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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for farmers in Buckinghamshire.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare.

Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the environmental outcomes from the equipment and technology funded through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare.

Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund on the adoption of precision agriculture technologies among small and medium-sized farms in Buckinghamshire.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare.

Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Investor Partnerships programme at increasing the commercialisation of agricultural technologies.

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

The Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships programme, launched on 2 June, builds on a pilot round where recipient companies were awarded over £4 million in grant funding that leveraged more than £10 million in private investment. Most of the companies involved now have commercially available products, and have unlocked additional private funding.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s involvement in the EU’s defence industrial programmes align with the UK’s strategic defence objectives.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review recognises that international partnerships are crucial for both innovation and collective security. The Security and Defence Partnership with the EU complements our NATO first approach as we continue to support alignment between NATO and the EU.

We are also producing a new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), which will allow us to develop a modern defence industrial base that is able to better support our, and our allies', security whilst also helping to drive economic growth. The Defence Industrial Strategy will set out how we will continue to work with key partners, including through the EU, and pursue new industrial ventures to ensure our industry continues to innovate.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the UK defence industry’s access to the EU’s €150 billion defence loan programme, in the context of the UK-EU security and defence partnership.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As this is a critical moment for the security of our continent, we welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative including the EU’s €150 billion loan programme, also known as SAFE (Security Action for Europe).

The UK and the EU have agreed an ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership as part of a wider package of the UK-EU reset. Crucially, the Security and Defence Partnership means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE, which could provide new opportunities for our defence industry. Recognising the important role that the UK’s defence industry plays already for European security, we have set out our ambition to swiftly explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the proposed SAFE instrument, as soon as the EU’s necessary processes are complete.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU security and defence partnership on the defence industry.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As this is a critical moment for the security of our continent, we welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative including the EU’s €150 billion loan programme, also known as SAFE (Security Action for Europe).

The UK and the EU have agreed an ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership as part of a wider package of the UK-EU reset. Crucially, the Security and Defence Partnership means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE, which could provide new opportunities for our defence industry. Recognising the important role that the UK’s defence industry plays already for European security, we have set out our ambition to swiftly explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the proposed SAFE instrument, as soon as the EU’s necessary processes are complete.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU security and defence partnership on the interoperability of UK armed forces with EU member states.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership aims to support enhanced interoperability in ways that deliver mutual benefit and reinforce the European contribution to NATO. The Partnership will support and complement our commitment to NATO — which remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security — and to the UK’s strong bilateral defence relationships with both EU member states and third country allies. It strengthens our ability to act jointly where interests align, while preserving the UK’s strategic autonomy and global defence posture.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the progress of joint UK-EU initiatives on space security agreed in the UK-EU Summit Common Understanding.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership provides a framework for cooperation on key issues, including space security. As implementation plans develop, progress will be monitored through structured dialogue and consultation mechanisms. The UK and EU will cooperate on space-related security issues, including through multilateral fora such as the United Nations and within the framework of EU-NATO cooperation. The Partnership will help promote norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviour in outer space.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of UK-India trade talks in supporting advanced manufacturing.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK-India FTA is estimated to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, and UK GDP by £4.8 billion each and every year in the long term.

As part of this agreement, India will cut tariffs on a number of advanced manufacturing goods such as automotives, electrical circuits, high-end optical products, and medical devices.

We will set out further information on the sectoral impacts of this agreement in our Impact Assessment.

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 investment into key growth sectors through the UK-Gulf economic partnerships.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Department for Business and Trade maintains strong relations with Gulf investors and encourages them towards opportunities in key growth sectors through the Strategic and Sovereign Investment partnerships coordinated by the Office for Investment.

We also encourage investment through broader diplomatic forums, such as the UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council.

