Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterparts on UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

At the 8^th Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in London on 8^th January 2026, the Secretary of State highlighted the UK’s continued commitment to partnership on UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets before opening a separate discussion at a business roundtable to explore further opportunities for cooperation with Turkish counterparts. On his behalf, Sir Chris Bryant also focussed his exchanges with Turkish counterparts and relevant businesses on third-country cooperation (at the Turkish Contractors Association Construction Summit in Ankara) during the minister's most recent visit to Turkey on 16^th June 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with representatives of the higher education sector on ensuring that universities retain appropriate institutional autonomy in relation to pension provision; and whether she is considering any changes to the regulatory framework governing participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme by higher education institutions.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.

The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.

The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.

HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of volatility in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates on the financial sustainability and long term business planning of higher education institutions that are required to participate in the scheme; and what steps she is taking to improve predictability and stability in future contribution-rate setting.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.

The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.

The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.

HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the factors that led to the reduction in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rate from 28.68 per cent to 17.68 per cent from April 2027; and whether her Department has assessed the likelihood of employer contribution rates increasing again at the next scheme valuation or review.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.

The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.

The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.

HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.

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 merits of engaging with Türkiye's as a trade corridor between the UK and Central Asia and Middle East markets; and what estimate his Department has made of the potential economic value this transit function represents to UK exporters.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific estimate of the economic value to UK exporters attributable solely to Türkiye's role as a transit corridor.

Goods take varied trade routes globally, including between the EU and Central Asia and the Middle East. Overland through Türkiye is one, and a number of major airlines passing through Türkiye also carry cargo. The value to the UK of trade flows will vary due to commercial factors at any one time.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of opportunities for joint UK–Türkiye commercial activity in third-country markets.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

In recent years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported several major infrastructure projects in Turkey, collaborating closely with Turkish contractors. This has enhanced Turkish contractors' awareness of the UK supply chain and has provided a strong base for implementing third-country collaboration between the two countries. UKEF has a Country Head based in Türkiye who can consider appropriate projects for potential UKEF engagement.

UKEF has a reinsurance agreement with Turk Eximbank to strengthen commercial cooperation by co-financing projects in third countries, combining financial support from both the UK and Türkiye to help British and Turkish exporters secure major global contracts.

UKEF is supporting UK and Turkish contractors to deliver deals around the world, including in Ukraine, Iraq, Serbia and Belgium.

UKEF recently co-hosted a project showcase event in London with 10 Turkish engineering, procurement and construction businesses to present global opportunities for the UK supply chain across a range of sectors such as building airports, bridges and rail projects.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what role UK Export Finance is playing in supporting UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

In recent years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported several major infrastructure projects in Turkey, collaborating closely with Turkish contractors. This has enhanced Turkish contractors' awareness of the UK supply chain and has provided a strong base for implementing third-country collaboration between the two countries. UKEF has a Country Head based in Türkiye who can consider appropriate projects for potential UKEF engagement.

UKEF has a reinsurance agreement with Turk Eximbank to strengthen commercial cooperation by co-financing projects in third countries, combining financial support from both the UK and Türkiye to help British and Turkish exporters secure major global contracts.

UKEF is supporting UK and Turkish contractors to deliver deals around the world, including in Ukraine, Iraq, Serbia and Belgium.

UKEF recently co-hosted a project showcase event in London with 10 Turkish engineering, procurement and construction businesses to present global opportunities for the UK supply chain across a range of sectors such as building airports, bridges and rail projects.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to issue burial certificates on weekends in cases where burials must take place within 24 hours of death for religious reasons.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Registration services regularly assess local need, including the requirementsof faith communities where burial may be required within 24 hours, and makeappropriate provision where necessary. The operating hours of each registeroffice is for each local authority to determine.

Found: Liverpool Alex Ballinger Juliet Campbell Lord Dholakia Tom Gordon Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws Afzal Khan

Found: Commission on Community and Cohesion (ICCC) 28 April Board of Deputies of British Jews 28 April Afzal Khan

Found: Human Rights (Joint Committee) member present: Afzal Khan.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Chair); Tom Gordon; Baroness Hamwee; Afzal Khan