Adam Thompson

The Government is committed to ensuring LGBT+ people feel safe, included and are protected from discrimination.

Work is underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, including the trans–inclusive ban on conversion practices and equalising all existing strands of hate crime.

DHSC also delivered legislation to end discrimination in fertility services for LGBT+ families, by removing additional screening costs for female same-sex couples undertaking reciprocal motherhood, and lifting the ban on people with HIV donating gametes.

Moving forward, we will continue to develop policies and initiatives that enhance the lives of LGBT+ people.

Justice and change that victims of the Windrush Scandal deserve has not been delivered.

Recently, I met with the WNO and Windrush Cymru Elders as part of this Government’s fundamental reset, and am proud that since taking office, we have re-established the Windrush unit in the Home Office; improved our caseworking with the introduction of a single named caseworker; committed to appointing a Windrush Commissioner; and are bringing in £1.5mil in grants to fund additional advocacy and support for claimants.

I am also pleased to hear about the excellent work of the Long Eaton Settlers Legacy Association in your constituency. Campaign groups like them do very important work in the local community, supporting victims of the Windrush Scandal to access the compensation they deserve. I will ensure that the Windrush Engagement Team is aware of their work as they continue reaching out to organisations and communities across the country.

This Government is determined to right the wrongs of the Windrush Scandal.

The actions of Civil Servants and Ministers which were uncovered within the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report are extremely concerning and do not reflect the values we expect those who serve the public to uphold. The Prime Minister has committed to legislation on a Duty of Candour being delivered by this Government. The duty will apply to public authorities and public servants and will include criminal sanctions. Whether individuals are prosecuted as a result of the Inquiry’s findings is rightly a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service and is independent of Government. Last year I wrote to the National Police Chiefs’ Council to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to make any and all relevant information around the Infected Blood Inquiry available to the prosecuting authorities where requested.

The Government is committed to maintaining a high level of fire safety for domestic upholstered furniture. The Policy paper The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture published on 22 January sets out the Government’s intention for wider reforms to furniture fire safety regulation and some immediate actions the Government has taken. The Department for Business and Trade is carrying out extensive, targeted stakeholder engagement across industry to inform decision making, including discussions with chemical producers and trade associations. As part of this ongoing work the Government will assess the impact of any proposals.

The Government is committed to maintaining a high level of fire safety for domestic upholstered furniture. The Policy paper The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture published on 22 January sets out the Government’s intention for wider reforms to furniture fire safety regulation and some immediate actions the Government has taken. The Department for Business and Trade is carrying out extensive, targeted stakeholder engagement across industry to inform decision making, including discussions with chemical producers and trade associations. As part of this ongoing work the Government will assess the impact of any proposals.

The Government encourages university-business collaboration through a range of incentives, funding and knowledge exchange. The Higher Education Innovation Fund, managed through Research England, providing £280m annually for knowledge exchange, including £20m specifically for business and commercialisation activity.

The Government has also established Skills England, which is tasked with identifying and articulating the skills needed while working with other actors in the skills system to ensure provision is aligned with our industrial strategy. We are building a flexible and high-quality system that breaks down the barriers to opportunity and drives growth.

The UKAEA has developed world-leading fusion expertise having hosted JET for 40 years. A decision was made to cease operations at the end of 2023 as major upgrades to JET’s ageing infrastructure would offer only limited scientific value.

Most of the staff linked to JET are now a part of JET decommissioning or other UKAEA programmes. JET decommissioning will provide a unique opportunity to develop knowledge in the decommissioning of a fusion device and will inform the design of STEP. Furthermore, the repurposing of the estate will support ongoing growth of the cluster of fusion organisations based at the Culham campus.

Companies raising revenue from online services should cover the costs of regulation to keep the online environment safe for users. The Online Safety Act allows Ofcom to charge providers above a revenue threshold a justifiable and proportionate fee.

