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 help raise awareness of the co-operative business model among new entrants to agriculture.

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

The Government strongly supports the benefits co-operatives can bring in buying inputs, coordinating production, and selling outputs, and recognises the important role they play in promoting sustainable farming. The Government is developing the new Farmer Collaboration Fund to unlock broader benefits of collaboration.

The Good Food Cycle recognises the key role that co-operatives and community initiatives can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes.

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 help existing agricultural co-operatives to be economically resilient.

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

The Government strongly supports the benefits co-operatives can bring in buying inputs, coordinating production, and selling outputs, and recognises the important role they play in promoting sustainable farming. The Government is developing the new Farmer Collaboration Fund to unlock broader benefits of collaboration.

The Good Food Cycle recognises the key role that co-operatives and community initiatives can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the role of agricultural cooperatives in supporting rural communities in Buckinghamshire.

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

The Government strongly supports the benefits co-operatives can bring in buying inputs, coordinating production, and selling outputs, and recognises the important role they play in promoting sustainable farming. The Government is developing the new Farmer Collaboration Fund to unlock broader benefits of collaboration.

The Good Food Cycle recognises the key role that co-operatives and community initiatives can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what monitoring arrangements are in place to evaluate whether the Jobs Guarantee achieves its target of providing six-month paid employment opportunities for all eligible 18–24-year-olds.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We have previously set out our approach for monitoring arrangements and expected outputs for Phase One of the Jobs Guarantee in the response I gave on 9 February 2026 to Question UIN 109869.

For the national rollout of the Jobs Guarantee, the scheme will be available to all eligible 18–24-year-olds. We will use learning from Phase One to inform and establish appropriate outcome and performance monitoring arrangements. This will ensure we are delivering the scheme as intended for all eligible young people.

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 potential impact of (a) the expanded Youth Jobs Grant and (b) Apprenticeship incentives on youth employment levels in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Youth Guarantee and changes to the Growth and Skills Levy to prioritise young apprentices will together support around 1 million young people and create almost 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, in partnership with employers and education providers. Young people in Buckingham and Bletchley will benefit from the full offer of support.

In Buckingham and Bletchley, young people also benefit from a range of support offered through our jobcentres. For example, Aylesbury Jobcentre Plus offers Work Experience opportunities specifically for youth customers, through organisations such as NHS Bright Future Opportunities. Customers also benefit from dedicated Youth Work Coaches, Digital Skills Sessions and Sector based Work Academy (SWAPs).

Milton Keynes Jobcentre Plus runs Mentoring Circles with local employers to support young people into employment, along with Work Experience opportunities with organisations, such as, Barnardos, Oxfam and B&M.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria his Department will use to prioritise allocation of Growth and Skills Levy funding to sectors and apprenticeship standards to support (a) youth employment and (b) industrial strategy objectives.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

This Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers in England, more opportunities for young people, and support the industrial strategy.

In August 2025, we introduced new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors as well as shorter duration apprenticeships, and from April 2026 we will introduce new short courses, called apprenticeship units, in critical sectors including artificial intelligence and engineering.

We are expanding foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail from April and fully funding SME apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from August.

We are also introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for SMEs that take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. The policy will take effect for those starting apprenticeships from 1 October 2026, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months (i.e. from July 2026).

These measures are backed by record investment, with funding for the growth and skills levy in England increasing to £3.3 billion for the 2026-2027 financial year.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms on consumers in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On Monday 16 March, the government published a response to its consultation on reforming the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), confirming that the government will legislate to stop the FOS acting as a quasi-regulator and provide greater coherence with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The reforms will return the FOS to its original role as a simple, impartial dispute resolution service which will enable it to focus on its core purpose of dealing with individual complaints against financial services firms quickly and effectively. The introduction of an absolute time limit and changes to the handling of mass redress events will reduce the number of cases the FOS considers and ensure that complex cross-cutting or historic issues are dealt with appropriately. Together, these reforms should improve complaint resolution times for cases handled by the FOS.

The reforms will benefit both consumers and firms by improving the consistency and predictability of FOS determinations and providing greater certainty for consumers and financial services firms.

This is expected to particularly support small financial services firms who have complaints against them referred to the FOS. The new thematic reports being introduced will make it easier for firms to draw relevant lessons from FOS determinations, which should support improved complaint handling and result in fewer complaints being referred to the FOS. And the new absolute time limit from bringing complaints to the FOS will benefit by being better able to assess potential historic liabilities. Some smaller financial services firms may also be eligible to bring complaints to the FOS themselves, and would also benefit as a complainant.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service on small financial firms.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On Monday 16 March, the government published a response to its consultation on reforming the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), confirming that the government will legislate to stop the FOS acting as a quasi-regulator and provide greater coherence with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The reforms will return the FOS to its original role as a simple, impartial dispute resolution service which will enable it to focus on its core purpose of dealing with individual complaints against financial services firms quickly and effectively. The introduction of an absolute time limit and changes to the handling of mass redress events will reduce the number of cases the FOS considers and ensure that complex cross-cutting or historic issues are dealt with appropriately. Together, these reforms should improve complaint resolution times for cases handled by the FOS.