Furthermore, we are negotiating a GCC Free Trade Agreement that will build on our strong investment relationship and support further investment, including in UK growth sectors.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the four per cent pay award for teachers in 2025/26 on retention rates in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

High-quality teaching is the in-school factor that has the biggest positive impact on a child’s educational outcome. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child. This is why the department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new teachers across secondary and special schools and in our colleges over the course of this Parliament.

The department cannot currently provide a breakdown of this progress by constituency, however, over 2,000 more people are training to become secondary school teachers this year. Recruitment is on track to improve further for 2025/26, with 1,070 more acceptances to postgraduate and teacher degree apprenticeship initial teacher training courses in secondary subjects by the end of April 2025, compared to the same time last year. Additionally, over 2,500 more teachers are expected to stay in the profession over the next three years.

This is, in part, due to the 5.5% pay rise announced last year, which, combined with this year’s above-inflation pay award of 4%, will mean school teachers in maintained schools will see an increase in their pay of almost 10% over two years. This will apply across all teachers in all constituencies across England and is already having a significant impact on teacher retention. Alongside this, the department is offering targeted retention payments to teachers of key subjects working in disadvantaged areas in the first five years of their careers. Teachers in four schools are eligible for these payments, up to £4,000 tax free, in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, 12 in Milton Keynes, and 24 in Buckinghamshire County.

To further improve retention, the department is actively promoting flexible working in schools, such as allowing planning, preparation, and assessment to be undertaken from home. We are also funding bespoke support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and multi-academy trusts, ensuring schools are capturing the benefits of flexible working, whilst protecting pupils’ face-to-face teacher time. Upton Court Grammar School of Pioneer Educational Trust is the flexible working ambassador school for the South East, providing local, tailored peer support for Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made in recruiting additional expert teachers in (a) secondary schools, (b) special schools and (c) colleges in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

High-quality teaching is the in-school factor that has the biggest positive impact on a child’s educational outcome. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child. This is why the department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new teachers across secondary and special schools and in our colleges over the course of this Parliament.

The department cannot currently provide a breakdown of this progress by constituency, however, over 2,000 more people are training to become secondary school teachers this year. Recruitment is on track to improve further for 2025/26, with 1,070 more acceptances to postgraduate and teacher degree apprenticeship initial teacher training courses in secondary subjects by the end of April 2025, compared to the same time last year. Additionally, over 2,500 more teachers are expected to stay in the profession over the next three years.

This is, in part, due to the 5.5% pay rise announced last year, which, combined with this year’s above-inflation pay award of 4%, will mean school teachers in maintained schools will see an increase in their pay of almost 10% over two years. This will apply across all teachers in all constituencies across England and is already having a significant impact on teacher retention. Alongside this, the department is offering targeted retention payments to teachers of key subjects working in disadvantaged areas in the first five years of their careers. Teachers in four schools are eligible for these payments, up to £4,000 tax free, in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, 12 in Milton Keynes, and 24 in Buckinghamshire County.

To further improve retention, the department is actively promoting flexible working in schools, such as allowing planning, preparation, and assessment to be undertaken from home. We are also funding bespoke support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and multi-academy trusts, ensuring schools are capturing the benefits of flexible working, whilst protecting pupils’ face-to-face teacher time. Upton Court Grammar School of Pioneer Educational Trust is the flexible working ambassador school for the South East, providing local, tailored peer support for Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she takes to assess the resilience of the UK's international reserves to potential (a) geopolitical and (b) macroeconomic shocks.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) holds the UK government’s official reserves. HM Treasury appoints the Bank of England as its agent to carry out the day-to-day management of the reserves. The reserves are managed to ensure that the policy objectives, set out in the EEA Act 1979, can be met at all times. These objectives are:

• Checking undue fluctuations in the exchange value of sterling;
• Enabling government payments abroad; and
• Carrying out the UK’s obligations to the IMF

A total of £72 billion of additional financing was provided for the reserves between 2008-09 and 2019-20. The size of the UK's reserves stands broadly in line with other comparable economies. HM Treasury manages the liquidity, credit and market risk of the reserves to ensure that they meet the policy objectives of the EEA.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of capital markets reform on fintech firms.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth across the UK and is pursuing ambitious reforms to make our markets even more competitive. These reforms, including the FCA’s new UK Listings Rules and the government’s prospectus reforms, will benefit all firms including fintech firms.