The Secretary of State is considering the contents of Ofcom’s ‘Online Safety – fees and penalties’ consultation, which closes on 9 January 2025. Departmental officials have regular contact with Ofcom regarding respective responsibilities in implementing the fee regime.

Parliament will be responsible for approving key aspects of the fee regime including regulations defining Qualifying Worldwide Revenue and the revenue threshold.

Companies raising revenue from online services should cover the costs of regulation to keep the online environment safe for users. The Online Safety Act allows Ofcom to charge providers above a revenue threshold a justifiable and proportionate fee.

The Secretary of State is considering the contents of Ofcom’s ‘Online Safety – fees and penalties’ consultation, which closes on 9 January 2025. Departmental officials have regular contact with Ofcom regarding respective responsibilities in implementing the fee regime.

Parliament will be responsible for approving key aspects of the fee regime including regulations defining Qualifying Worldwide Revenue and the revenue threshold.

Companies raising revenue from online services should cover the costs of regulation to keep the online environment safe for users. The Online Safety Act allows Ofcom to charge providers above a revenue threshold a justifiable and proportionate fee.

The Secretary of State is considering the contents of Ofcom’s ‘Online Safety – fees and penalties’ consultation, which closes on 9 January 2025. Departmental officials have regular contact with Ofcom regarding respective responsibilities in implementing the fee regime.

Parliament will be responsible for approving key aspects of the fee regime including regulations defining Qualifying Worldwide Revenue and the revenue threshold.

The next Research Excellence Framework (REF) is currently being developed by Research England and the three Devolved higher education funding bodies, in collaboration with the higher education sector.

As development of REF 2029 proceeds, the funding bodies will continue to engage with the sector and assess the feedback and evidence received from stakeholders until final guidance for the next exercise is set in 2026.

The UKRI open access policy aims to make the results of publicly funded research immediately available so they can be accessed and built upon. UKRI encourages preprints across research disciplines and reserves the right to require preprints where necessary.

UKRI Open Access Block Grant Awards support institutions in meeting its policy requirements. Awards cover article publishing charges (APCs) only under certain value for money terms as well as the sharing of papers via repositories and improvements to digital research infrastructures. UKRI monitors progress on open access, as well as how best to increase the accessibility of the research it funds.

This government continues to make available education and training opportunities in electrical and plumbing sectors across the country, including in Erewash.

A range of apprenticeships are available, including the level 3 plumbing and domestic heating technician standard and the level 3 domestic electrician standard.

Higher Technical Qualifications across a range of occupational routes are also available, including qualifications such as HNC Electrical Systems Engineering, and HND Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Additionally, T Levels in Building Services Engineering for Construction provide students with the core knowledge and skills needed for entry to a range of occupations in the electrical and plumbing sectors.

The government has announced an additional £625 million to support construction skills training. This is expected to deliver up to 60,000 additional skilled construction workers, including in electrical and plumbing, this Parliament.

Skills England will provide an authoritative assessment of national and regional skills needs in all sectors, now and in the future, which will include identifying skills gaps and ensuring a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications which are aligned with skills gaps and the needs of employers.

The Construction Industry Training Board states that plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are some of the occupations that will have the highest average growth (1.5%) to 2028. Electricians and electrical fitters also currently have one of the highest skill-shortage vacancy densities, with 46.5% of vacancies being linked to skills shortages.

Upskilling the country’s workforce is vital to meet the government’s clean energy 2030 target, with apprenticeships playing an important role in supporting employers in clean energy industries to develop the skills they need.

Employers and learners can benefit from a range of apprenticeship standards to develop electrotechnical skills, such as the level 6 electrical and electronic engineer standard and the level 6 electro-mechanical engineer standard.

The first Skills England report, ‘Driving Growth and Widening Opportunities’, published in September 2024, included an overview of the skills needs in the green workforce. Skills England will build on this initial skills needs assessment to ensure the renewables sector has access to high quality training which meets their needs.

