblaze what an integrated railway can do. Integrating track and train at a local level is at the heart of the vision for GBR.

GBR will integrate track and train and bring together activities from more than 17 existing organisations – including Network Rail and the DFTO into a single organisation.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will introduce a centralised lost property system across the rail network. \p Simon Lightwood: Great British Railways will bring the track, train and rail estate together under one organisation. This will enable it to more effectively adapt and create a system to better suit passenger needs. We are working closely with industry on opportunities to optimise the approach to standards across the rail sector.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with trade unions on the formation of Anglia Railways. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department and our industry partners, Network Rail and DFT Operator, have regular discussions with trade unions on a range of topics, including rail reform, of which integrated management arrangements are one part. The formation of integrated management arrangements across track and train, such as South Eastern Railway already established, is led by Network Rail and DFT Operator.
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John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the LNER timetable on (a) the local economy, (b) tourism, and (c) connectivity in the Scottish Borders. \p Simon Lightwood: As the new East Coast Main Line timetable has been developed, both the Department and the operators, including LNER, TransPennine Express and CrossCountry, have considered the effect on local economies and tourism along the route. This includes the Scottish Borders area, where extra services and stops have been introduced in the last few years to maintain connectivity in advance of the London services being revised this December, and further Scottish Border local services will be introduced in December.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving National Highways a remit to increase the efficiency of motorways and major A roads by incentivising increasing the number of people in a car. \p Simon Lightwood: National Highways does not currently have a formal policy on car sharing but recognises the role it can play in reducing congestion. National Highways will continue to seek opportunities to collaborate with partners and stakeholders to support a more efficient and sustainable strategic road network, including initiatives such as car sharing.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to expand the provision of high occupancy vehicle lanes in England. \p Simon Lightwood: Decisions on the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes in England are a matter for individual local highway authorities, and the Government currently has no plans to expand or encourage their use.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve rail services on the East Coast Main Line. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department has invested £4bn in route-wide upgrades – including new trains and improvements to platforms, tracks, signals and junctions.

This will deliver journey time, reliability and capacity improvements, with more than 60,000 extra seats across the route each week, faster services between London and Edinburgh, and London to Leeds, and a third train per hour to and from London and Newcastle. This will all form part of the new timetable in December.

The Department are now working closely with Network Rail and industry stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy for the route.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) requiring all drivers to submit a recent eye test result when applying for a driving license renewal and (b) broadening the required eye tests to include an assessment of (i) vision in reduced lighting, (ii) reaction times, and (iii) peripheral vision. \p Simon Lightwood: All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

The Government is considering the current process of self-declaration and the challenges posed by an ageing population where certain conditions, including vision conditions, may become more prevalent. In the meantime, the current renewal at age 70 process remains as is, and drivers must legally declare any vision or medical conditions that may affect their ability to drive.

Any options for change will be subject to public consultation.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to install (a) audible and (b) tactile signals on all pedestrian crossings on busy roads for blind and visually impaired people. \p Simon Lightwood: The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 permit the use of audible and tactile signals at traffic signal junctions and crossings, but the Department has no plans to make them mandatory.

The Department’s good practice advice in Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual makes clear that tactile signals should be provided at crossing facilities as a default. They can be used at times and in places where audible signals are not suitable, for example where an audible signal is switched off overnight or where the site layout would result in an unclear signal to road users. Chapter 6 is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual.

The provision of audible and tactile signals and consideration of how they should operate are matters for local authorities, bearing in mind their duties to provide safe movement under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and to provide accessible services under the Equality Act 2010.
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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve rail services in rural areas of the South West. \p Simon Lightwood: This government is committed to improving rural rail services in the South-West, and public ownership and the creation of Great British Railways will help to deliver this.

We are striving to enhance connectivity and increase service frequency across underserved communities to the benefit of passengers provided it is affordable for the UK taxpayer.

Wiltshire local authority is receiving £18.6 million of capital Local Transport Grant and over £1.3million in revenue funding from the Local Transport Grant over this Spending Review period which will help to improve transport in their local area.
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Tom Rutland:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to promote walking and cycling. \p Simon Lightwood: Walking, wheeling, and cycling are convenient, sustainable ways to travel—and this government is committed to making them safe and accessible for everyone.