The government is committed to an approach to financial services regulation which strikes the right balance between driving UK economic growth and providing robust safeguards for investors. The FCA has a primary objective to protect consumers, and a secondary objective to facilitate international competitiveness and growth.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the revised national policy statements for energy infrastructure on energy infrastructure development in Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Energy National Policy Statements are not spatial and therefore do not include reference to specific geographical impacts. National Policy Statements provide the framework for decision-making on development consent orders and include clear guidance for developers on stringent requirements to assess and address project-level impacts within their applications. Strategic environmental assessments (Appraisal of Sustainability and Habitats Regulations Assessment) of the draft National Policy Statements have been published on gov.uk for public consultation, alongside the revised draft National Policy Statements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure investor protection is maintained alongside regulatory reform in capital markets.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth across the UK and is pursuing ambitious reforms to make our markets even more competitive. These reforms, including the FCA’s new UK Listings Rules and the government’s prospectus reforms, will benefit all firms including fintech firms.

The government is committed to an approach to financial services regulation which strikes the right balance between driving UK economic growth and providing robust safeguards for investors. The FCA has a primary objective to protect consumers, and a secondary objective to facilitate international competitiveness and growth.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help increase collaboration between UK and Qatari financial institutions in (a) capital markets, (b) sustainable finance and (c) financial technology, in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding on financial services.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK and Qatar share a strong trade and investment partnership, with a total trade volume of over £5.6 billion in 2024, contributing to economic growth, diversification, innovation and job creation.

To reflect the important role that the financial services sector plays in achieving both the UK Government’s economic growth mission and Qatar’s National Vision 2030, the Chancellor and Qatar’s Finance Minister signed a Financial Services Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HM Treasury and the Qatar Ministry of Finance in December 2024. The MoU identifies capital markets, sustainable finance, and fintech as priority areas of interest. Work is underway to identify opportunities for collaboration within these subsectors, and the first annual UK-Qatar Financial Services Working Group will be held later this year.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-New Zealand trade agreement on SME exporters located in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-New Zealand FTA benefits every region of the UK including Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. It also includes commitments to support SMEs to trade, including through a standalone SME chapter.

Data is not collected centrally on the impact of the UK-New Zealand trade agreement on SME exporters located in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. However, since entry into force, there are early indications of positive uptake of the agreement’s benefits by British exporters. According to official data from New Zealand, between June 2023 and Dec 2024 £164.2m (80.7%) of goods imports into New Zealand from the UK used preferential tariffs. Had these occurred at standard Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates, they could have encountered an additional £9.3m in duties.

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 regional access to investment under the UK-UAE Investment Partnership.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As part of the UK-UAE Sovereign Investment Partnership, the Office for Investment has worked with Emirati investors to explore investment opportunities across the UK and UAE investment can be found across the UK, driving growth and prosperity across key sectors to the mutual benefit of both countries.

These investments include offshore wind in Scotland and advanced material research in North-West England. An expanded Office for Investment is working to make the UK the first choice for investment and the best place in the world to do business, turning regional growth plans into clear and commercially credible pipelines of investment opportunities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System on SME listings on UK capital markets.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) seeks to complement the government’s wide ranging and ongoing reforms to boost the UK as a listing destination.

PISCES aims to make private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, while also supporting private companies prepare for an IPO in the UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Qatar Investment Authority's Strategic Investment Partnership on the clean energy sector in the UK.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The 2022 Qatar-UK Strategic Investment Partnership is a long-term framework through which the two countries collaborate across a number of key UK industries, creating jobs and growth through investment, including in sectors vital for clean growth and decarbonisation through technology and innovation. December 2024’s announcement from Qatar to invest £1bn in UK climate technology demonstrates the strength of the arrangement’s potential impact.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the criteria used to evaluate the economic risks associated with ending public ownership of NatWest Group were.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 30 May 2025, the government sold its remaining shares in NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS), bringing to an end the public ownership of banks resulting from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.