This government is widening the apprenticeships offer into a levy-funded growth and skills offer. This will create opportunities for learners of all ages and give employers greater flexibility to address critical skills shortages in their workforce, while driving economic growth.

As a first step, this will include shorter duration apprenticeships and new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors. This will fuel innovation and help more people learn new high quality skills at work.

Future funding for the growth and skills offer, including apprenticeships, will be determined following the spending review.

This government continues to make available education and training opportunities in electrical and plumbing sectors across the country, including in Erewash.

A range of apprenticeships are available, including the level 3 plumbing and domestic heating technician standard and the level 3 domestic electrician standard.

Higher Technical Qualifications across a range of occupational routes are also available, including qualifications such as HNC Electrical Systems Engineering, and HND Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Additionally, T Levels in Building Services Engineering for Construction provide students with the core knowledge and skills needed for entry to a range of occupations in the electrical and plumbing sectors.

The government has announced an additional £625 million to support construction skills training. This is expected to deliver up to 60,000 additional skilled construction workers, including in electrical and plumbing, this Parliament.

Skills England will provide an authoritative assessment of national and regional skills needs in all sectors, now and in the future, which will include identifying skills gaps and ensuring a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications which are aligned with skills gaps and the needs of employers.

The Construction Industry Training Board states that plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are some of the occupations that will have the highest average growth (1.5%) to 2028. Electricians and electrical fitters also currently have one of the highest skill-shortage vacancy densities, with 46.5% of vacancies being linked to skills shortages.

The UK welcomes international students, including from China, who make a very positive impact on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector, our economy and society as a whole. We will always protect our national security, human rights and values.

The first duty of the government is to keep the country safe, and we are committed to responding to foreign interference, including those actions which amount to transnational repression. Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK, will not be tolerated. Anyone who thinks they might be a victim should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station or 999 in emergencies. As autonomous institutions, the department also expects universities to have robust processes in place to prevent and tackle incidents of harassment and abuse on campus.

​The department is taking specific steps to ensure our world-leading universities remain free from foreign interference. This includes the implementation of the new complaints scheme in the Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act 2023, which will offer a focussed route for concerns, including relating to foreign interference in academic freedom and free speech, to be escalated.

​The department is continuing to work closely with the sector to increase their understanding of the risks and their ability to respond. We are conducting an internal review, informed by engagement with the regulator, sector, academics impacted by foreign interference and international partners, to assess existing approaches to managing the risk of foreign interference and what more support they might need.

This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. The Government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges with food surplus and waste and make sure food is put on the plates of those in the greatest need. As we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action from right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed.

Defra is continuing to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog.

A call for evidence conducted from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for interested parties, including the construction industry, to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.

The decision announced reflects the continuation of the existing policy, as set out in 2018, that the temporary weight exemption for VCMs will come to an end in 2028.

My Department engaged with hon. Members and industry stakeholders through correspondence prior to the publication of the outcome of the call for evidence.

Successive Governments have held the principle that the benefit system does not normally support full-time students. Rather, they are supported by the educational maintenance system. Part-time students can receive Carer’s Allowance if they meet the entitlement conditions. Certain students when they have additional daily living costs that are not met by the student finance system may be eligible for Universal Credit (UC) and carer element of UC.

If a student with the consent of the educational establishment ceases the course temporarily to care for someone and they are not eligible for a student grant or loan, they may be eligible for UC for that period.

The Department works very closely with other departments and stakeholders, to help ensure young carers get the help and support they need and deserve. How we can best identify and support young carers to combine study with their caring responsibilities where they can, including taking account of changes in the education system, will form an important strand of our future work.

Whilst students are not normally entitled to Universal Credit (UC), if they are responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple there is an exception. Depending on their circumstances, they may also be eligible for additional Universal Credit elements, including for children.

