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 (a) improve endometriosis training, (b) reduce the time taken for diagnosis, (c) improve outcomes and (d) introduce early detection and increased monitoring services.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers provided on 3 July in response to Questions 12453 and 12458.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will release an estimation of the legal costs incurred in prosecuting school attendance offences in each of the last three academic years.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department does not hold data on the legal costs incurred in prosecuting school attendance offences.

Statutory guidance on attendance makes it clear that legal intervention, including prosecution, should be considered only where support has been exhausted, where it has not been engaged with, or in the cases of term-time holidays, where support is not appropriate.

The guidance also sets out clear expectations for how schools, local authorities and wider services should work together to support attendance for all children.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will release figures on the average processing times for VAT repayment claims from newly registered businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Identifying which VAT registrations should be considered new, isolating them from those which are not, and reporting the associated average repayment processing times would require significant manual resource to extract and reconcile data from multiple systems, and so would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential revenue raised by introducing a voluntary discounted settlement scheme for Plan 2 student loan borrowers whose loans are not projected to be repaid in full.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

One of the fundamental principles of student loans is that repayments are income contingent and only due when the borrower is earning over the relevant repayment threshold. Outstanding debt, including interest accrued, is cancelled at the end of the loan term with no detriment to the borrower. These protections exceed what discounted settlement schemes typically offer to borrowers.

Borrowers already have the ability to make additional, voluntary repayments towards their student loan, with no penalty, if they wish to do so.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an a) reduced and b) zero rate of VAT for recognised preventative health services.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Addressing physical inactivity and getting people moving more is important for improving people’s health, reducing demand on the National Health Service, and supporting economic growth.

The leisure and fitness sector play an important role in supporting the Government’s sickness to prevention shift through providing affordable and accessible opportunities for people to increase their activity levels.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.

Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

One of the key considerations when assessing a new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses often only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring that the VAT of independent gyms reflects their contribution to public health.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Addressing physical inactivity and getting people moving more is important for improving people’s health, reducing demand on the National Health Service, and supporting economic growth.

The leisure and fitness sector play an important role in supporting the Government’s sickness to prevention shift through providing affordable and accessible opportunities for people to increase their activity levels.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.

Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

One of the key considerations when assessing a new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses often only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the VAT arrangements applying to a) fitness and b) physical activity services.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Addressing physical inactivity and getting people moving more is important for improving people’s health, reducing demand on the National Health Service, and supporting economic growth.

The leisure and fitness sector play an important role in supporting the Government’s sickness to prevention shift through providing affordable and accessible opportunities for people to increase their activity levels.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.

Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

One of the key considerations when assessing a new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses often only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will consider the potential merits of undertaking a review of the rate of interest paid to businesses on delayed VAT refunds.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Interest rates on unpaid and overpaid tax are set by legislation approved by Parliament. The legislation specifies formulae which set the rates and the formulae link HMRC rates to the prevailing Bank of England base rate.

The harmonised interest regime provides a set of rules that applies to all taxes and duties and ensures that interest is consistently and automatically charged and paid in all cases where amounts are paid late or where amounts have been overpaid.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mitigating guidance HMRC provides to its staff on informing businesses when a case cannot be allocated to a caseworker within the expected timescale.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

HMRC normally contacts a business about a compliance check once a case has been allocated to a caseworker and the check is ready to commence. Accordingly, there is generally no requirement for specific guidance on informing customers that a case has not yet been allocated.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will consider the potential merits of distributing monies left over in the the £75m LGBT Veterans Financial Recognition Scheme to eligible veterans, amended from the current cap of £50m earmarked for distribution.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

To date, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) has paid out over £58 million to applicants, exceeding the £50 million minimum payout commitment. Defence continues to maximise awareness of the FRS among eligible veterans and encourage applications before the Scheme’s closure on 12 December 2026. The allocation of any unspent funds against the £75 million budget will be considered once the FRS has closed and all applications have been assessed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the cumulative impact of increases in the (i) National Minimum Wage, (ii) employer National Insurance contributions, (iii) business rates, and (iv) other employment costs, on small salon businesses.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Small salon businesses will benefit from the new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties.