The reforms will benefit both consumers and firms by improving the consistency and predictability of FOS determinations and providing greater certainty for consumers and financial services firms.

This is expected to particularly support small financial services firms who have complaints against them referred to the FOS. The new thematic reports being introduced will make it easier for firms to draw relevant lessons from FOS determinations, which should support improved complaint handling and result in fewer complaints being referred to the FOS. And the new absolute time limit from bringing complaints to the FOS will benefit by being better able to assess potential historic liabilities. Some smaller financial services firms may also be eligible to bring complaints to the FOS themselves, and would also benefit as a complainant.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service on complaint resolution times.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On Monday 16 March, the government published a response to its consultation on reforming the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), confirming that the government will legislate to stop the FOS acting as a quasi-regulator and provide greater coherence with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The reforms will return the FOS to its original role as a simple, impartial dispute resolution service which will enable it to focus on its core purpose of dealing with individual complaints against financial services firms quickly and effectively. The introduction of an absolute time limit and changes to the handling of mass redress events will reduce the number of cases the FOS considers and ensure that complex cross-cutting or historic issues are dealt with appropriately. Together, these reforms should improve complaint resolution times for cases handled by the FOS.

The reforms will benefit both consumers and firms by improving the consistency and predictability of FOS determinations and providing greater certainty for consumers and financial services firms.

This is expected to particularly support small financial services firms who have complaints against them referred to the FOS. The new thematic reports being introduced will make it easier for firms to draw relevant lessons from FOS determinations, which should support improved complaint handling and result in fewer complaints being referred to the FOS. And the new absolute time limit from bringing complaints to the FOS will benefit by being better able to assess potential historic liabilities. Some smaller financial services firms may also be eligible to bring complaints to the FOS themselves, and would also benefit as a complainant.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of the Land Use Framework for balancing infrastructure development with environmental targets.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Framework’s focus on more informed decision making, including spatial targeting, shows how we can meet our homes and infrastructure goals while supporting nature recovery.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what monitoring arrangements will be established by the proposed Land Use Unit to assess progress against the Land Use Framework’s objectives.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Land Use Unit will monitor land use change in England to assess progress against the Land Use Framework’s objectives. Specific monitoring plans will be announced later this year following the set up of the Unit.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria she will use to determine national spatial priorities under the Land Use Framework.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Land Use Framework informs decision-makers at all scales of spatial planning to identify areas to be safeguarded for agriculture or prioritised for nature, and to find the right areas for development and infrastructure.

The Framework will support a more strategic approach to spatial planning, which will help to manage trade-offs at a local level to ensure land use change is coherent and fair, and takes account of local knowledge and values.

Publishing the Framework was the first step. This year we will establish a Land Use Unit to put the framework into action and share updated analysis online.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Land Use Framework on the availability of agricultural land for food production.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has been clear that food security is national security. The Framework makes a clear, long-term commitment to maintain overall food production in England while increasing resilience to climate change and to protect the most productive farmland.

Defra’s analysis shows that it is possible to achieve the scale of change required without reducing domestic food production. The UK will produce food more sustainably from less land using a mixture of productivity improvements and the expansion of highly efficient sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Land Use Framework on housing delivery in Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Land Use Framework sets out a plan for how we can use our land in a more informed and more efficient way, showing there is enough land to deliver the homes our communities need, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.

The Land Use Framework is not intended to be used as material consideration in planning decisions for the preparation of development plans or for making decisions on planning applications.

The impact of land use change for housing will be assessed as part of the implementation of the Land Use Framework and will inform policy on housing, infrastructure, food and the environment.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential regulatory implications of allowing credit unions to retain members following retirement.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is a strong supporter of the mutual sector, including credit unions, and is working to support its growth in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector.

On 18 March, the government announced plans to reform the credit union common bond by:

• Increasing the potential membership cap on the locality bond from 3 million to 10 million, which will significantly expand the potential size of locality-based credit unions, which make up 79% of the sector, and reduce uncertainty around merger activity.
• Allowing credit unions to admit students to locality-based credit unions, if not otherwise eligible through residence or work.
• Expanding eligibility for members' relatives to allow credit unions to admit relatives of qualifying members regardless of whether they share a household.
• Allowing credit unions to retain retired members as fully qualifying members.

The reforms will apply across Great Britain, including in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Full details of the government’s plans have been published in a call for evidence response available on GOV.UK.

The government will legislate to give effect to these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows. A full impact assessment will be published alongside the legislative reforms.

