Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of recognising school examinations as grounds to delay a long-distance move of families between asylum accommodations.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis across the United Kingdom.

However, as set out in the Allocation of Asylum Accommodation policy, accommodation may be temporarily arranged in a certain location where a child has started their final school or college year leading up to their GCSE, Scottish Highers, AS or A levels, provided they have been enrolled at that school for a significant part of the previous school year.

All asylum seekers, including individuals who have specific reasons for wishing to be located in a particular area, have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns regarding accommodation or support services, and they can get information about how to obtain further support.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a family's long-distance move between asylum accommodations when the child is taking major exams such as GCSEs on that child's education.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis across the United Kingdom.

However, as set out in the Allocation of Asylum Accommodation policy, accommodation may be temporarily arranged in a certain location where a child has started their final school or college year leading up to their GCSE, Scottish Highers, AS or A levels, provided they have been enrolled at that school for a significant part of the previous school year.

All asylum seekers, including individuals who have specific reasons for wishing to be located in a particular area, have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns regarding accommodation or support services, and they can get information about how to obtain further support.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has reviewed any individual requests to postpone a move between asylum accommodations in the case of a child undertaking examinations in the last year.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis across the United Kingdom.

However, as set out in the Allocation of Asylum Accommodation policy, accommodation may be temporarily arranged in a certain location where a child has started their final school or college year leading up to their GCSE, Scottish Highers, AS or A levels, provided they have been enrolled at that school for a significant part of the previous school year.

All asylum seekers, including individuals who have specific reasons for wishing to be located in a particular area, have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns regarding accommodation or support services, and they can get information about how to obtain further support.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Dogs Trust Companion Club third‑party insurance scheme for exempt dogs ceasing on 30 June 2026 on owners’ abilities to comply with the exemption conditions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working to ensure owners of banned breed dogs can remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party public liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. The department is working closely with Dogs Trust, the Devolved Governments and the insurance sector to find a workable solution for dog owners.

Defra has published guidance on GOV.UK and contacted all registered owners to inform them that no action is required at this stage. Further guidance will be made available on GOV.UK in June.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has held discussions with (a) insurance providers and (b) other relevant organisations on the provision of replacement or alternative third‑party insurance arrangements for exempt dog owners.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working to ensure owners of banned breed dogs can remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party public liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. The department is working closely with Dogs Trust, the Devolved Governments and the insurance sector to find a workable solution for dog owners.

Defra has published guidance on GOV.UK and contacted all registered owners to inform them that no action is required at this stage. Further guidance will be made available on GOV.UK in June.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that compliant third‑party liability insurance remains reasonably available to owners of dogs registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs after June 2026.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working to ensure owners of banned breed dogs can remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party public liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. The department is working closely with Dogs Trust, the Devolved Governments and the insurance sector to find a workable solution for dog owners.

Defra has published guidance on GOV.UK and contacted all registered owners to inform them that no action is required at this stage. Further guidance will be made available on GOV.UK in June.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that statutory obligations imposed on exempt dog owners remain reasonably capable of being complied with.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working to ensure owners of banned breed dogs can remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party public liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. The department is working closely with Dogs Trust, the Devolved Governments and the insurance sector to find a workable solution for dog owners.

Defra has published guidance on GOV.UK and contacted all registered owners to inform them that no action is required at this stage. Further guidance will be made available on GOV.UK in June.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to (a) introduce, (b) support and (c) facilitate a replacement insurance scheme similar to the Dogs Trust Companion Club.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working to ensure owners of banned breed dogs can remain compliant with the legal requirement to hold third-party public liability insurance beyond 1 July 2026. The department is working closely with Dogs Trust, the Devolved Governments and the insurance sector to find a workable solution for dog owners.

Defra has published guidance on GOV.UK and contacted all registered owners to inform them that no action is required at this stage. Further guidance will be made available on GOV.UK in June.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with businesses on the length of the reference period of the guaranteed hours provisions in the Employment Rights Act 2025.

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

Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with businesses and representative organisations on the guaranteed hours provisions in the Employment Rights Act 2025, including on the length of the reference period.

We will continue this engagement as we move into the next stage of implementation. A full public consultation will seek views on all key elements of the right to guaranteed hours, including the length of the reference period.

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