theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to enable Irish passport holders to apply for UK driving licences online. \p Simon Lightwood: Customers with an Irish passport can already use GOV.UK to verify their identity to renew an existing photocard licence, replace a lost, stolen, damaged or defaced licence and notify of a change of address.

A further enhancement to the online service is scheduled to be available by March 2026 which will enable customers who hold an Irish passport to also apply for their first provisional licence online.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Sarah Green:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the total sums paid by learner drivers to DVLA for resitting their Theory Test because they have been unable to access a practical driving test before their previous certificate expired. \p Simon Lightwood: The validity period of the theory test certificate is two years. The cost of taking a theory test is £23.00. It is not possible to estimate the total sums paid by learner drivers for resitting their theory test because they have been unable to access a practical driving test before their previous certificate expired.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is doing everything it can to ensure that learners can access practical tests within that time, to prevent candidates from having to retake the theory test.

The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a candidate’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.

Ensuring new drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the preparation of new drivers, who are disproportionality represented in casualty statistics. Learners will therefore need to pass another theory test if their certificate expires.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) number and (b) monetary value of fines issued for non-compliance with obligatory lighting and reflectors for bicycles in the Thames Valley area in 2024. \p Lilian Greenwood: Rule 60 of The Highway Code makes clear that cyclists must have their front and rear lights lit when riding at night, and reflectors must also be fitted to their cycle. The Department does not collect any information from the police with regards to fines issued for non-compliance with these rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions her Department has had with the European Commission on the timetable for implementing its proposals to replace the EU steel safeguard system; and whether the Government has sought transitional arrangements for UK-based producers. \p Chris Bryant: We are in active dialogue with the European Commission on this issue. The Secretary of State spoke about it with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, on 20 October.

We reserve the right to take any action in response to any changes to our trading relationships to protect steel jobs and defend our steel industry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposal to reduce tariff-free steel import quotas and increase out-of-quota tariffs to 50% on UK steel exports; and what steps she is taking to negotiate UK-specific quotas for steel products. \p Chris Bryant: The Government is actively assessing the potential impact of this proposal and we are in active dialogue with the European Commission on the details of their proposal and next steps.

We reserve the right to take any action in response to any changes to our trading relationships to protect steel jobs and defend our steel industry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the ICJ Advisory Opinion entitled Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, published on 19 July 2024, if his Department will (a) bring forward proposals to prohibit trade with and (b) take steps to prevent (i) trade and (ii) investment relations that help to maintain Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \p Chris Bryant: The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the ICJ. We continue to consider the Court’s Advisory Opinion carefully, with the seriousness and rigour it deserves.

Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law. Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences. The overseas business risk guidance on gov.uk states there are clear risks to UK operators related to economic and financial activities in the settlements. We advise that those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits to (a) the environmental and (b) employment opportunities from introducing domestic aluminium rolling capacity. \p Chris McDonald: To date, the Department for Business and Trade has not assessed the environmental and employment opportunities potentially derived from the introduction of a UK aluminium rolling mill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the scope of his Department’s review of Responsible Business Conduct will include (a)	environmental harms in UK company supply chains in their own right, (b) environmental and human rights harms in the UK and (c) input from impacted communities. \p Chris Bryant: The responsible business conduct review is a neutral, objective appraisal of policy. It will consider the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and alternative measures to support responsible business practices across UK and global supply chains, including human rights and environmental considerations.

As part of the review the UK Government is harnessing the insights and expertise of businesses, investors, trade unions, academia, civil society and our international trading partners. The Office for Responsible Business Conduct will continue to engage regularly with stakeholders, including those with lived experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) timeline of the review of responsible business conduct; and whether there will be a public consultation on the review. \p Chris Bryant: In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains.

The Government is progressing the review at pace while ensuring that we harness the insight of a range of stakeholders, including businesses, investors, trade unions, academia, civil society, affected communities, and our international trading partners. We will continue to provide regular updates as we progress the review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many internal meetings his Department held on the National Investigation Service between January 2020 and December 2022. \p Blair McDougall: Regular meetings are a routine way of conducting departmental business. These are not tracked and recorded, so this information is not held in a reportable form by the Department for Business and Trade.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what criteria were used by his Department to determine eligibility for funding under the Pub is the Hub scheme. \p Kate Dearden: The Government recognises the important role rural pubs and those in deprived areas can play in supporting their communities and the work of Pub Is The Hub in helping them improve their resilience by providing additional community services. That is why the Government has provided £440,000 to help Pub Is The Hub continue this important work.