The Government has also published a range of analytical documents covering the policies referenced, which set out their likely impacts on businesses of different sizes. Each Impact Assessment covering the Employment Rights Act 2025 and The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026 includes a small and micro business assessment.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was also published alongside the changes to employer NICs, which sets out the impacts on the Exchequer, the economy, individuals and businesses. The Government is supporting smaller employers through the increased Employment Allowance of £10,500.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to prevent increases in employment costs from discouraging small salon businesses from (i) employing, and (ii) training people.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Our Plan to Make Work Pay is supporting good jobs and helping responsible businesses grow. We are phasing in reforms and rolling out an online resource offering practical guidance on what the changes mean so that uncertainty doesn’t hold back hiring.

Our analysis demonstrates that, by making work more attractive and accessible to a wider range of people, the Employment Rights Act is more likely to help more people into work than reduce employment.

Through the Business Growth Service and Business Academy, small businesses can access government-backed advice and free training resources to help them develop their workforce and grow.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that small hair salons can continue to train young people as apprentices.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

There are a number of apprenticeship standards available to support the hair and beauty sector, including the Level 2 Hairdressing Professional standard and the Level 2 Barbering Professional standard.

To support non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, to meet the additional costs associated with employing young people as apprentices, we are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.

We also provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care.

These payments can be added together where the employer and/or apprentice are eligible.

Additionally, the government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, as we prioritise funding toward young people.

These measures are backed by £1 billion of additional funding for the Growth and Skills Levy to support our ambition for 50,000 more young people to start apprenticeships.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the reported 70% decline in apprenticeships in the hairdressing sector.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

There are a number of apprenticeship standards available to support the hair and beauty sector, including the Level 2 Hairdressing Professional standard and the Level 2 Barbering Professional standard.

To support non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, to meet the additional costs associated with employing young people as apprentices, we are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.

We also provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care.

These payments can be added together where the employer and/or apprentice are eligible.

Additionally, the government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, as we prioritise funding toward young people.

These measures are backed by £1 billion of additional funding for the Growth and Skills Levy to support our ambition for 50,000 more young people to start apprenticeships.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support the implementation of Tommy's Graded Model of Miscarriage Care across all NHS trusts in England.

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

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.

The taskforce will consider all aspects of those current services, including miscarriage care. Within this, we will carefully assess the findings from the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study as committed to in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many prosecutions related to school attendance offences were brought in England in each year, over the last three academic years.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes statistics on prosecutions, convictions and sentencing results at criminal courts in England for offences relating to school attendance. This data is available through the Outcomes by Offence data tool which shows how many people have been prosecuted each year and the All Offences data tool which shows how many cases have been prosecuted each year. To see data for school attendance offences select Home Office Offence codes 11203 and 11204, and to calculate the number per academic year select monthly breakdowns.

The Outcomes by Offence data tool and All Offences data tool can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-march-2026.

The MoJ does not publish a breakdown of prosecutions, convictions and sentencing results for Cornwall. However, users can extract monthly figures for the Devon and Cornwall Police Force Area.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many prosecutions related to school attendance offences were brought in Cornwall in each year, over the last three academic years.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes statistics on prosecutions, convictions and sentencing results at criminal courts in England for offences relating to school attendance. This data is available through the Outcomes by Offence data tool which shows how many people have been prosecuted each year and the All Offences data tool which shows how many cases have been prosecuted each year. To see data for school attendance offences select Home Office Offence codes 11203 and 11204, and to calculate the number per academic year select monthly breakdowns.

The Outcomes by Offence data tool and All Offences data tool can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-march-2026.

The MoJ does not publish a breakdown of prosecutions, convictions and sentencing results for Cornwall. However, users can extract monthly figures for the Devon and Cornwall Police Force Area.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department holds any analysis on the potential effects of the national penalty notice threshold, introduced in August 2024, on school attendance rates.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The causes of school absence are complex, and penalty notices are one part of a wider toolkit to help ensure children receive the education they are entitled to. The government remains committed to a support- first approach, with enforcement only used where support is not appropriate, has not been engaged with, or is not proving effective.

