Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the resources available to the BBC World Service.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years for the BBC World Service will be decided through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office allocations process. The BBC Charter Review, launched in December, is looking at potential World Service funding mechanisms for the longer-term.

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 ensure that salons operating rent-a-chair arrangements comply with employment status law where working practices may indicate worker or employee status.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.

The Government recognises the complexity of the current employment status framework. Bogus self‑employment is unacceptable, and employers should not deny individuals their employment rights by incorrectly classifying them as self‑employed. Responsibility for determining employment status rests on the facts of each case, and compliance activity is led by HMRC. Where operated correctly, rent‑a‑chair models are a legitimate and long‑standing business practice.

HMRC does not consider trends in business numbers and employed/self-employed numbers in the sector to be unexpected. If a business disaggregates, as in the rent-a-chair model, the number of businesses will increase but the number of employees may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on how the business disaggregates.

However, we recognise that under the current framework, many workers may find it difficult to know either what protections they are owed or how to comply with legal obligations; this is why, through collaboration with the hair industry, Government published dedicated guidance for hair and beauty businesses to help the latter better understand their employment status for tax purposes: Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty - GOV.UK.. This Government is also committed to consulting on employment status.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with representatives of the Salon Employers Association or other industry bodies to discuss employment status compliance and fair competition within the hairdressing industry.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.

The Government recognises the complexity of the current employment status framework. Bogus self‑employment is unacceptable, and employers should not deny individuals their employment rights by incorrectly classifying them as self‑employed. Responsibility for determining employment status rests on the facts of each case, and compliance activity is led by HMRC. Where operated correctly, rent‑a‑chair models are a legitimate and long‑standing business practice.

HMRC does not consider trends in business numbers and employed/self-employed numbers in the sector to be unexpected. If a business disaggregates, as in the rent-a-chair model, the number of businesses will increase but the number of employees may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on how the business disaggregates.

However, we recognise that under the current framework, many workers may find it difficult to know either what protections they are owed or how to comply with legal obligations; this is why, through collaboration with the hair industry, Government published dedicated guidance for hair and beauty businesses to help the latter better understand their employment status for tax purposes: Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty - GOV.UK.. This Government is also committed to consulting on employment status.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the levels of disguised self-employment in the hairdressing sector, particularly in salons operating rent-a-chair models.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.

The Government recognises the complexity of the current employment status framework. Bogus self‑employment is unacceptable, and employers should not deny individuals their employment rights by incorrectly classifying them as self‑employed. Responsibility for determining employment status rests on the facts of each case, and compliance activity is led by HMRC. Where operated correctly, rent‑a‑chair models are a legitimate and long‑standing business practice.

HMRC does not consider trends in business numbers and employed/self-employed numbers in the sector to be unexpected. If a business disaggregates, as in the rent-a-chair model, the number of businesses will increase but the number of employees may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on how the business disaggregates.

However, we recognise that under the current framework, many workers may find it difficult to know either what protections they are owed or how to comply with legal obligations; this is why, through collaboration with the hair industry, Government published dedicated guidance for hair and beauty businesses to help the latter better understand their employment status for tax purposes: Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty - GOV.UK.. This Government is also committed to consulting on employment status.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendations of the House of Lords' Time to Deliver report of 23 November 2025, HL 205, whether the Department plans to develop and publish a new comprehensive autism strategy.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 23 January 2026, we published our response to the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Inquiry Committee’s report Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy. We welcomed the committee’s report, and are carefully considering its recommendations, as well as our approach to developing a new national autism strategy, and we will set out a position in due course.

We recognise that a large amount of evidence was gathered by the committee and we will consider this evidence, along with evidence from various other reviews, papers, and reports. We recognise that meaningful engagement will take time, so a balance will need to be struck as to what level of further engagement is required. The current strategy will remain in effect until a revised strategy is published.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of how endometriosis care is covered in the education and training of healthcare practitioners.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.

The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, and we have taken action to address this.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including endometriosis.