It is not government policy to pursue state ownership of firms in the financial services sector. The government provided support to RBS, as part of a series of interventions in the financial sector, to protect ordinary savers and businesses from the collapse of a bank which was vital to the functioning of the UK economy and financial system.

With the original policy objective - to preserve financial and economic stability at a time of crisis – achieved, returning NatWest to the private sector was the right choice for both taxpayers and the bank, helping to promote financial stability and a more competitive banking sector in the UK.

Regarding the resilience of the sector, since the global financial crisis, the government has successfully implemented reforms to strengthen the ability to manage bank failures safely, and to do so in a way that protects the wider economy and minimises the need for taxpayer support. In addition, the development of a more robust regulatory framework since the financial crisis has helped strengthen the resilience and stability of both individual firms and the wider financial system.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what analysis was conducted on the potential impact of ending public ownership of NatWest Group on the resilience of the financial sector.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 30 May 2025, the government sold its remaining shares in NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS), bringing to an end the public ownership of banks resulting from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.

It is not government policy to pursue state ownership of firms in the financial services sector. The government provided support to RBS, as part of a series of interventions in the financial sector, to protect ordinary savers and businesses from the collapse of a bank which was vital to the functioning of the UK economy and financial system.

With the original policy objective - to preserve financial and economic stability at a time of crisis – achieved, returning NatWest to the private sector was the right choice for both taxpayers and the bank, helping to promote financial stability and a more competitive banking sector in the UK.

Regarding the resilience of the sector, since the global financial crisis, the government has successfully implemented reforms to strengthen the ability to manage bank failures safely, and to do so in a way that protects the wider economy and minimises the need for taxpayer support. In addition, the development of a more robust regulatory framework since the financial crisis has helped strengthen the resilience and stability of both individual firms and the wider financial system.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review its approach to state ownership of financial institutions.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 30 May 2025, the government sold its remaining shares in NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland, RBS), bringing to an end the public ownership of banks resulting from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.

It is not government policy to pursue state ownership of firms in the financial services sector. The government provided support to RBS, as part of a series of interventions in the financial sector, to protect ordinary savers and businesses from the collapse of a bank which was vital to the functioning of the UK economy and financial system.

With the original policy objective - to preserve financial and economic stability at a time of crisis – achieved, returning NatWest to the private sector was the right choice for both taxpayers and the bank, helping to promote financial stability and a more competitive banking sector in the UK.

Regarding the resilience of the sector, since the global financial crisis, the government has successfully implemented reforms to strengthen the ability to manage bank failures safely, and to do so in a way that protects the wider economy and minimises the need for taxpayer support. In addition, the development of a more robust regulatory framework since the financial crisis has helped strengthen the resilience and stability of both individual firms and the wider financial system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with representative bodies of small businesses on the impact of commercial lease conditions in high street premises on the financial viability of those businesses.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises that both landlords and tenants have raised concerns about the commercial leasehold framework. That is why the government supports the Law Commission's ongoing review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, which aims to modernise the commercial leasehold framework, ensuring it is fit for today’s market. The Department has sought views on leasing issues from business representative organisations, including those representing small businesses, and is committed to supporting thriving high streets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the UK’s fiscal resilience in the context of trade liberalisation with Indo-Pacific partners.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury does not produce official economic and fiscal forecasts. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for producing forecasts of the UK economy.

Growth is the central mission of the government and can support the stability of the public finances. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) can help to deliver growth, by reducing the costs of trade between partner countries and driving a more efficient allocation of resources within sectors, as well as wide range of other macroeconomic gains.