In its 2025 report: PiTH-Social-Value-of-Pubsfinal.pdf, Pub Is The Hub highlighted over 40 diversification projects that could not be delivered due to a lack of funding. Eligibility for funding is determined by Pub is The Hub, which administers the scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which organisations have been awarded Pub is the Hub funding to date. \p Kate Dearden: The Government recognises the important role rural pubs and those in deprived areas can play in supporting their communities and the work of Pub Is The Hub in helping them improve their resilience by providing additional community services. That is why the Government has provided £440,000 to help Pub Is The Hub continue this important work

In its 2025 report: PiTH-Social-Value-of-Pubsfinal.pdf, Pub Is The Hub highlighted over 40 diversification projects that could not be delivered due to a lack of funding.

Data on which organisations have been, and will be, awarded funding is held confidentially by Pub is The Hub.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the temporary shutdown at Port Talbot steelworks on local supply-chain businesses. \p Chris McDonald: Tata Steel UK has made an operational decision to extend existing Christmas maintenance periods at three of their sites, Port Talbot Hot Rolled Products, Trostre, and Llanwern Pickle line. We know this will be a worrying time for Tata’s staff and for their local supply-chain businesses and we remain in close contact with Tata to monitor the situation and assess any potential impacts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to introduce new UK steel import safeguards to replace the current regime when it expires in 2026. \p Chris McDonald: Steel is a top priority for this Government and we recognise the continuing challenges facing the UK steel industry – driven by persistent global overcapacity and with a changing landscape on international trade.

We will ensure there is a plan in place for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year. That is why we launched a Call for Evidence on Steel Trade Measures on the 26th of June to inform the design of any potential trade measures, including appropriate tariff rates and quota levels.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department made of the (a) economic and (b) environmental impact of exporting aluminium scrap from beverage packaging to countries outside the European Union. \p Chris McDonald: The Department for Business and Trade has not conducted an assessment of the economic and environmental impacts of exporting aluminium scrap to non-EU countries.

However, the Government recognises the importance of a circular economy for aluminium and is actively listening to the perspectives of all involved parties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on cooperation on aluminium scrap retention. \p Chris McDonald: To date, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and other ministers at the Department for Business and Trade have not held discussions with EU counterparts regarding co-operation on aluminium scrap retention.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to introduce performance targets for Royal Mail’s Special Delivery guaranteed services. \p Blair McDougall: It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to ensure the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service. Ofcom monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delivery of the Industrial Strategy on people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire. \p Blair McDougall: The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential, targeting government investment towards eight-growth driving sectors (IS-8). There are clusters of the IS-8 sectors across the whole country, and the policy package addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by businesses in these sectors.

To ensure robust and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of the Industrial Strategy, we have chosen six economic indicators that reflect a range of desirable objectives for the IS-8 and the economy as a whole, which will be tracked at the economy-wide, sector and place level. Monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy will be overseen by the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council who will take a data-led approach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's Green Paper: Future of Post Office, published on 14 July 2025, what progress the Department has made in hosting discussions between Post Office and the banking sector on Post Office cash and banking services. \p Blair McDougall: The Economic Secretary to the Treasury and I plan to co-chair a roundtable with the Post Office and key banks. This will provide an opportunity to discuss where future potential collaboration, on a commercial and voluntary basis, may be in the interests of both parties. This will take place in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what fiscal steps he plans to take to help support small businesses with their business costs in Hornsey and Friern Barnet constituency. \p Blair McDougall: The Government's Plan for Small Businesses, published in July, sets out the measures that Government is taking to support small businesses across the UK. This includes legislation to end the scourge of late payments which costs the UK economy £11bn annually and proposals to increase access to finance through the British Business Bank.

