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 support small and medium-sized construction businesses facing insolvency as a result of planning delays and late payment practices.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We recognise the impact that late payment has on small and medium-sized businesses including those within the construction industry. This Government will legislate to end the scourge of late payments and will give the UK the strongest legal framework on late payments in the G7. We outlined a set of proposed measures in our Late Payments Consultation, which concluded in October 2025. We will publish our response to the consultation shortly and intend to legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the wear and tear allowance on the viability of businesses owned by registered childminders; and what consultation her Department undertook with representatives of the childminding sector before implementing this change.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.

Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.

HMRC engaged with stakeholders including Coram PACEY ahead of Budget 2025. The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how long it took for the National Security Advisor to be vetted after his appointment.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Individuals appointed as National Security Adviser go through an extensive process which includes National Security Vetting (NSV). National Security Vetting for the current National Security Adviser was conducted to the usual standard set for Developed Vetting.

It is long-standing practice that the government does not comment on individual vetting cases.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of consumer protections for motorists who are unknowingly diverted from their insurers to claims management companies following road traffic accidents; and whether she has had discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority on closing regulatory gaps that allow misleading advertising and lead-generation practices in the accident management sector.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government expects motorists to be treated fairly when making insurance claims. FCA rules require that insurer’s communications with consumers, including during the claims process, are clear, fair and not misleading. The process by which customers are referred outside their primary insurer—such as to accident management companies—is already subject to FCA regulation.

The FCA, working with other regulators, has taken coordinated action against misleading advertising and poor practices by some Claims Management Companies operating in this area. Treasury Ministers meet the FCA regularly to discuss issues across the full range of its responsibilities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will reconsider the termination of the temporary visa free access scheme for overseas seasonal sheep shearers from Australia and New Zealand.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

All Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 14 years and the sheep farming sector has made significant efforts to provide skills training within the domestic workforce.

To give sheep farmers two years to transition to new arrangements, and move away from using overseas shearers, the concession has been renewed for one more year. The concession will not be renewed in 2027 and will close for a final time on 30 June 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to confirm funding levels for PE and school sport for the 2026/27 academic year.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford to the answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115304.

Found: (56.4%) Mike Kane (Labour, Wythenshawe and Sale East) (added 17 Nov 2025) 7 of 8 (87.5%) Alicia Kearns

Found: WRP0018 - Written Parliamentary Questions Alicia Kearns MP Written Evidence