The UK recently agreed a comprehensive FTA with India and acceded to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in December 2024. The UK also has FTAs with Australia and New Zealand. As the Business and Trade Secretary announced in a Written Ministerial Statement in July 2024, the government intends to agree a deal with the Republic of Korea as part of its FTA negotiations programme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to evaluate the long-term fiscal impacts of the UK-Japan partnership.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Treasury does not produce official economic and fiscal forecasts. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing forecasts of the UK economy.

The relationship has strengthened in recent years, following the 2020 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the 2023 Hiroshima Accord, underlining the importance of the UK's relationship with Japan. These agreements have led to stronger economic ties, promoted trade and investment, and targeted mutual economic growth and resilience.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support colleges in Milton Keynes to utilise new technologies to (a) tackle workload and (b) improve outcomes.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department has promised to take up a new era in technology, to back our teachers and deliver better life chances for students across the country.

We are investing millions of pounds in further evidence generation on the safe and effective use of EdTech in colleges. The Edtech Impact Testbed Pilot, announced at Education World Forum, aims to explore how technology can address significant challenges in the education sector. This pilot will test Edtech products and practices already in use in schools and colleges. The goal is to generate evidence of the impact on improving staff workload, pupil outcomes, and inclusivity. The expression of interest for this pilot will launch shortly on Citizen Space and colleges will be able to apply to get involved. The website where colleges can express their interest is available at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/.

In addition, we plan to publish support materials for teachers and leaders to help them with the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI), so dedicated professionals working in education can spend more time doing what they do best and what they enjoy, face to face engagement with students.

The department also provides funding for Jisc, who operate the UK’s ultra-fast national research and education network ‘Janet’, one of the most secure and powerful data networks in the world. This central funding allows colleges to connect on Janet and benefit from a good level of connectivity and cyber security, ensuring that the foundations for technology infrastructure are in place for colleges to be able to harness the opportunities that technology presents.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support community groups in Milton Keynes to prevent youth involvement in violent crime.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including in Milton Keynes, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.

Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in Thames Valley, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.

As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including representatives from local education institutions and from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.

In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to Thames Valley VRU, alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.

This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes continuation of a Focussed Deterrence intervention in Milton Keynes. This project will be targeted at young people who carry knives and providing them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the development and roll out of training for parents, schools and community groups in Thames Valley on the signs of criminal exploitation, in order that young people at risk are identified and supported.

Alongside investment in local violence prevention approaches, we are also committed to removing weapons from our streets. Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime. Last year 16,066 stop and searches led to offensive weapons or firearms being found and taken off our streets.

On 24 September 2024 we implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, and from 1 August 2025 it will also be illegal to sell or own ninja swords. We have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery, and we are also intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.

With measures in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support schools in Milton Keynes in delivering anti-violence education programmes.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including in Milton Keynes, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.

Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in Thames Valley, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.

As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including representatives from local education institutions and from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.

In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to Thames Valley VRU, alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.

This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes continuation of a Focussed Deterrence intervention in Milton Keynes. This project will be targeted at young people who carry knives and providing them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the development and roll out of training for parents, schools and community groups in Thames Valley on the signs of criminal exploitation, in order that young people at risk are identified and supported.

Alongside investment in local violence prevention approaches, we are also committed to removing weapons from our streets. Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime. Last year 16,066 stop and searches led to offensive weapons or firearms being found and taken off our streets.

On 24 September 2024 we implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, and from 1 August 2025 it will also be illegal to sell or own ninja swords. We have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery, and we are also intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.

With measures in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to remove dangerous weapons from the streets in Milton Keynes.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including in Milton Keynes, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.

Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in Thames Valley, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.

As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including representatives from local education institutions and from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.

In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to Thames Valley VRU, alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.

This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes continuation of a Focussed Deterrence intervention in Milton Keynes. This project will be targeted at young people who carry knives and providing them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the development and roll out of training for parents, schools and community groups in Thames Valley on the signs of criminal exploitation, in order that young people at risk are identified and supported.