The reforms to the credit union common bond form part of a broader package of measures to support improved access to financial products and services under the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy itself will be reviewed two years after publication to assess its overall progress.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what monitoring arrangements will be put in place to evaluate the impact of common bond reforms on financial inclusion outcomes.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is a strong supporter of the mutual sector, including credit unions, and is working to support its growth in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector.

On 18 March, the government announced plans to reform the credit union common bond by:

• Increasing the potential membership cap on the locality bond from 3 million to 10 million, which will significantly expand the potential size of locality-based credit unions, which make up 79% of the sector, and reduce uncertainty around merger activity.
• Allowing credit unions to admit students to locality-based credit unions, if not otherwise eligible through residence or work.
• Expanding eligibility for members' relatives to allow credit unions to admit relatives of qualifying members regardless of whether they share a household.
• Allowing credit unions to retain retired members as fully qualifying members.

The reforms will apply across Great Britain, including in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Full details of the government’s plans have been published in a call for evidence response available on GOV.UK.

The government will legislate to give effect to these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows. A full impact assessment will be published alongside the legislative reforms.

The reforms to the credit union common bond form part of a broader package of measures to support improved access to financial products and services under the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy itself will be reviewed two years after publication to assess its overall progress.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of proposed common bond reforms on levels of access to credit union services in (i) Milton Keynes and (ii) Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is a strong supporter of the mutual sector, including credit unions, and is working to support its growth in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector.

On 18 March, the government announced plans to reform the credit union common bond by:

• Increasing the potential membership cap on the locality bond from 3 million to 10 million, which will significantly expand the potential size of locality-based credit unions, which make up 79% of the sector, and reduce uncertainty around merger activity.
• Allowing credit unions to admit students to locality-based credit unions, if not otherwise eligible through residence or work.
• Expanding eligibility for members' relatives to allow credit unions to admit relatives of qualifying members regardless of whether they share a household.
• Allowing credit unions to retain retired members as fully qualifying members.

The reforms will apply across Great Britain, including in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Full details of the government’s plans have been published in a call for evidence response available on GOV.UK.

The government will legislate to give effect to these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows. A full impact assessment will be published alongside the legislative reforms.

The reforms to the credit union common bond form part of a broader package of measures to support improved access to financial products and services under the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy itself will be reviewed two years after publication to assess its overall progress.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of increasing the locality common bond membership cap on the number of credit union mergers.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is a strong supporter of the mutual sector, including credit unions, and is working to support its growth in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector.

On 18 March, the government announced plans to reform the credit union common bond by:

• Increasing the potential membership cap on the locality bond from 3 million to 10 million, which will significantly expand the potential size of locality-based credit unions, which make up 79% of the sector, and reduce uncertainty around merger activity.
• Allowing credit unions to admit students to locality-based credit unions, if not otherwise eligible through residence or work.
• Expanding eligibility for members' relatives to allow credit unions to admit relatives of qualifying members regardless of whether they share a household.
• Allowing credit unions to retain retired members as fully qualifying members.

The reforms will apply across Great Britain, including in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Full details of the government’s plans have been published in a call for evidence response available on GOV.UK.

The government will legislate to give effect to these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows. A full impact assessment will be published alongside the legislative reforms.

The reforms to the credit union common bond form part of a broader package of measures to support improved access to financial products and services under the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy itself will be reviewed two years after publication to assess its overall progress.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what analysis she has undertaken of the potential impact of extending membership eligibility to students on credit union balance sheets.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is a strong supporter of the mutual sector, including credit unions, and is working to support its growth in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector.

On 18 March, the government announced plans to reform the credit union common bond by:

• Increasing the potential membership cap on the locality bond from 3 million to 10 million, which will significantly expand the potential size of locality-based credit unions, which make up 79% of the sector, and reduce uncertainty around merger activity.
• Allowing credit unions to admit students to locality-based credit unions, if not otherwise eligible through residence or work.
• Expanding eligibility for members' relatives to allow credit unions to admit relatives of qualifying members regardless of whether they share a household.
• Allowing credit unions to retain retired members as fully qualifying members.

The reforms will apply across Great Britain, including in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Full details of the government’s plans have been published in a call for evidence response available on GOV.UK.

The government will legislate to give effect to these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows. A full impact assessment will be published alongside the legislative reforms.

