Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides to people aged 25 to 30 who are unemployed but do not fall within the NEET category.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department for Work and Pensions offers a range of employment support that those aged 25-30 can benefit from. This includes financial support through the Flexible Support Fund to help with interviews or starting work, and tailored, flexible support through Jobcentre Plus. Alongside targeted job-search support, Work Coaches offer personalised advice to help individuals secure roles which reflect their skills, qualifications and prior experience.

Where appropriate, Work Coaches identify skill gaps and signpost jobseekers to relevant training and provision, such as Skills Bootcamps, apprenticeships, sector-based work academy programmes, and free courses for jobs, as well as essential English, maths and digital skills.

For those who have been on Universal Credit for 6 months or more, the Restart Scheme provides 12 months of more intensive support, including bespoke action plans.

Alongside this, we are developing tailored support for those with health conditions and disabilities through our Pathways to Work, backed by £1 billion a year of new funding by the end of the decade.

We are also delivering 11 Economic Inactivity Trailblazers, led by Mayoral Strategic Authorities and the Welsh Government, which are testing local approaches to support people who are hardest to reach to move towards work.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish an implementation plan for the Small Business Protections Bill, including enforcement responsibilities, staffing requirements and delivery milestones.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This Government is committed to the successful implementation of the Commercial Payments Bill. The Bill is designed to strengthen the powers of the Small Business Commissioner to investigate poor payment practices, adjudicate disputes and take enforcement action. The Commissioner will have the resources needed to deliver its expanded functions, including operational arrangements, staffing or enforcement requirements and will continue to publish its annual report and guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to establish a dedicated implementation taskforce to oversee enforcement of the Small Business Protections Bill and wider late payment reforms.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This Government is committed to the successful implementation of the Commercial Payments Bill. The Bill is designed to strengthen the powers of the Small Business Commissioner to investigate poor payment practices, adjudicate disputes and take enforcement action. The Commissioner will have the resources needed to deliver its expanded functions, including operational arrangements, staffing or enforcement requirements and will continue to publish its annual report and guidance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many enforcement actions have been taken under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017 in each year since those regulations came into force.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Late payment is estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Government’s impact assessment takes account of the cost of enforcing late payment legislation. The Department currently has two FTEs monitoring and encouraging businesses to comply with the Payment Practices Reporting regime. To date, no criminal enforcement action has been taken. We are bringing forward new legislation to tackle late payments. This includes new enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner that will make it easier to enforce accurate reporting of payment practices and performance data via the use of penalty notices for large businesses not complying.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are assigned to monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Payment Practices Reporting regime.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Late payment is estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Government’s impact assessment takes account of the cost of enforcing late payment legislation. The Department currently has two FTEs monitoring and encouraging businesses to comply with the Payment Practices Reporting regime. To date, no criminal enforcement action has been taken. We are bringing forward new legislation to tackle late payments. This includes new enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner that will make it easier to enforce accurate reporting of payment practices and performance data via the use of penalty notices for large businesses not complying.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the economic return of additional enforcement funding for late payment regulations.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Late payment is estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Government’s impact assessment takes account of the cost of enforcing late payment legislation. The Department currently has two FTEs monitoring and encouraging businesses to comply with the Payment Practices Reporting regime. To date, no criminal enforcement action has been taken. We are bringing forward new legislation to tackle late payments. This includes new enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner that will make it easier to enforce accurate reporting of payment practices and performance data via the use of penalty notices for large businesses not complying.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential risk that incomplete EU Entry/Exit System exit records could wrongly count UK-based professional HGV drivers as remaining in the Schengen area after they have returned to the UK.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU-operated border management system designed to strengthen border security and record the entry and exit of third-country nationals to and from the Schengen area.

Responsibility for the collection, accuracy and management of EES data rests with the European Union and its member states.