Alongside investment in local violence prevention approaches, we are also committed to removing weapons from our streets. Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime. Last year 16,066 stop and searches led to offensive weapons or firearms being found and taken off our streets.

On 24 September 2024 we implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, and from 1 August 2025 it will also be illegal to sell or own ninja swords. We have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery, and we are also intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.

With measures in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.

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 assess the investment risk environment for firms seeking to operate in African growth markets.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Department for Business and Trade works across Africa offering direct support to UK businesses looking to expand their business in the region. This includes a dedicated team that advises UK businesses entering markets about doing business and investment environment. DBT focuses on markets, sectors, and deals where the UK has a competitive edge.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The British Business Bank's finance programmes, including the Start Up Loans scheme, help SMEs in Buckingham and Bletchley to access the finance they need.

Together with the Treasury, my department launched a call for evidence on SME access to finance to assess existing policies and identify barriers. The call aims to improve access to finance and support SME growth. We are considering the responses we have received and will announce further measures in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the UK’s engagement in international financial institutions on debt relief for African countries facing debt distress.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK is committed to working with international financial institutions to address country debt vulnerabilities in a timely and coordinated way, providing swift debt treatments where required.

We progress this work through international fora and mechanisms, including the G20, Paris Club, IMF and World Bank Boards, and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR).

Through the GSDR – jointly convened by the IMF, World Bank and G20 Presidency – we have engaged closely with newer official creditors, private creditors and debtor countries, and discussions have helped to strengthen collaboration and build greater common understanding on debt issues, including the G20 Common Framework.

We fully support the World Bank and IMF’s ‘three pillars’ approach to countries facing liquidity (i.e. short-term payment) challenges. We are pushing the Bank and Fund to accelerate the roll-out in pilot countries and using our voice to encourage others to support

We are also actively engaging in the review of the IMF and World Bank’s Debt Sustainability Framework, pushing for more detailed incorporation of longer-term climate and nature risks and investments.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support employer engagement with the apprenticeship programme in SMEs in Milton Keynes.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Buckingham and Bletchley to the answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37179.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of foundation apprenticeships on addressing sectoral skills shortages in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government’s first mission is to kickstart economic growth. We know that we need to support employers to invest in skills training and fuel innovation in businesses across the country.

That is why we are transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, to support greater flexibility for employers and learners. Foundation apprenticeships are a key part of this offer. They will support employers in key sectors to meet their current and future skills needs by developing new opportunities to engage with younger employees and build pipelines of talent. This is expected to drive up to 30,000 apprenticeship starts across this Parliament.

The first foundation apprenticeships will be focused on industrial strategy and priority areas including construction, engineering, health and social care, and digital. This will begin in August with the introduction of seven new foundation apprenticeship standards, including three in construction, enabling young people to earn a wage while developing vital skills. We will continue exploring how to make foundation apprenticeships work in other sectors, such as hospitality and retail.

The growth and skills offer is informed by Skills England’s engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, to ensure that levy-funded training meets the needs of employers and learners.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of levels of public equity market capitalisation on domestic economic growth.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK’s vibrant and dynamic capital markets play a key role in supporting growth as identified in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy Call for Evidence - and the Government committed to strengthening UK capital markets and taking forward an ambitious programme of reforms. The Government will publish the strategy in July.

As part of these reforms, the government has also recently delivered legislation to establish the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System Sandbox (PISCES) to respond to companies staying private for longer and at scale. It aims to make private secondary markets more efficient with a bespoke regulatory framework, while also providing a steppingstone to public markets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of private capital market growth on institutional investor behaviour in public markets.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK’s vibrant and dynamic capital markets play a key role in supporting growth as identified in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy Call for Evidence - and the Government committed to strengthening UK capital markets and taking forward an ambitious programme of reforms. The Government will publish the strategy in July.