To support this, we’re allocating £616 million in capital funding over the next four years to help local authorities deliver high-quality active travel infrastructure. Details on revenue funding will be announced in due course, alongside a consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

Active travel will also play a central role in our Integrated National Transport Strategy, set to be published later this year.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to consolidate online train ticket providers as part of her plans to bring train operating companies into public ownership. \p Simon Lightwood: Once Great British Railways is established, it will retail online by consolidating individual train operators’ ticket websites. This will take place alongside a thriving private sector retail market, which will continue to play a key role in driving innovation and investment and encouraging more people to choose rail.

The Railways Bill consultation took place in the Spring. As part of this process, the government consulted closely with industry, the private sector, and wider stakeholders including in relation to the future of the rail retail market. A formal update will be provided in due course and we will work closely with stakeholders to ensure transition plans are as smooth as possible.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has provided to local highway authorities on the timely removal of (a) cones, (b) sandbags, (c) signage and (d) other abandoned roadworks equipment. \p Lilian Greenwood: Removal of roadworks equipment comes under Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act. The Act enables local highway authorities to charge utility companies for delays in completing roadworks on public highways, and since 2001 regulations have been in place which allow local highway authorities to impose charges on statutory undertakers. Every job has an end date and if works or barriers are still on site past this end date, daily charges can be imposed. These charges start at £250 a day, and on the busiest roads go up to £10,000 a day.

The Department does not hold any information on the number of reports or complaints of abandoned roadworks equipment, only local highway authorities have that information.The A331 and the section of the A31 in this constituency are local roads managed by Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council who may hold information relevant to this.

The A3 forms part of the Strategic Road Network. As such, National Highways is responsible for installing, maintaining, cleaning, and repairing signage on these roads. Damaged and incorrect road signage on any of these roads can be reported to National Highways at the following link: https://report.nationalhighways.co.uk/

National Highways maintains records of reports and complaints submitted via its online platform, including issues relating to road signage and other highway assets on the Strategic Road Network. The Department does not hold disaggregated data, but National Highways may be able to provide the number of reports concerning abandoned or incorrect equipment on the A3 upon request.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target. \p Kate Dearden: On 24 October 2024 the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time. Due to space constraints the department has set the requirement of 40% for delegated grades.

The department does not hold information on the number of staff who have met the minimum office attendance target. See Civil Service Headquarters occupancy data for published information covering departmental headquarters building occupancy. The department introduced a process to record office attendance information from 4 August 2025. This data is not yet available.

Staff who operate under the department’s hybrid working policy are expected to meet the minimum office attendance requirements. If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness (b) adequacy and (c) efficiency of the performance of the Motor Ombudsman in carrying out its functions. \p Kate Dearden: The Motor Ombudsman is a non-statutory ombudsman, set up as a voluntary scheme by the industry and independent of government.

The Motor Ombudsman's activities are documented in their annual reports, complying with the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015. These reports are accessible on its website.

DBT funds the Chartered Trading Standards Institute who accredit and regularly audit The Motor Ombudsman against key principles including neutrality and effective complaints handling under a voluntary framework in the 2015 ADR Regulations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Darren Paffey:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recourse is available in situations where an employment tribunal award has been made but cannot be enforced because the company is no longer trading and has not gone into formal insolvency. \p Kate Dearden: In the absence of any formal insolvency proceedings, the Redundancy Payment Service, which is part of the Insolvency Service, can pay redundancy pay awarded by the Employment Tribunal to a former employee.

It is unable to consider payment of any other elements that may have been awarded, such as arrears of wages, holiday pay, compensatory notice pay or compensation for unfair dismissal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring organisations to provide information on (a) staff turnover and (b) workforce changes in corporate reporting. \p Kate Dearden: The Government is currently reviewing the UK’s corporate reporting framework. The aim of the review is to simplify and streamline reporting requirements to ensure reporting is focussed on providing decision-useful information to investors and creditors. The Government has no plans to introduce new reporting in relation to workforce planning and staff turnover. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is conducting research on the merits of an international corporate reporting standard on human capital-related issues. This research will inform the ISSB’s plan to develop future standards and the Government will consider any standard the ISSB develops in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has spent money on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024. \p Kate Dearden: The Department for Business and Trade has spent money on social media influencers since July 2024. Influencers can be effective in reaching audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many complaints of package holiday operators failing to provide adequate assistance during accommodation emergencies have been reported to the Competition and Markets Authority in each of the last three years. \p Kate Dearden: Obtaining a definitive figure for the number of complaints would require a manual review, which would be disproportionate. But a search for relevant terms identified only one complaint relating to the provision of emergency accommodation by a package travel operator, which was received in 2025.