The reforms to the credit union common bond form part of a broader package of measures to support improved access to financial products and services under the Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy itself will be reviewed two years after publication to assess its overall progress.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the implications of UK-Spain economic co-operation for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

• Our bilateral cooperation with Spain is creating opportunities for British businesses, including the Spanish government’s decision to exempt British nationals from a visa requirement for the provision of services in stays of less than ninety days. This could be worth around £250 million in additional exports to UK businesses over a five-year period. This will benefit UK businesses of all sizes exporting to Spain.
• Our cooperation with the EU is also reducing barriers to trade. An SPS Agreement with the EU will make agrifood trade easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, including small and medium enterprises that currently trade or want to trade with Spain and other EU countries.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in UK-Spain co-operation on levels of inward private sector investment into (i) Milton Keynes and (ii) Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

• According to figures published by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK, the UK was the second largest destination for Spanish foreign direct investment stock at the end of 2023, supporting over 140,000 jobs in the UK in 2023.
• During her visit to Madrid, the Chancellor welcomed a £240m investment from Exolum while Indra will create 600 jobs in the UK after being awarded a contract by Transport for London. Spanish bank Santander has also developed its UK headquarters in Milton Keynes, where it employs thousands of people.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in regulatory alignment with the EU on economic growth in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Leaving the EU increased costs for businesses and consumers, shrank markets for UK exporters, and left our strategic industries exposed. Since March 2020, the OBR has maintained its estimate that productivity will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. Recent independent studies indicate its GDP impacts could be as much as 6% to 8%.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what analysis HM Treasury has undertaken on the potential effect of UK–EU alignment measures on levels of UK competitiveness.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Leaving the EU increased costs for businesses and consumers, shrank markets for UK exporters, and left our strategic industries exposed. Since March 2020, the OBR has maintained its estimate that productivity will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. Recent independent studies indicate its GDP impacts could be as much as 6% to 8%.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in levels of UK-EU alignment on UK labour markets.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Leaving the EU increased costs for businesses and consumers, shrank markets for UK exporters, and left our strategic industries exposed. Since March 2020, the OBR has maintained its estimate that productivity will be 4% lower in the long run than it would have been had the UK not withdrawn from the EU. Recent independent studies indicate its GDP impacts could be as much as 6% to 8%.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is responsible for registering liability orders with Registry Trust Limited.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.

When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.

Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.

The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a justice of the peace is required to issue a summons before the Child Maintenance Service makes an application for a liability order.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.

When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.

Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.

The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service issues summons documents without the involvement of a justice of the peace.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not require a justice of the peace to issue a summons before making an application for a liability order.

When seeking a liability order, the CMS writes directly to the paying parent to inform them of the intention to apply. This communication includes the outstanding debt amount, along with the court location and the date of the hearing.

Use of such powers may have an impact on a parent’s future ability to pay. These powers are therefore only used in circumstances where the CMS believes the parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In such circumstances these powers will have a deterrent effect and as such the numbers are expected to be low.

The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what sectors have been identified as priorities for UK–EU alignment under the growth plan.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Alignment will be an iterative process and decisions will be based on the national interest principles set out by the Chancellor on 17 March. This means a decision to align will be made if:

- It promotes higher growth, investment, consumer benefits, and jobs for the long-term

- The future direction of policy is sufficiently stable and compatible, in terms of values and objectives

- The UK’s economic and national security and resilience is preserved or enhanced.

The Government is currently negotiating an agrifood deal that could add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy and increase agricultural exports to the EU by 16 per cent.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the fiscal implications of joint defence financing arrangements with Finland and the Netherlands.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Last week the Chancellor announced that the UK is exploring a new defence mechanism for financing driving joint demand by 2027 with the Netherlands and Finland and other EU and NATO partners.

This is still in development with partners and will follow best international practice and relevant HM Government Guidance, including Managing Public Money.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Treasury is taking to ensure regulatory co-operation with Spain supports UK-based exporters.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

This Government is committed to a deep and enduring partnership with Spain – a partnership which we were pleased to strengthen through agreeing a strategic bilateral framework in September. This Government is also committed to supporting British businesses exporting to Spain and other European markets. During the Chancellor’s recent visit to Madrid, we agreed practical steps with Spain to make it easier for UK services professionals to travel to Spain, which could be worth around £250 million in additional UK services exports over five years.

This Government recognises the strategic imperative for deeper integration between the UK and EU – which shapes much of Spain’s regulatory regime – to strengthen resilience in the economy and stabilise trading conditions for businesses. As the Chancellor set out in her Mais lecture on 17 March, we will pursue an enhanced partnership with the EU to strengthen supply chains and reduce unnecessary frictions for businesses operating in European markets. This will include closer alignment with EU regulation where it is in the UK’s national interest.

The Government is also strengthening engagement with business on EU regulatory issues, and we are exploring how the UK and EU can work together more effectively on shared ambitions to reduce administrative burdens on business, consistent with the UK commitment to cut the administrative burden of regulation by 25% by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures are in place to ensure value for money in joint defence financing arrangements with Finland and the Netherlands.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Last week the Chancellor announced that the UK is exploring a new defence mechanism for financing driving joint demand by 2027 with the Netherlands and Finland and other EU and NATO partners.

This is still in development with partners and will follow best international practice and relevant HM Government Guidance, including Managing Public Money.