Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled £380 million boost for creative industries to help drive innovation, regional growth and investment, published on 23 June 2025, how she plans to measure the regional economic impact of the fund.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Sector Plan contains ambitious proposals to bolster growth in the creative industries across the UK. It includes a universal offer to drive growth in the creative industries in any place in the UK, outlining new measures to break down barriers such as access to finance, supply of skills, and new support to kickstart innovation.
We've developed a detailed evaluation framework with both sector-wide and sub-sector specific metrics, including GVA growth, employment figures, export values, inward investment, business creation, and diversity of workforce. Progress will be reported annually to Parliament and the Creative Industries Council (CIC), with a major review at the midpoint.
At a regional level, we will measure GVA in high potential places and their share of UK GVA. We will do this using published DCMS estimates of regional GVA and real terms changes in regional GVA.
We also outline a number of metrics we will use to measure the economic impact of the CIs interventions nationally, such as an increase in business R&D expenditure and an increase in CIs exports. Where possible, we will aim to track these metrics on a regional level to ensure the economic benefits of this increased support are being felt in every community across the UK.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the lifting of local connection tests for the specified vulnerable groups on social housing demand and allocations in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Regulations were laid on 19 June to ensure that young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse across England do not face unfair barriers to accessing social housing.
My Department will be monitoring the impact at local authority level through the Local Authority Housing Statistics and the social housing lettings and sales data returns.
We will not be able to assess the potential impact on (a) Milton Keynes or (b) Buckinghamshire specifically.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what monitoring systems will be introduced to ensure consistent exemption of victims of domestic abuse and young care leavers from local connection tests in all English local authorities.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The department will monitor the implementation of the exemption of victims of domestic abuse and young care leavers from local connection tests for social housing in all English local authorities through the Local Authority Housing Statistics data collection.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria her Department plans to use to decide which equity and loan products the National Housing Bank offers to SME developers within its initial £16 billion capital allocation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 June 2025 (HCWS712).
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what changes to Homes England’s structure or governance her Department is making to designate its subsidiary as a Public Financial Institution under the National Housing Bank proposal.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 June 2025 (HCWS712).
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 the special measures on the competitiveness of other UK steel manufacturers not subject to intervention under the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act gives the Government the power to direct British Steel, and its workforce, to keep the blast furnaces running safely. Our priorities remain continuing production, stabilising operations and remedying critical health and safety issues.
Competition between British Steel and other UK producers is limited, as they typically manufacture different types of steel products and serve distinct markets. The intervention is narrowly targeted and temporary, aimed at safeguarding national capability rather than conferring a commercial advantage. An impact assessment will be published in due course, following Regulatory Policy Committee scrutiny.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure alignment between the special measures for British Steel and the UK’s obligations under international trade and subsidy control agreements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
During the development of the Special Measures Act my department ensured that the Government’s actions were and remain consistent with our obligations under international trade and subsidy control agreements. We remain mindful of those obligations as we work on determining the best long-term future for the company.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the work of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt on the (a) accessibility and (b) resilience of sovereign borrowing frameworks in emerging markets.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The mission of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt is to work closely with the private sector to drive pragmatic, market-based solutions that support long-term, stable capital flows to emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) and improve outcomes in debt restructurings. By providing a formal platform for engagement with private creditors, across both bonded and non-bonded debt, the Coalition is advancing innovations in debt contracts, such as Natural Disaster Clauses (NDCs) and Majority Voting Provisions (MVPs), to promote transparency, orderly restructurings, and more resilient borrowing frameworks.
Enhanced transparency, grounded in strong governance and comprehensive data reporting, strengthens creditworthiness, facilitating greater market access, and expedites restructurings, giving countries quicker access to fiscal space when needed. To further bolster resilience, the Coalition is advancing contractual innovations like NDCs, which allow for the temporary suspension of debt service repayments in response to exogenous shocks, supporting macroeconomic stability and fiscal flexibility.
The UK’s approach to international sovereign debt extends beyond private sector engagement. The government is working through the G20 and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable to promote transparent and sustainable lending practices. This includes encouraging the publication of self-assessments under the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing and advocating for a more responsive and effective Common Framework, including pushing to expand its coverage to middle income countries.
Promoting debt sustainability for EMDEs is good for developing countries, creditors global prosperity. Tackling unsustainable debt is a key development priority for this government and a fundamental part of the international development toolkit.
The UK’s Trade Strategy, published in June 2025, underlines our commitment to supporting developing economies, simplifying access to the UK market, and deepening partnerships with the Global South to diversify supply chains and support development.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to incorporate the findings of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt into (a) future international development and (b) trade policy frameworks.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The mission of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt is to work closely with the private sector to drive pragmatic, market-based solutions that support long-term, stable capital flows to emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) and improve outcomes in debt restructurings. By providing a formal platform for engagement with private creditors, across both bonded and non-bonded debt, the Coalition is advancing innovations in debt contracts, such as Natural Disaster Clauses (NDCs) and Majority Voting Provisions (MVPs), to promote transparency, orderly restructurings, and more resilient borrowing frameworks.
Enhanced transparency, grounded in strong governance and comprehensive data reporting, strengthens creditworthiness, facilitating greater market access, and expedites restructurings, giving countries quicker access to fiscal space when needed. To further bolster resilience, the Coalition is advancing contractual innovations like NDCs, which allow for the temporary suspension of debt service repayments in response to exogenous shocks, supporting macroeconomic stability and fiscal flexibility.
The UK’s approach to international sovereign debt extends beyond private sector engagement. The government is working through the G20 and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable to promote transparent and sustainable lending practices. This includes encouraging the publication of self-assessments under the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing and advocating for a more responsive and effective Common Framework, including pushing to expand its coverage to middle income countries.
Promoting debt sustainability for EMDEs is good for developing countries, creditors global prosperity. Tackling unsustainable debt is a key development priority for this government and a fundamental part of the international development toolkit.
The UK’s Trade Strategy, published in June 2025, underlines our commitment to supporting developing economies, simplifying access to the UK market, and deepening partnerships with the Global South to diversify supply chains and support development.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what role the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt will play in shaping the UK’s approach to sustainable debt financing in developing economies.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The mission of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt is to work closely with the private sector to drive pragmatic, market-based solutions that support long-term, stable capital flows to emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) and improve outcomes in debt restructurings. By providing a formal platform for engagement with private creditors, across both bonded and non-bonded debt, the Coalition is advancing innovations in debt contracts, such as Natural Disaster Clauses (NDCs) and Majority Voting Provisions (MVPs), to promote transparency, orderly restructurings, and more resilient borrowing frameworks.
Enhanced transparency, grounded in strong governance and comprehensive data reporting, strengthens creditworthiness, facilitating greater market access, and expedites restructurings, giving countries quicker access to fiscal space when needed. To further bolster resilience, the Coalition is advancing contractual innovations like NDCs, which allow for the temporary suspension of debt service repayments in response to exogenous shocks, supporting macroeconomic stability and fiscal flexibility.
The UK’s approach to international sovereign debt extends beyond private sector engagement. The government is working through the G20 and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable to promote transparent and sustainable lending practices. This includes encouraging the publication of self-assessments under the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing and advocating for a more responsive and effective Common Framework, including pushing to expand its coverage to middle income countries.
Promoting debt sustainability for EMDEs is good for developing countries, creditors global prosperity. Tackling unsustainable debt is a key development priority for this government and a fundamental part of the international development toolkit.
The UK’s Trade Strategy, published in June 2025, underlines our commitment to supporting developing economies, simplifying access to the UK market, and deepening partnerships with the Global South to diversify supply chains and support development.