The CMA uses complaints, alongside other sources of information and intelligence, to help inform decisions as to the work it undertakes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether applicants for company directorships on the Companies House register can nominate Palestinian as their nationality. \p Kate Dearden: ‘Palestinian’ is included in the list of nationalities permitted for the purposes of company filings. The full list of nationalities and geographical names is available at the link below: Nationalities and countries for company filings - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Dan Aldridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking with regulators to help tackle (a) the use of inflation linked price rises in consumer communications contracts and (b) the advertising of VAT exclusive prices. \p Kate Dearden: Ofcom, the independent regulator of telecommunications, has banned inflation-linked in-contract price rises. Since 17 January 2025, all retail telecom providers have been required to set out clearly ‘in pounds and pence’ the price the consumer will pay at the point of sale and be up-front about any increases.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices against consumers, including misleading omissions and actions. The Department is not currently working with regulators regarding the advertising of VAT exclusive prices. The Advertising Standards Agency has provided advice to businesses on advertising prices: https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/compulsory-costs-and-charges-vat.html
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Certification Officer has received the BDO auditor's report on the Unite trade union's hotel and conference centre development. \p Kate Dearden: The Certification Officer has received the BDO auditor's report and is currently reviewing this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve the enforcement of legal protections for women returning to work after maternity leave. \p Kate Dearden: Women returning from maternity, adoption, or six continuous weeks of shared parental or neonatal leave are entitled to enhanced redundancy protection. However, the government is strengthening legal protections, as we know this group continues to face a particular risk to their job security.

We'll make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers returning to work for a six-month period - except in specific circumstances. This starts with the Employment Rights Bill, with protections in force from 2027. From April 2026, the Fair Work Agency will strengthen the enforcement of rights, with women expected to particularly benefit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to review the requirement for small businesses to file profits and losses with Companies House. \p Kate Dearden: The Department for Business and Trade is currently engaging with stakeholders on proposed changes in filing requirements at Companies House, to ensure they strike the right balance between tackling economic crime and avoiding undue burden on business. As part of this we are considering stakeholder views on the requirement for small and micro entities to file profit and loss accounts. We will set out next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Kirsteen Sullivan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to review regulations and enforcement of PPE standards for sale through online marketplaces. \p Kate Dearden: PPE must meet the essential health and safety requirements as set out in Regulation 2016/425, as assimilated into UK law. The Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 provide the enforcement framework for that Regulation.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 allows us to update the product safety framework, including by explicitly recognising online marketplace businesses. We plan to consult on new requirements for online marketplaces to take steps to improve product safety on their sites. Product safety specific sector legislation, including the PPE legislation, will be reviewed in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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Kirsteen Sullivan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to coordinate the new Fair Work Agency with the Health and Safety Executive to enforce better-fit PPE standards. \p Kate Dearden: We are creating the Fair Work Agency to deliver a much-needed upgrade to enforcement of employment rights.

Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation, set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill.

We have taken steps to ensure the Fair Work Agency can work closely with the Health and Safety Executive, including sharing information that is relevant to the Health and Safety Executive’s statutory role. This is provided for by Schedule 9 of the Employment Rights Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-11)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) help prevent the online sale of products containing asbestos; and whether the Health and Safety Executive has issued recent (i) enforcement actions and (ii) guidance to online marketplaces on this matter. \p Kate Dearden: Product safety regulations require consumer products to be safe when placed on the market, whether sold online or offline. The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published three recalls for products containing asbestos in the last three years.

In the last 12 months, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not received any concerns related to the supply of asbestos containing articles that were part of its workplace safety remit; should any be received, they would be investigated.

HSE regularly engages with online platforms on their restricted items policies and provides advice to Local Authorities on asbestos related products.