The Department for Business and Trade provides core funding to 41 Growth Hubs across England, with £15 million (including £540,700 for Grow London Local) committed for 2025/26. Businesses in London can access advice and support for any stage of their business journey via Grow London Local, and business.gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Mental Health Goals programme on growth in the life sciences sector. \p Chris McDonald: The government expects the Mental Health Goals programme to support growth in the UK life sciences sector by creating a strong environment for precision psychiatry research, therefore attracting new industry investment. By fostering collaboration between industry, academia and the NHS, the programme contributes to the Life Sciences Sector Plan’s ambition to grow the sector to £150 billion by 2030 and position the UK as a global leader in health innovation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with (a) tea industry representatives, (b) Fairtrade organisations and (c) international partners on ensuring that tea (i) farmers and (ii) other workers receive a living wage in (A) Kenya and (B) other producing countries. \p Chris Bryant: No, we have had no such specific discussions, but we actively engage with Kenyan counterparts and remain committed to promoting fair trade and workers' rights, including decent working conditions and living wages.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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David Taylor:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is working with (a) EU and (b) G7 partners to coordinate the release of (i) frozen Russian-linked assets and (ii) the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club; and which body holds final authority over the (A) release and (B) allocation of those funds. \p Lucy Rigby: The Chancellor is actively engaging with EU and G7 partners through regular discussions with G7 finance ministers to explore all viable legal avenues to make use of Russia’s sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine, in line with international law.

Separately, the Government is working hard to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club are directed towards humanitarian causes in Ukraine as swiftly as possible. These proceeds are not sovereign Russian assets, but rather funds owned by a private entity (Fordstam Ltd), which is itself owned by a Designated Person under UK sanctions regulations – Mr Abramovich.

In common with all other frozen funds, the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club remain the property of the Designated Person. Agreement must be given by Fordstam Ltd for these funds to be transferred to a new independent charitable foundation for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. To date, they have not provided this agreement.

While the door for negotiating an agreement remains open, the Government is fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Emma Reynolds MP received any correspondence from the (a) Treasury and (b) the Cabinet office on the (i) timetable, (ii) options and (iii) modelling for inheritance tax changes since 1 July 2024. \p Dan Tomlinson: HM Treasury Ministers routinely receive briefings and information on an extensive range of subjects relating to the department’s responsibilities and their specific portfolios. As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury’s portfolio of responsibilities includes inheritance tax. My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs has not been the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. She was Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 July 2024 to 14 January 2025. She was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 14 January 2025 to 5 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints (a) her Department, (b) the Financial Conduct Authority, (c) the Prudential Regulation Authority and (d) the Financial Ombudsman Scheme have received on high cost business lenders who have offered loans with interest rates payable of more than 40%. \p Lucy Rigby: The Treasury receives correspondence across a wide variety of subjects including financial services. While we are not able to measure the number of complaints the department receives in relation to high-cost credit for business loans with interest rates payable of more than 40%, the volume of correspondence on the cost of credit in relation to business loans is generally low.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) publishes annual and quarterly insights into which areas are attracting most complaints. In its last quarterly publication, it noted that complaints about unaffordable lending had halved. That data-point does not, however, distinguish between household and commercial credit and the areas of topical complaints may change quarter on quarter. In the last five years, credit card related complaints to the FOS have been one of the top five areas of complaints, but business lending specifically is not a significant source of FOS disputes in comparison to household and personal credit.

The Bank of England’s ‘bankstats’ data provides insights into business and household credit, including the effective interest rates for SMEs on new and outstanding loans. The monthly average of UK resident banks’ sterling weighted loans for new advances to SMEs now stands at 6.35%, as of 31st August 2025, a figure that has tracked down as the base rate has fallen.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish a breakdown of her Department's August 2024 individual level analysis of Income Tax brackets by (a) ethnicity and (b) nationality. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC do not publish individual level analysis of Income Tax brackets by (a) ethnicity or (b) nationality.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the personal allowance for pensioners in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Dan Tomlinson: This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, over 12 million pensioners benefitted from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance - the amount an individual can earn before paying tax - will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.

The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value is of Government funding to the National Wealth Fund that is unspent. \p Dan Tomlinson: As of 14 October 2025, the National Wealth Fund has committed £7.5 billion to projects supporting the Government’s growth and clean energy missions, mobilising £16.2 billion in private finance. This is just over 25% of NWF’s £27.8 billion capitalisation.

The National Wealth Fund expects to commit the vast majority of its £27.8 billion financial capacity over the next five years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the total cost of electric vehicle (a) incentives and (b) tax reliefs for fleet and company car (i) leasing and (ii) purchases to the exchequer; and what assessment she has made of the value for money of those schemes. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government publishes annual statistics on HMRC’s taxable benefits in kind for company cars and company car fuel. These reports document the number of benefit in kind recipients, the CO2 emissions of company cars and their total taxable value. The latest statistics for the tax year 2023-24 were published in June 2025, and are accessible here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefits-in-kind-statistics-june-2025/benefit-in-kind-statistics-commentary-june-2025

The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the total value of landfill tax reclaimed by private landfill operators for (a) cover and (b) fluff material since 2000. \p Dan Tomlinson: Landfill Tax was introduced in 1996 as a behavioural tax encouraging the diversion of material away from landfill to reuse and recycling. It has been a key driver behind local authority waste to landfill in England falling by 90% since 2000.

HMRC refunded landfill tax reclaimed by private landfill operators following the Waste Recycling Group Limited case in 2008. £147m related to daily cover and haul roads and £133m related to base and side fluff. Refunds ceased in 2013 and since then repayment claims totaling £3.9bn have been prevented as a result of successful litigation.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made on the potential impact of reduced pharmaceutical investment on the economy. \p James Murray: The Government monitors a wide range of indicators to assess the UK’s economic performance. Official economic forecasts and assessments of policy impacts are set out in the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook documents, the most recent of which was published in March 2025. The next publication will be in November 2025, providing further assessment of the UK’s economic performance.

The Government recognises the pharmaceutical industry’s vital contribution to the UK economy through creating high-value jobs, driving innovation, and improving public health through access to effective treatments.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she has taken with the Minister for the Cabinet Office to help tackle the increase in whole-life costs associated with levels of delivery confidence in the Government's Major Projects Portfolio. \p James Murray: The government recently created the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) which will have an important role in supporting and monitoring major projects in the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP).

NISTA provides expert advice and independent assurance on the GMPP and conducts regular deliverability assessments of major projects. Those assessments are published each year, most recently on 11 August 2025.

The increase in whole life cost of the GMPP portfolio reflects several new large high-cost projects joining and smaller projects successfully leaving the GMPP over the last year. By nature, GMPP projects and programmes are the longest, most complex and highest-cost projects, and therefore will inevitably experience challenges and hurdles. By being on the GMPP, these projects receive bespoke support, guidance and oversight which helps to set them on a path to success.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will require banks to submit quarterly data on the number of small and medium sized business account (a) openings and (b) closures. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises the vital role financial services play in supporting millions of businesses across the UK, and believes all customers should be treated fairly by banks and have access to the financial services they need.

This is why the Government introduced new rules earlier this year to require banks to give customers 90 days' notice before closing accounts and provide a clear explanation. The Government’s new rules will ensure more transparent and predictable access to banking, while still recognising that it is a commercial decision for a provider as to whom they provide services for.

More widely, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) monitors banks regarding account openings and closures and has published reports looking at debanking. Beyond this, the Treasury has no plans to require banks to submit further information in this area.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 81241 on Credit Unions: Mortgages, what information her Department holds on which credit unions offer mortgages in each (a) region and (b) UK nation. \p Lucy Rigby: There are six credit unions in the UK currently offering mortgages.

Of these, two are headquartered in England, three in Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland.

Of those headquartered in England, one is located in the North West and one is located in London.

Depending on the credit union in question’s common bond type, these credit unions may serve members outside of their headquartered regions.

Credit union policy is devolved to Northern Ireland, and so legislation may differ.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to publish the responses to the call for evidence entitled Credit Union Common Bond Reform, published on 14 November 2024. \p Lucy Rigby: The government recognises the role that credit unions play in providing savings and affordable loans to their members, serving local communities throughout the country. This is why the government is taking steps to ensure credit unions are fully supported to grow and scale into the future.

This includes exploring legislative reform to the credit union common bond, to ensure it remains fit for purpose. We launched a call for evidence at last year’s Mansion House on the potential reform, which closed in March this year.

Responses to the call for evidence are being carefully considered and the government will provide an update on this work in due course.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will encourage partnerships between (a) Barclays Bank, (b) Santander, (c) HSBC, (d) NatWest and (e) Lloyds Bank with community development finance institutions serving areas of highest deprivation. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises the vital role Community Development Finance Institutions play in providing affordable credit to underserved consumers and businesses. To support this, in November 2024, the British Business Bank launched the Community ENABLE Funding (CEF) Programme, which aims to deploy £150 million over the next two years to ‘not for profit’ lenders, including CDFIs.

This will enable these organisations to provide enhanced support to consumers and businesses by broadening access to finance. In 2024, CDFIs and social banks lent £96.7 million to 364 social enterprises, with 67% of this lending directed to the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.

In July, my predecessor co-chaired a roundtable in July with Responsible Finance which was an important opportunity to discuss how banks and CDFIs can work together to improve access to affordable credit.

Several banks have already shown tangible support for CDFIs. For example, in 2023 NatWest provided £900,000 to the sector, with half distributed directly to households to help meet immediate needs during the cost-of-living crisis, and the remainder used to strengthen the sector’s capacity for future support. Similarly, Lloyds was announced as the lead investor in a new £62 million Community Investment Enterprise Fund, designed to help small businesses across England and Wales access finance through CDFIs, supporting local jobs and economic activity.

Furthermore, in recognition of the important role responsible credit can play for consumers, the Government’s forthcoming Financial Inclusion Strategy includes a focus on access to credit, among other priority issues, and will seek to ensure people have access to useful products and services for their needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_59

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that trustees of academy trusts receive the (a) training and (b) support they need to provide effective oversight. \p Georgia Gould: The Academy Trust Handbook states that trust boards should identify the skills and experience required to hold the executive to account. This includes financial knowledge. Trust boards are responsible for encouraging trustees’ professional development and should allocate funds for this purpose. This includes providing an induction and development programme for new trustees and ensuring specific safeguarding and Prevent duty training is completed. If trustees persistently fail to attend training, breaching their board’s code of conduct, it may be necessary to consider their position.

The Academy Trust Governance Guide provides practical support for trustees, including signposting to external sources of training and support organisations, such as National Governance Association and Confederation of School Trusts.

The department collaborated with governance sector stakeholders to produce the Effective Governance Resource, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/effective-governance-resources. Published last month, it aims to support strong and effective governance in schools and academy trusts, and recruitment of governors and trustees.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_60

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the recently announced £15,000 bursary for SEND-specialist teacher trainees will include those training to become multi-sensory impairment teachers. \p Georgia Gould: The department recently announced that the further education (FE) initial teacher education bursaries programme will continue to be available for the 2026/27 academic year. Eligible subjects include special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with bursaries worth £15,000 each, tax free.

The SEND bursary is intended to support new teachers training to work with learners with a wide range of SEND in FE settings. This could include learners with multi-sensory impairments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_61

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spends annually on taxi travel for children to and from schools. \p Georgia Gould: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Local authorities are responsible for arranging home to school travel for eligible children. They deliver their duty through a mix of in-house services, passes for free travel on public transport and contracts with private transport operators. Such contracts are a matter for the council and the operator, but the department encourages councils to have robust arrangements in place.

The department has not routinely collected data on how much local authorities spend on different modes of transport. It is working to improve this picture and launched a voluntary data collection on home to school travel arrangements in February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_62

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the progress of children with SEND is accurately measured. \p Georgia Gould: Through the school census, the department collects data on the performance of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across the country. We use this to routinely publish data on the outcomes of pupils with special educational needs throughout their education, including attainment, absence, exclusions and progression to further and higher education.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is reviewing how performance measures incentivise behaviour and outcomes for every child. Once the final report is published, the government will respond, including consideration of its recommendations on performance measures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_63

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure provision is available for all disabled children to receive an education in schools rather than at home. \p Georgia Gould: The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special and alternative provision schools cater to those with the most complex needs.

We expect schools to welcome all pupils, including those with disabilities. The Equality Act 2010 outlines the duties of schools to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children and young people. Settings will be held to account for their support for pupils with disabilities through Ofsted, who are focusing on inclusion in their new approach to inspection.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_64

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants (i) whose first language is not English and (ii) who have not undertaken a recognised English proficiency test. \p Georgia Gould: The requested information on the first language of teachers and classroom assistants is not collected centrally.

Information on the qualifications held by teachers is available in the 'School workforce in England' accredited official statistics publication. This can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_65

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to put the SEN support arrangements on a statutory footing. \p Georgia Gould: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

We are aware of the challenges in the SEND system and understand how urgently they need to be addressed.

We will build a better system which is grounded in evidence, identifies and supports need at the earliest opportunity, and ensures families can secure support swiftly without a fight.

We are continuing to engage closely with children, parents and experts as we develop plans to ensure all children get the outcomes and life chances they deserve.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_66

Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that adequate (a) training and (b) funding is made available for schools to meet the needs of children with physical challenges requiring individualised support. \p Georgia Gould: The government is committed to strengthening the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system to help improve outcomes for children and young people.

The department has published allocations for £740 million high needs capital in 2025/26. This funding is intended to create facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit pupils’ needs. It can also be used to adapt mainstream schools to be more accessible and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

Funding for schools is increasing by £4.2 billion by financial year 2028/29, compared to this financial year 2025/26. This additional funding will provide an above real terms per pupil increase on overall schools funding, which will take per-pupil funding to its highest ever level and enable us to transform the SEND system. We intend to set out plans for reforming the SEND system in further detail in the coming months.

The department has recently commissioned the Council for Disabled Children to produce new guidance for schools on their duties towards their disabled pupils under equality law, including a new handbook on their accessibility duty, available here: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/files/Accessibility%20plans%20and%20the%20Equality%20Act%202010%20A%20handbook%20for%20schools.pdf. We have also commissioned a forthcoming training package to complement that guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_67

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the decision not to fully fund the (a) 4 per cent teacher pay award for September 2025 or (b) 3.2 per cent pay award for school support staff on schools' budgets in Yeovil constituency. \p Georgia Gould: School funding is increasing by £3.7 billion in financial year 2025/26. In May, the department announced that it is providing schools with £615 million in additional funding to support them with overall costs, including the costs of the 4% schools teacher pay award and the 3.2% local government services pay award in respect of support staff in financial year 2025/26.

Somerset local authority (which allocates funding for schools in Yeovil constituency) is receiving £418.4 million for mainstream schools in financial year 2025/26 through the Dedicated Schools Grant, an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to financial year 2024/25. On top of that, all schools will receive additional funding through the Schools Budget Support Grant, to support them with overall costs, including the costs of teacher and support staff pay awards.

Schools will be expected to find approximately the first 1 percentage point of pay awards through improved productivity and smarter spending to make every pound count. This is in line with asks to the rest of the public sector to drive better value from existing budgets to help rebuild public services. Schools are not alone in making these decisions, and the department is supporting them through a suite of existing and new productivity initiatives. Our Energy for Schools service, for example, enabled the 400 schools who participated to save on average 36% compared to their previous contracts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_68

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure children with Developmental Language Disorder receive appropriate support within the education system. \p Georgia Gould: The government is committed to ensuring that every child has the best start in life. This includes all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including speech, language and communications needs such as Developmental Language Disorder.

We know that continuing to build the pipeline of speech and language therapists (SaLT) is essential. The department is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including speech and language therapy, for children and young people with SEND.

In addition to the undergraduate degree route, SaLTs can now also train via a degree apprenticeship. This route is entering its fourth year of delivery and offers an alternative pathway to the traditional degree route into a successful career as a SaLT.

In partnership with NHS England, the department has extended the Early Language and Support for Every Child programme, trialling new ways of working to better identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs in early years settings and primary schools.