Special Support Loans or Grants may be awarded to lone parent students who are in receipt of benefits, this is disregarded in calculations for UC.  Where a student receives a grant only, some of the income may be disregarded over and above the £110 limit in each assessment period if the payment is for childcare costs.

The Government is committed to delivering on its ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom, and is supporting smokers to quit through a range of services. This includes an additional £70 million investment in 2025/26 for local Stop Smoking Services in England. We are also working to ensure all National Health Service hospitals offer ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation services.

Vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, can be an effective quit tool for adult smokers, particularly when combined with behavioural support. Currently, all vapes supplied to the UK are done so through the consumer market, as there is no medicinally licensed vaping product. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is ready to support a future medicinally licensed vaping product if the industry comes forward with a successful candidate. The MHRA continues to provide technical and scientific advice to companies interested in developing medicinal vapes.

The Department has made no assessment of the inclusion of coronary artery calcium scoring in National Health Service cardiovascular health checks.

The NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, assesses the top seven risk factors for CVD in people aged 40 to 74 years old and refers them for behavioural support services, such as smoking cessation and weight management, and clinical assessment for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high CVD risk, where appropriate.

There are no plans to establish a national healthcare worker register. All health and care professional regulators have a statutory duty to maintain a register of the professionals they regulate. The health and care professional regulators’ registers are publicly available on their websites.

Health professionals that are not subject to statutory regulation can join voluntary registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA). The Accredited Registers Programme provides assurance to the public when choosing and using health and care services by independently assessing organisations who register practitioners who are not regulated by law.

The Government would encourage anyone accessing health and care services to use a practitioner who is subject to statutory regulation or voluntary registration accredited by the PSA. Members of the public can check online to establish whether a practitioner is registered with a voluntary accredited register.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all women and babies receive safe, personalised, equitable, and compassionate care. We are supporting NHS England as it delivers its three-year plan to improve maternity and neonatal care for women and babies. As part of this, all trusts are rolling out version three of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle which includes interventions for risk assessment, surveillance, and management of foetal growth restriction.

In 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) undertook an evidence review on routine third-trimester ultrasound for foetal growth. This concluded that there is no evidence of benefit to routinely scanning all women in the third trimester, compared to a more selective approach. Instead, the NICE recommends targeted scanning based on clinical need. Further information on the NICE’s evidence review is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng201/evidence/q-routine-third-trimester-ultrasound-for-fetal-growth-pdf-331305934364

There are no plans at this time to make a further assessment of the potential merits of expanding NHS England’s maternity care to include three ultra-sound scans.

The Shared Outcomes Fund Early Support Hubs project aims to increase the Government's understanding of the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention support for children and young people's mental health delivered in a community setting and strengthen the evidence base for early intervention. By evaluating the Early Support Hubs as a delivery model for early intervention, the project aims to build a strong evidence base, assess the impact of these services, and inform potential future expansion of the model. The evaluation of the project aims to report its findings by Summer 2025.

There are currently approximately 65 locally funded early support hubs in England offering early easy access mental health interventions to thousands of children and young people aged 11 to 25 years old, including those from low-income families.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.

Additionally, Every Mind Matters is a campaign run by NHS England, which features the mental health tool My Mind Plan at the heart of their resources and advice for those facing mental health problems.

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) remain a key part of the UK's focus on global health; our work on tackling climate change; and our humanitarian action. The latest consolidated Statistics on International Development report shows UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend on WASH totalled £37 million in 2023.

The transition to spending 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income on ODA by 2027 demands significant shifts in the scale and shape of our ODA spending over the next five years. ODA allocations for 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be finalised in an internal resource allocation round following the recent Spending Review. In the meantime, our existing WASH sector programmes will continue.

The UK is committed to supporting delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. Steps we are taking to help deliver SDG 6 include the Enhanced Water Leadership in a Changing Climate programme. This is raising the profile of the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector with a focus on national leadership, sector governance and finance. The programme also supports the generation of critical data governments need to establish effective strategies and plans. A sister programme, WASH Systems for Health, is strengthening WASH services in eight countries in Africa and South Asia. Finally, our Just Transitions programme is working to improve water resource management and climate resilience, through better planning, water governance, and increased investment in water related infrastructure.