Recent data suggests this approach is having a positive impact. In 2024 to 2025, the rate of absence due to unauthorised holidays fell from 0.53% to 0.48%, equating to around 1.3 million fewer missed sessions compared with 2023 to 2024. Penalty notices are primarily targeted at term-time holidays, which accounted for 93% of notices issued in 2024 to 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many prosecutions for school attendance offences in England in each of the last three academic years resulted in (a) a conviction, (b) a withdrawal, and (c) an unsuccessful outcome.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on prosecutions, convictions and sentencing results at criminal courts in England for offences relating to school attendance.

The Outcomes by Offence data tool shows how many people have been prosecuted and convicted each year, and how many have had their cases withdrawn or received an unsuccessful outcome. The All Offences data tool shows how many cases have been prosecuted and convicted each year. To find school attendance offences, users should select Home Office offence codes 11203 and 11204. Monthly breakdowns can be used to calculate figures for each academic year.

The data does not provide figures specifically for Cornwall. However, users can extract monthly figures for the Devon and Cornwall Police Force Area. This area covers a wider geographical area than Cornwall and cannot be used to provide a Cornwall-only figure.

The Outcomes by Offence data tool and All Offences data tool are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-march-2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many prosecutions for school attendance offences in Cornwall in each of the last three academic years resulted in (a) a conviction, (b) a withdrawal, and (c) an unsuccessful outcome.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on prosecutions, convictions and sentencing results at criminal courts in England for offences relating to school attendance.

The Outcomes by Offence data tool shows how many people have been prosecuted and convicted each year, and how many have had their cases withdrawn or received an unsuccessful outcome. The All Offences data tool shows how many cases have been prosecuted and convicted each year. To find school attendance offences, users should select Home Office offence codes 11203 and 11204. Monthly breakdowns can be used to calculate figures for each academic year.

The data does not provide figures specifically for Cornwall. However, users can extract monthly figures for the Devon and Cornwall Police Force Area. This area covers a wider geographical area than Cornwall and cannot be used to provide a Cornwall-only figure.

The Outcomes by Offence data tool and All Offences data tool are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-march-2026.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the timeliness of payments owed to former HM Prison Service staff under the Harper Judgement.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Following the Supreme Court judgment in Harpur Trust v Brazel, the Ministry of Justice developed an approach to identify and address cases where individuals may have received an incorrect amount of annual leave.

Guidance issued in 2023 made clear that former employees who considered that the judgment may have affected the amount of annual leave they received while employed by the Ministry of Justice should contact the Department. Former employees were not contacted proactively. Cases raised by former employees have been considered individually to determine whether they were affected and whether any payment is due.

As these cases have been considered on a case-by-case basis, the Department has not undertaken a central assessment of the timeliness of payments made to former HM Prison Service staff.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the report by the APPG on Spinal Cord Injury entitled Fragmented to Coordinated: Building a National Strategy for Spinal Cord Injury, published in November 202; and whether national coordination and oversight for spinal cord injury will continue.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

My predecessor, Sharon Hodgson, met with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Spinal Cord Injuries and the Spinal Injuries Association in April to discuss the findings of the APPG report.

Regarding the question of where responsibility for the commissioning of spinal cord injury services will sit, I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 August in response to Question 14177.

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Second Reading of the Mental Capacity (Duty to Assess) Bill

Nature rights

Devon maternity services

Found: Chair) Lewis Atkinson (Labour; Sunderland Central) Mr Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat; Wimbledon) Ben Maguire

Found: Q21 Ben Maguire: Thanks, Home Secretary, for coming in today.

Found: govuk-table__cell">2026-06-30

The Home Affairs Select Committee is holding a series of deliberative events with the public where people with different views will discuss how to balance the government’s goal of reducing net migration with the need for businesses and public services to have the workers they need. The Committee is working with Demos and King’s College London to deliver this work.

Submit Evidence (by 27 Oct 2026)

This inquiry will examine work migration to the UK. It will: