Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Leong on 16 September, what requirements they are including in invitations to tender for public sector construction contracts relating to the provision of apprenticeship opportunities and adult skills training by contractors and subcontractors.

Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Government is committed to ensuring that public procurement supports British businesses and helps to build a fairer economy, delivering jobs, skills and opportunities in every postcode.

The new Social Value Model will ensure that contracts valued at £1m and above, but less than £5m, apply a minimum 10% weighting (or equivalent measurement), and contracts valued at £5m or above, apply a minimum 20% weighting (or equivalent measurement), of the total score given to tenders. These will support apprenticeships and other forms of training in construction and other sectors.

Full details of the policy can be found here PPN 026: The Social Value Model (HTML) - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Leong on 15 September (HL2978) regarding animal experiments, how they intend to measure progress their objective, set out in the Replacing animals in science strategy (November 2025), of increasing and sustaining investment in animal replacement methods, if funding for such methods is not separately identified across Government; and whether they plan to establish a cross-government baseline against which future investment in human-specific research methods and technologies can be assessed.

Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Progress in delivering the objectives of the strategy will be measured against a set of KPIs developed in consultation with delivery partners. A KPI framework covering the strategy's commitments will be published later this year.

While a unified reporting format that captures investments made through all relevant government departments and regulatory bodies is not yet available, individual delivery partners are developing and refining their reporting methodologies.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Leong on 1 September (HL2203), does the Minister for Small Business and Enterprise physically attend departmental offices to undertake ministerial duties during periods of strike action by departmental civil servants or contractors.

Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to UIN HL2203 on 29 July 2026.

Found: Letter from Lord Leong to Peers regarding amendment group 2: Payment term period and notice and payment

Found: CMG CBE Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Lords Minister, Ministry of Justice Lord LEONG

Found: PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES JOBS PLAN 4 MINISTERIAL FOREWORD Lord Leong CBE Minister for Small

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Found: protection business 50 List of Ministers’ Interests - October 2026 The Lord Leong

Found: Letter dated 17/09/2026 from Lord Leong to Lord Hunt of Wirral regarding a correction to a figure quoted

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Found: Response on the Commercial Payments Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum UK Government Letter from Lord Leong

Found: Commercial Payments Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum UK Government Letter from the Convener to Lord Leong