Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of revenue that will be lost by overseas pupils choosing not to study in the UK as a result of VAT being added to independent schools.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government which other countries in (1) the EU, and (2) the rest of the world, charge VAT or equivalent on school fees.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Structural differences in countries’ education systems mean that there are limited meaningful comparisons that can be drawn between the UK and other nations. For example, comparatively high fees in the UK mean that private school participation in the UK is particularly concentrated in the wealthiest families relative to countries such as Germany, France, or the US.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many overseas pupils are currently studying at independent schools; and what assessment they have made of the impact on those pupils of adding VAT on independent school fees.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The department does not hold this information for private schools. However, data from the 2024 Independent Schools Council (ISC) shows that there are 62,708 non-British pupils at ISC schools. There are 1,411 ISC schools, which make up roughly half of all private schools in England. This research can be found here: https://www.isc.co.uk/research/annual-census/.

The government is working to carefully consider the impact of charging VAT on private schools’ fees. Following scrutiny of the government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their timetable for the implementation of legislation to ban the use of electronic shock collars on cats and dogs in England.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation and will bring forward plans in due course. The Government is considering available evidence around the use of electronic collars and their effects on the welfare of animals.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Commonwealth countries is on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Commonwealth leaders will discuss upholding the human rights and freedoms of all Commonwealth citizens. In Samoa, I will be speaking at multiple events including at the launch of The Commonwealth Equality Network's (TCEN) Shadow CHOGM report, and at a plenary session on intersectional leadership where I will be advocating for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in all Commonwealth countries.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of imposing VAT on school fees for peripatetic music teachers who teach at independent schools.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Where parents or families are paying fees for their child to attend a private school, they will pay VAT on those fees following this change.

Whilst developing these policies, the government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of kitten farming; and whether they will take steps to address it.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone breeding and selling cats as pets needs a valid licence from their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse or revoke licences.

Local authorities are charged with enforcing the 2018 Regulations and may retain records of enforcement activity relating to illegal cat breeding. Information about local authority enforcement activity is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to carry on a licensable activity without a licence. Upon conviction, an offender faces 6 month's imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both. Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act allows for local authorities to prosecute for any offences under that Act.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on wildlife in England and Wales, and in particular on bees.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government has been clear that we will change existing policies to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten bees and other vital pollinators by the next General Election. This is because there is clear and abundant evidence that neonicotinoids are harmful to species other than those they are intended to control, and particularly pollinators, including bees.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to make a decision on the application by British Sugar and the National Farmers’ Union to be allowed to use the neonicotinoid Cruiser SB, which contains thiamethoxam, on sugar beet in 2025; and how many representations they have received on the issue.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

A decision on the emergency authorisation application from British Sugar and the National Farmers’ Union to use the neonicotinoid Cruiser SB, which contains thiamethoxam, on sugar beet in 2025 will be taken in line with legal requirements. The Secretary of State will take full account of the available evidence and expert advice, and a decision will be made in due course.

At the time of writing, Defra has received a significant number of representations on this issue, reflecting the strength of interest from a range of interested organisations and members of the public.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, including thiamethoxam.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government has been clear that we will change existing policies to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten bees and other vital pollinators before the next General Election. This includes thiamethoxam.

Found: BARONESS HARDING OF WINSCOMBE LORD CLEMENT-JONES LORD STEVENSON OF BALMACARA LORD BLACK OF BRENTWOOD

Found: BARONESS HARDING OF WINSCOMBE LORD CLEMENT-JONES LORD STEVENSON OF BALMACARA LORD BLACK OF BRENTWOOD

Found: BARONESS HARDING OF WINSCOMBE LORD CLEMENT-JONES LORD STEVENSON OF BALMACARA LORD BLACK OF BRENTWOOD

Found: BARONESS HARDING OF WINSCOMBE LORD CLEMENT-JONES LORD STEVENSON OF BALMACARA LORD BLACK OF BRENTWOOD