Women's health is included the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs), including gynaecology, sexual health, and breast health. The curriculum also covers the healthcare needs of women across all diseases seen in primary care as it is important women are treated holistically. This ensures that all future GPs receive education on women’s health.

The RCGP has also published a Women’s Health Library which brings together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health from the RCGP, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. This resource is continually updated to ensure GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date advice to provide the best care for their patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has developed a women’s and reproductive health topic suite, and updated guidelines on endometriosis in 2024 to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. These clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide care for women with endometriosis.

Generally, employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to fill gaps in levels of endometriosis training for NHS healthcare professionals.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.

The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, and we have taken action to address this.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including endometriosis.

Women's health is included the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs), including gynaecology, sexual health, and breast health. The curriculum also covers the healthcare needs of women across all diseases seen in primary care as it is important women are treated holistically. This ensures that all future GPs receive education on women’s health.

The RCGP has also published a Women’s Health Library which brings together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health from the RCGP, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. This resource is continually updated to ensure GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date advice to provide the best care for their patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has developed a women’s and reproductive health topic suite, and updated guidelines on endometriosis in 2024 to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. These clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide care for women with endometriosis.

Generally, employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking with regulators and professional bodies to improve endometriosis education.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.

The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, and we have taken action to address this.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including endometriosis.

Women's health is included the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs), including gynaecology, sexual health, and breast health. The curriculum also covers the healthcare needs of women across all diseases seen in primary care as it is important women are treated holistically. This ensures that all future GPs receive education on women’s health.

The RCGP has also published a Women’s Health Library which brings together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health from the RCGP, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. This resource is continually updated to ensure GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date advice to provide the best care for their patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has developed a women’s and reproductive health topic suite, and updated guidelines on endometriosis in 2024 to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. These clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide care for women with endometriosis.

Generally, employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of public houses that could lose planning protection under proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on local communities of restricting planning protections for public houses to cases where they are the final pub in an area.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding has been a) allocated to and b) spent in the Northeastern State of Somalia in each of the last five years.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is one of Somalia's closest and longest standing partners, and remains committed to building a safer, freer, and more secure country. The UK has provided more than £500million in humanitarian and development funding to Somalia since 2021 - all UK funding allocations, including where programmes operate, are available on Development Tracker. The British Embassy in Mogadishu and British Office in Hargeisa engage regularly with a wide range of contacts in Somalia, including Somaliland. The UK is closely following events in SSC-Khatumo and continues to advocate for peace and dialogue between all parties.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department collects data on how UK funding is a) allocated and b) spent across Somalia's federal states.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is one of Somalia's closest and longest standing partners, and remains committed to building a safer, freer, and more secure country. The UK has provided more than £500million in humanitarian and development funding to Somalia since 2021 - all UK funding allocations, including where programmes operate, are available on Development Tracker. The British Embassy in Mogadishu and British Office in Hargeisa engage regularly with a wide range of contacts in Somalia, including Somaliland. The UK is closely following events in SSC-Khatumo and continues to advocate for peace and dialogue between all parties.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC is taking to investigate salons that may not be paying employer National Insurance contributions, VAT liabilities, or pension obligations through the misclassification of staff as self-employed.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC’s priority is to ensure that everyone pays the tax they are legally required to pay including those in the hair and beauty sector.

HMRC’s approach focuses on preventing non‑compliance from arising in the first place by providing clear guidance and tools. In the case of salon owners and workers, additional support to get their tax obligations right has been provided in collaboration with trade bodies. To help support these customers, HMRC has worked with trade bodies for this sector to develop new educational material and has published guidance on GOV.UK to better explain the employment status and tax implications of different business models. Details can be found at: https://youtu.be/5o3au6PyXG8 and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-if-you-work-in-hair-and-beauty

At the same time, HMRC is actively tackling disguised employment in salons and making it harder for the minority who deliberately misclassify workers to avoid paying employer National Insurance, VAT, or pension contributions. HMRC carries out targeted compliance activity to identify cases where individuals presented as self‑employed are, in reality, working as employees.