As part of these reforms, the government has also recently delivered legislation to establish the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System Sandbox (PISCES) to respond to companies staying private for longer and at scale. It aims to make private secondary markets more efficient with a bespoke regulatory framework, while also providing a steppingstone to public markets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of private capital funding in the UK provided by international sources.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK’s vibrant and dynamic capital markets play a key role in supporting growth as identified in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy Call for Evidence - and the Government committed to strengthening UK capital markets and taking forward an ambitious programme of reforms. The Government will publish the strategy in July.

As part of these reforms, the government has also recently delivered legislation to establish the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System Sandbox (PISCES) to respond to companies staying private for longer and at scale. It aims to make private secondary markets more efficient with a bespoke regulatory framework, while also providing a steppingstone to public markets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of UK companies remaining private for longer on the capital raising lifecycle.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK’s vibrant and dynamic capital markets play a key role in supporting growth as identified in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy Call for Evidence - and the Government committed to strengthening UK capital markets and taking forward an ambitious programme of reforms. The Government will publish the strategy in July.

As part of these reforms, the government has also recently delivered legislation to establish the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System Sandbox (PISCES) to respond to companies staying private for longer and at scale. It aims to make private secondary markets more efficient with a bespoke regulatory framework, while also providing a steppingstone to public markets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of financial education in schools in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Financial education forms a compulsory part of the national curriculum for mathematics at key stages 1 to 4, and citizenship at key stages 3 and 4. Together these cover personal budgeting, saving for the future, managing credit and debt, and calculating interest.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is considering whether there is sufficient coverage of key knowledge and skills, including financial education, to prepare children and young people for future life and to thrive in a fast-changing world.

The interim report highlighted that the Review has heard consistently from children and young people and their parents that they want more focus on the applied knowledge and skills that will equip them for later life and work, such as financial education.

The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies requiring additional funding to help scale-up.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The estimated equity finance gap (the difference between actual equity investment and potential equity investment) for all but established companies was £7.5 billion in 2021. [1] There is an equity finance gap in every region and nation of the UK; London has the largest absolute equity finance gap, while Yorkshire and Humber has the largest relative gap. [2] The British Business Bank is helping to close that gap through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds and the Regional Angels Programme, which also attract additional private investment for businesses outside London and the South East.

[1] Supporting Innovative Start-Up and Growing Businesses: Equity Finance Provision through the Pandemic: Interim Report by Marek Kacer, Nick Wilson :: SSRN (DBT commissioned and funded)

[2] Equity Finance and the UK Regions (BEIS research paper)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of limited capital access on scale-up firms outside of (a) London and (b) the South East.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Businesses in shallower finance markets outside London and the South East are less likely to be able to access growth capital, meaning high-potential businesses may be forced to relocate or else accept slower growth. The British Business Bank’s Nations and Regions Investment Funds help close the gap by providing finance for businesses to invest and grow across the UK, meaning the growth and jobs created by businesses benefit local communities. In the longer term, the Funds will create more dynamic ecosystems made up of investment-savvy business owners and private investors who know there are good investment propositions available.

Found: Campbell Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kenneth Stevenson Maya Ellis Jack Rankin Richard Baker Callum Anderson

Found: Campbell Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kenneth Stevenson Maya Ellis Jack Rankin Richard Baker Callum Anderson

Found: Campbell Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kenneth Stevenson Maya Ellis Jack Rankin Richard Baker Callum Anderson

Found: Campbell Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kenneth Stevenson Maya Ellis Jack Rankin Richard Baker Callum Anderson

Found: Campbell Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kenneth Stevenson Maya Ellis Jack Rankin Richard Baker Callum Anderson

Found: Campbell Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kenneth Stevenson Maya Ellis Jack Rankin Richard Baker Callum Anderson

Waterways APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Apologies for absence Apologies for absence had been received from Bill Esterson, Lee Dillon, Callum Anderson