Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to Answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 108145 on Graduates: Employment, how many higher education providers are currently at risk of regulatory intervention.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
As the independent regulator of higher education, the Office for Students makes independent decisions about regulatory interventions.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on employment opportunities for young people in the hospitality sector; and how he plans to ensure that restrictions on zero-hours contracts and flexible working do not lead to reduced staffing levels and fewer entry-level roles in pubs and similar businesses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government published a comprehensive assessment that shows young workers, typically disproportionately represented in low-paid, low quality and insecure jobs will be amongst the largest beneficiaries of the Act.
We are changing legislation through the Act to make it more likely that flexible working requests are accepted where they are reasonable and feasible.
The Act does not prevent employers from hiring workers on zero hours contracts and workers will be able to remain on them if it suits their needs. We are committed to consulting fully with stakeholders, including within the hospitality sector, to determine the next level of policy detail, to be set in regulations.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Reform UK - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of working conditions for self‑employed couriers in the parcel delivery sector, including training standards, pay rates, and safeguarding obligations.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
All businesses must comply with relevant laws and employers must comply with their legal obligations to ensure that their workforce receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled. Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, does not regulate the employment models of parcel delivery companies.
Many employment rights, including the National Minimum and Living Wage do not apply to self-employed individuals. While the government recognises self-employed arrangements can provide valued flexibility, we also recognise concerns regarding exploitation of the current employment status framework and will consult on addressing these.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review diversion routes for M4 closures to ensure that country lanes are not used.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For planned closures on the M4, National Highways will identify and review diversion routes in advance to ensure they are safe, suitable and appropriate for the surrounding road network, including for heavy goods vehicles.
National Highways will agree diversion routes with the relevant local highway authorities, ensure they are clearly signed in line with national standards and ensure they are monitored while in operation. Diversion routes are kept under review and may be amended where issues are identified.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to question 108369 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, on what date was the project cancelled.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 108369 on 3 February 2026 which remains extant. The stop notice of December 2023 denotes the point that the project was cancelled.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that estate agents comply with existing consumer protection law; to help support effective enforcement action against rogue operators who mislead consumers; and to help ensure regulations on responsible businesses are not burdensome.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), protects consumers from unfair trading practices and prohibits traders, including estate agents, from omitting (or providing unclear, untimely or obscure) material information to consumers in any ‘invitation to purchase’.
The DMCCA strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.
The CMA has published updated guidance on price transparency and unfair commercial practices to help businesses comply.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the Competition and Markets Authority’s total expenditure was in 2024–25, broken down by project and function.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Competition and Markets Authority’s published Annual Report and Accounts contains details of its expenditure, including a breakdown of total gross expenditure by operating segment. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his proposed timetable is for producing the first Ajax-family vehicles at Capability Drop 4 standard.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Capability drop 4 standard vehicles will only be delivered once any changes from reliability trials have been agreed. As these trials have not yet concluded, it is not appropriate to state what this timetable is. However, based on the current findings, all 589 vehicles will be delivered to Capability Drop 4 standard by September 2029 as contracted.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, who is responsible for the definition of a Defence Choice.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses its capability planning and decision‑making processes to balance a range of factors and ensure resources are used effectively.
All financial decisions are accounted for in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project Goshawk.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Project GOSHAWK is a Taskforce Kindred project to rapidly develop and trial a low-cost air defence interceptor for Ukraine, to reliably defeat aerial drones, loitering munitions, and missiles at varying speeds, altitudes, and trajectories.