Since 2020 we have supported UNICEF to help governments in climate-vulnerable countries strengthen the resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene services. This work extends from climate risk assessments, capacity building and systems strengthening, to establishing risk-informed policies and plans. The latter includes Nationally Declared Commitments and National Adaptation Plans. This work has also helped governments prepare multiple proposals for climate finance worth over £250 million over the last four years, potentially benefitting up to 9 million people with climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services. The UK also supports the World Bank to develop climate resilient water and sanitation services, as well as the Resilient Water Accelerator. This aims to establish a pipeline of climate resilient water and sanitation programmes that are attractive to private investors.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recognises the potential of private investment to accelerate progress on water supply, sanitation and hygiene. We work with governments in eight countries to improve the performance of the water and sanitation sector, strengthening systems and capacity and reduce commercial risks that discourage private investment. Our support to the World Bank also helps do this, for example through the Water Security and Climate Adaptation Global Challenge Programme. This work is complemented by our support to the Heads of State Initiative for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which is mobilising domestic finance and encouraging collaboration between governments, donors and other development partners. These initiatives mark the FCDO's shift from projects that delivered WASH infrastructure to a more strategic focus on governance and finance, improving the sustainability and resilience of WASH services that can attract funding from users, government budget allocations and private investors.

The UK is committed to Media Freedom, and to championing democracy and human rights around the world. The Government takes allegations concerning the arbitrary detention of British nationals - including journalists - very seriously. We examine the circumstances of each case individually and develop tailored strategies based on careful judgements on what is likely to be most effective. Where appropriate, we seek to raise concerns with the local authorities and press for specific violations to be remedied or investigated. We expect all states to comply with their human rights obligations.

The government recognises the significant impact the collapse of BetIndex Ltd had on former customers.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responded to the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner’s report on BetIndex Ltd, noting that it has already implemented a number of changes that address the Commissioner’s recommendations.

HM Treasury continues to engage with the FCA on issues relating to the FCA’s regulatory perimeter, including sports spread betting.

Within the current benefit in kind tax rules employers are able to provide their employees with a loan, which can be provided tax free, as long as the total value of the loan is below £10,000. This type of loan can be used to make purchases such as train season tickets, most of which are under £10,000, and the employee will then reimburse their employer out of their net salary.

The Government keeps all aspects of the tax system under review. Any decisions on future changes will be taken in the context of the wider public finances.

The safety and security of Hong Kongers in the UK is of the upmost importance. The UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. Where we identify individuals at heightened risk, we are front footed in deploying protective security guidance and other measures as appropriate

We have a broad suite of powers available to counter transnational repression. This includes measures in the National Security Act 2023 which make the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts.

On 4 March, I announced a new package of training for frontline police officers and staff to increase their understanding of foreign state threats. This training will improve law enforcement’s ability to detect and investigate incidents which may be state directed.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce is also reviewing the UK’s existing response to transnational repression to ensure it is robust and joined across government and law enforcement.

The sinking of the HMT Lancastria remains the United Kingdom's worst maritime disaster. Although it occurred almost 85 years ago, the loss of several thousand servicemen and civilians, and the fortitude of those who were saved that day, must never be forgotten.

A number of memorials commemorate the sinking, and loss of life, most notably in England at the National Memorial Arboretum, at St Nazaire in France, and at the former Dalmuir shipyard at Clydebank, Scotland. The HMT Lancastria Association also has its own memorial in the Church of St. Katherine Cree in the City of London, which is the site of an annual memorial ceremony.

Unfortunately, it is impractical to commemorate the anniversaries of all wartime tragedies with a bespoke Government-led event and thus I have no plans to discuss further recognition.