Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to provide bereavement support to families grieving loved ones that passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment provides support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. It supports families though the immediate period of grief, including those who sadly lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps eligibility of all benefits under review.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government and with the Church of Scotland on the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant; whether there will be Barnett Consequentials as a result of the new scheme in England; whether the new scheme will continue to offer VAT rebates on repairs and maintenance; and whether churches in Scotland will be eligible for this support.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Heritage funding is devolved, however listed places of worship in Scotland have benefitted from VAT rebate grants from the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which ran from 2001 to 2026.
The Minister for Heritage met with representatives from the Church of Scotland and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland on 10th March to discuss the closure of the scheme. We have announced a new scheme in England, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which will award grants for projects to cover capital works. It will not offer just the VAT rebate of a project.
At Spending Reviews, the Devolved Governments receive Barnett consequentials as a proportion of overall departmental settlements, not specific funding lines or programmes. Barnett consequentials were confirmed for Devolved Governments in the usual way, taking into account the overall DCMS allocation, which includes capital funding for the Places of Worship Renewal fund. Decisions on how this funding is spent are for the Devolved Governments to take.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the availability of the childcare wear and tear allowance on the (a) affordability of childcare for parents, (b) recruitment and retention of childminders and (c) sustainability of the childcare sector in Scotland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.
Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.
The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax. We will also review the impacts of moving from the 10% deduction to actual costs for wear and tear claims.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of including an annual earnings requirement of £12,570 for three to five years within the proposed Earned Settlement reforms for Indefinite Leave to Remain on women who take statutory maternity leave.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.
We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups.
Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Valuation Office Agency’s reclassification of flexible office spaces as single properties on (a) the level of business rates and (b) small businesses; and whether this reclassification will apply in Scotland.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not operate in Scotland, so whether the reclassification will apply in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support disabled people with the cost of living.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government recognises that people are still feeling the squeeze on their finances with essential areas such as energy, food and housing remaining too high. That is why we have announced a range of support, including taking around £150 on average off household energy bills and expanding the £150 Warm Home Discount to 6 million lower income households and freezing regulated rail fares and NHS prescription fees for one-year.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will formally recognise podcasting and audio production as part of the creative industries.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We recognise audio production and podcasts as part of the Creative Industries. Our statistical definition uses the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and includes economic activities of sound recording and music publishing (code 5920). Audio production and the recording of podcasts are included in this activity.
Our Creative Industries Sector Plan, published in June, highlighted the importance of good data and our ambitions to improve recognition of CI activity in official statistics. DCMS has submitted proposed changes to the industrial classification, in consultation with industry, to the ONS as part of their public consultation to review and create an updated UK SIC. If the proposal is accepted this will improve the distinction of podcast and other sound recording activities from music activities. Following the 14 November submission deadline, the ONS is currently reviewing all submitted proposals and is due to finalise the new SIC2026 classification by the end of March 2026. DCMS will then review the Creative Industries definition to incorporate new codes.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure parity between the Investment Reserve Fund to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme and the British Coal Superannuation Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is engaging with HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward on the transfer of the reserve to members.
The Government is aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's timetable is for publishing a new animal welfare strategy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review the adequacy of rules governing (a) passport countersignatures and (b) the associated list of allowed professions.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
His Majesty’s Passport Office policy on who can act as a referee is kept under review as part of the general programme of work to modernise and improve the passport application process.
The list of recognised professions is set out online. It is not a definitive list; alternatives provided by a customer will be considered. Customers can call the Passport Adviceline if they have questions about a passport application.