Travellers who believe their EES data is inaccurate can seek correction through the procedures established by the EU and participating member states.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on GDP of reducing average business-to-business payment times by one day.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department has not made a separate assessment of the GDP impact of reducing average business-to-business payment times by one day. Late payments are estimated to cost the UK economy almost £11 billion each year. The Commercial Payments Bill is designed to improve payment practices, strengthen cashflow for small businesses and to reduce their time spent chasing late invoices. It supports productivity, supply chain resilience and growth across the wider economy.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of mechanisms available to support UK small and medium-sized enterprises in recovering outstanding commercial debts from overseas entities that are subject to UK sanctions.

Answered by Rachel Blake

Where recovery of a commercial debt involves an overseas person or entity subject to UK sanctions, businesses must ensure that any action taken complies with UK sanctions law. In some circumstances, businesses may require a licence from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, where financial sanctions are engaged, or from the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation where trade sanctions activity falls within its remit.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2026 to Question 15179, what estimate her Department has made of the number of British citizens who have used ports of entry at (a) the Port of Dover, (b) Eurotunnel Folkestone, and (c) St Pancras International in each year since 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Home Office does not hold information on the number of British citizens who have used specific ports of entry at (a) the Port of Dover, (b) Eurotunnel Folkestone, and (c) St Pancras International in the form requested.

No government department routinely records the exact mode of transport used by British citizens entering the UK. Obtaining the specific information requested would require the collation and verification of data from multiple systems and could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

For context, Home Office data show that there were approximately 73.3 million arrivals of British citizens to the UK in 2024, 77.5 million arrivals in 2025 and 14.4 million arrivals in the period January to March 2026.

The government has been engaging at ministerial and official level with Port of Dover and its operators, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar at St Pancras to mitigate the impact of EES.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of (a) Eurotunnel Folkestone, (b) Eurostar at St Pancras International and (c) the Port of Dover regarding the (i) installation and (ii) operation of Entry/Exit System (EES) registration kiosks since the full implementation of the EES.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Home Office does not hold information on the number of British citizens who have used specific ports of entry at (a) the Port of Dover, (b) Eurotunnel Folkestone, and (c) St Pancras International in the form requested.

No government department routinely records the exact mode of transport used by British citizens entering the UK. Obtaining the specific information requested would require the collation and verification of data from multiple systems and could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

For context, Home Office data show that there were approximately 73.3 million arrivals of British citizens to the UK in 2024, 77.5 million arrivals in 2025 and 14.4 million arrivals in the period January to March 2026.

The government has been engaging at ministerial and official level with Port of Dover and its operators, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar at St Pancras to mitigate the impact of EES.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance her Department provides to UK businesses seeking to verify whether a non-domestic commercial debtor is subject to UK financial sanctions.

Answered by Rachel Blake

Businesses can check whether a person or entity is subject to UK financial sanctions by consulting the UK Sanctions List: FCDO - UK Sanctions List Search - GOV.UK.

Further guidance, including on the territorial scope of UK financial sanctions and circumstances in which a UK nexus may arise, is available in OFSI's published guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-general-guidance/uk-financial-sanctions-general-guidance#overview-of-financial-sanctions

The Government keeps the implementation and effectiveness of its sanctions’ regimes under review. The recent review of the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 made targeted changes to the licensing provisions which enables the satisfaction of pre-existing legal and commercial obligations. This supported a more tailored domestic approach by responding directly to the needs of UK businesses.

It is for businesses to ensure compliance with UK financial sanctions and manage their sanctions risk appropriately.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what government guidance is available to UK professional drivers who believe their EU Entry/Exit System record does not accurately show that they have exited the Schengen area.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU scheme, and its implementation is a matter for the EU and its member states.

Where a traveller believes their EES record may not have been recorded correctly, the official EES website provides contact details for data protection authorities in participating countries. Official EES guidance also states that travellers have the right to request access to their personal data held within EES and, where appropriate, to request that inaccurate data is corrected or deleted.

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 to support former child patients who were not notified of time-limited compensation schemes relating to abuse in NHS adolescent mental health units.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

We recognise the importance of former child patients being able to seek redress for physical and sexual abuse suffered.