HMRC is committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence that suggests businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. To report a person or business you think is not paying enough tax please click Report tax fraud or avoidance to HMRC - GOV.UK for more information.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the administration in the Northeastern state of Somalia on a) security and stabilisation, b) political and diplomatic engagement and c) economic development and recovery.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is one of Somalia's closest and longest standing partners, and remains committed to building a safer, freer, and more secure country. The UK has provided more than £500million in humanitarian and development funding to Somalia since 2021 - all UK funding allocations, including where programmes operate, are available on Development Tracker. The British Embassy in Mogadishu and British Office in Hargeisa engage regularly with a wide range of contacts in Somalia, including Somaliland. The UK is closely following events in SSC-Khatumo and continues to advocate for peace and dialogue between all parties.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to establish and maintain relationships with the administration in the Northeastern region of Somalia.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is one of Somalia's closest and longest standing partners, and remains committed to building a safer, freer, and more secure country. The UK has provided more than £500million in humanitarian and development funding to Somalia since 2021 - all UK funding allocations, including where programmes operate, are available on Development Tracker. The British Embassy in Mogadishu and British Office in Hargeisa engage regularly with a wide range of contacts in Somalia, including Somaliland. The UK is closely following events in SSC-Khatumo and continues to advocate for peace and dialogue between all parties.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the cultural and heritage value of public houses and the potential impact of planning deregulation on that sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of levels of inclusion of climate change and environmental sustainability in the national curriculum beyond geography and science subjects.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Young people have consistently expressed a strong desire for more education on climate change, nature and sustainability. Teachers have also highlighted that limited visibility and emphasis on climate topics in the national curriculum has made it difficult to develop effective provision in this area.

Climate education was already present in the science and geography curricula. The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended stronger climate education and sustainability content across the curriculum, with detailed engagement and earlier sequencing with climate education in subjects such as geography, science, design and technology and citizenship.

Work is now underway to embed content on climate change, nature and sustainability across the curriculum and sequence knowledge throughout the key stages.

Funding is already committed for the National Education Nature Park to provide curriculum-linked activities and resources for all key stages, and for supporting climate action plans via the Climate Ambassador Programme and Sustainability Support for Education. Climate action plans encourage settings from early years to further education to consider how they take a holistic approach to climate across four key pillars of adaptation, biodiversity, curriculum and decarbonisation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to introduce targets and funding commitments for climate education across all key stages.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Young people have consistently expressed a strong desire for more education on climate change, nature and sustainability. Teachers have also highlighted that limited visibility and emphasis on climate topics in the national curriculum has made it difficult to develop effective provision in this area.

Climate education was already present in the science and geography curricula. The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended stronger climate education and sustainability content across the curriculum, with detailed engagement and earlier sequencing with climate education in subjects such as geography, science, design and technology and citizenship.

Work is now underway to embed content on climate change, nature and sustainability across the curriculum and sequence knowledge throughout the key stages.

Funding is already committed for the National Education Nature Park to provide curriculum-linked activities and resources for all key stages, and for supporting climate action plans via the Climate Ambassador Programme and Sustainability Support for Education. Climate action plans encourage settings from early years to further education to consider how they take a holistic approach to climate across four key pillars of adaptation, biodiversity, curriculum and decarbonisation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to include mandatory training on the climate emergency within Initial Teacher Training and the Early Career Framework.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) is universal and designed to work for all new teachers regardless of subject, phase, or school. Whilst the ITTECF underpins what all new teachers should learn, it is not a curriculum. Training providers and schools can design a curriculum based on the ITTECF and which is responsive to the needs of the participants and individual school settings.

Beyond the ITTECF, decisions relating to teachers’ professional development rest with schools, headteachers, and teachers themselves as they are in the best position to judge their own requirements.

We recognise that continuous improvement is essential in transforming the training and support for all new teachers, and to review the experiences and needs of early career teachers as well as trainees. This is why we have committed to a full review of the programme in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for trainees and early career teachers.

Found: Commons Juliet Campbell (Labour; Broxtowe) Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat; Harrogate and Knaresborough) Afzal Khan