In some cases where there have been serious institutional failings which have contributed to abuse, financial redress schemes have been provided. There are currently no plans for a national financial redress scheme for all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse with a connection to National Health Service adolescent mental health units.

In cases where abuse has occurred, the Courts are always available to patients who have been affected, whether or not a compensation scheme has been set up or the deadline has been missed.

Supporting child and adult victims and survivors of sexual abuse is a core priority for NHS England, delivered through a network of 48 specialist sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) across the country. NHS England commissions SARCs through a distinct national service specification, including working with specialist support services, ensuring that children and young people up to the age of 18 years old receive trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care and safeguarding support, and that adults receive tailored care that reflects their needs and rights, with clear referral pathways to health, justice, and specialist support services. Additionally, the Government is investing up to £50 million to roll out the internationally recognised Child House model across all NHS regions. The model brings health, justice, and social care professionals together in a safe, child-centred environment to reduce trauma and deliver the care children deserve.

Through the 10-Year Health Plan we are also expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that more adults with anxiety and depression can get the help they need.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of redress available to former child patients who experienced (a) physical and (b) sexual abuse in NHS adolescent mental health units.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

We recognise the importance of former child patients being able to seek redress for physical and sexual abuse suffered.

In some cases where there have been serious institutional failings which have contributed to abuse, financial redress schemes have been provided. There are currently no plans for a national financial redress scheme for all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse with a connection to National Health Service adolescent mental health units.

In cases where abuse has occurred, the Courts are always available to patients who have been affected, whether or not a compensation scheme has been set up or the deadline has been missed.

Supporting child and adult victims and survivors of sexual abuse is a core priority for NHS England, delivered through a network of 48 specialist sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) across the country. NHS England commissions SARCs through a distinct national service specification, including working with specialist support services, ensuring that children and young people up to the age of 18 years old receive trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care and safeguarding support, and that adults receive tailored care that reflects their needs and rights, with clear referral pathways to health, justice, and specialist support services. Additionally, the Government is investing up to £50 million to roll out the internationally recognised Child House model across all NHS regions. The model brings health, justice, and social care professionals together in a safe, child-centred environment to reduce trauma and deliver the care children deserve.

Through the 10-Year Health Plan we are also expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that more adults with anxiety and depression can get the help they need.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will use forthcoming UK-EU discussions to seek a temporary solution for UK (a) professional HGV and (b) coach drivers affected by (i) incomplete or (ii) disputed EU Entry/Exit System records.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU scheme, and its implementation, including the use of flexibilities permitted by the relevant legislation on biometric collection, is a matter for the European Commission and participating EU member states.

This Government remains committed to seeing EES implemented in a way that protects border fluidity and minimises disruption for travellers, hauliers and businesses. I have regularly engaged with counterparts in the EU to encourage the pragmatic approach to implementation and maximum use of available flexibilities.

Where a traveller believes their EES record may not have been recorded correctly, the official EES website provides contact details for data protection authorities in participating countries. Official EES guidance also states that travellers have the right to request access to their personal data held within EES and, where appropriate, to request that inaccurate data is corrected or deleted.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the financial impact on UK small and medium-sized enterprises of defending civil litigation (a) brought and (b) contested in UK courts by (i) individuals and (ii) entities that are (A) subject to and (B) under investigation for UK financial sanctions.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Lord Justice Jackson’s Review of Civil Litigation Costs considered the cost of defending civil claims, and aimed to rebalance the risk between claimants and defendants in order to promote access to justice at proportionate cost. The final report can be found here. The report led to significant reforms, including ending the recoverability of Conditional Fee Agreement success fees and After The Event insurance premiums, and the introduction of Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRCs) in certain civil cases. Between October 2025 and January 2026, the Government held an initial stocktake of FRCs. The responses to this will help inform the upcoming post-implementation review of the FRC regime, which will consider how that specific reform is operating in practice.

More recently, the Civil Justice Council (CJC) carried out a thorough and wide-ranging review of litigation funding which considered concerns about the cost and burden of litigation for defendants. The CJC’s full report can be found here and its interim report and public consultation can be found here. Alongside the public consultation, the CJC established both a core Working Group and Consultation Group to ensure a wide range of perspectives informed the development of its recommendations.

The Government is confident the CJC and Lord Justice Jackson have suitably reviewed litigation funding and civil costs. As such, we have not made our own formal assessment of the impact of defending civil litigation on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the full-time equivalent staffing headcount of Border Force was at (a) the Port of Dover, (b) Eurotunnel Folkestone and (c) Eurostar St Pancras International in each year since 2024.

Answered by Mike Tapp

Border Force operates a flexible resourcing model, regularly assessing operational needs and deploying staff dynamically in response to passenger volumes and security requirements. Maintaining the security and efficiency of the UK border remains a top priority, and we continue to allocate resources accordingly to ensure the smooth flow of passengers and goods.

For security reasons, Border Force do not give out figures of how many operational staff are working at a given time or on a specific operational deployment, nor does Border Force publish information on operational activities. Doing so would publicise operational practices which could be used to assist in the evasion of customs controls and compromise Border security.

Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority. We have robust plans in place to minimise any delays, and will deploy suitable resource to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border.

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 to help reduce stigma around suicide in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering the five-year cross-government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, which sets out over 100 actions to reduce suicide and save lives. The strategy identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level and includes action to improve awareness of available support, encourage help-seeking behaviour, and reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental ill-health.

The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023–2028 highlights the importance of reducing stigma surrounding suicide and aims to destigmatise help-seeking for those who may be at risk. The Government believes that suicide prevention is everyone's business. Every person, organisation, and service across the country has a role to play in preventing suicide. In recent years, good progress has been made in tackling the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, but there is more to do to ensure that people feel able to seek support when they need it.

The Department engages regularly with a range of suicide prevention organisations and charities, to support delivery of the strategy. These organisations play a vital role in raising awareness of suicide prevention support, promoting open conversations about mental health, and tackling the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.

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 to help improve public awareness of suicide prevention support in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering the five-year cross-government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, which sets out over 100 actions to reduce suicide and save lives. The strategy identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level and includes action to improve awareness of available support, encourage help-seeking behaviour, and reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental ill-health.

The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023–2028 highlights the importance of reducing stigma surrounding suicide and aims to destigmatise help-seeking for those who may be at risk. The Government believes that suicide prevention is everyone's business. Every person, organisation, and service across the country has a role to play in preventing suicide. In recent years, good progress has been made in tackling the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, but there is more to do to ensure that people feel able to seek support when they need it.

The Department engages regularly with a range of suicide prevention organisations and charities, to support delivery of the strategy. These organisations play a vital role in raising awareness of suicide prevention support, promoting open conversations about mental health, and tackling the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has had discussions with suicide prevention charities on reducing stigma around suicide in Surrey.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to delivering the five-year cross-government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, which sets out over 100 actions to reduce suicide and save lives. The strategy identifies eight priority groups for targeted and tailored support at a national level and includes action to improve awareness of available support, encourage help-seeking behaviour, and reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental ill-health.

The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023–2028 highlights the importance of reducing stigma surrounding suicide and aims to destigmatise help-seeking for those who may be at risk. The Government believes that suicide prevention is everyone's business. Every person, organisation, and service across the country has a role to play in preventing suicide. In recent years, good progress has been made in tackling the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, but there is more to do to ensure that people feel able to seek support when they need it.

The Department engages regularly with a range of suicide prevention organisations and charities, to support delivery of the strategy. These organisations play a vital role in raising awareness of suicide prevention support, promoting open conversations about mental health, and tackling the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help.

Publication of Legal Advice on Local Government Reorganisation

Hartley Pensions and FCA enforcement action (No. 2)

Torbay RNLI 160th anniversary

Defence Investment Plan

Military housing

Bank closures, digital exclusion and cyber risks

Hockey pitch provision

Russian sanctions

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Palantir and the NHS (No. 2)

Enhertu for metastatic breast cancer patients

Found: House of Commons statement on 16 July 2026. 39 The Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson, Dr Al Pinkerton