Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department are taking to help support hospitality businesses in managing cost pressures from energy costs.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
In the short-term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. That’s why the Government has decided to regulate Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), such as energy brokers. This will improve consumer outcomes and enhance consumer protections for non-domestic consumers, particularly charities and small businesses. Regulation will be introduced once parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with businesses on maintaining flexible staffing arrangements in the context of the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is improving flexibility and security for workers while supporting a flexible, responsive labour market that drives economic growth. This includes reforms on flexible working, agency work and zero hours contracts.
Across each of these areas, engagement with businesses and trade bodies has been core to policy development.
We are also continuing to gather views from businesses through our current public consultations on Improving Access to Flexible Working and Modernising the Agency Work Regulatory Framework.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
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 proposed reforms to zero-hours contracts on businesses whose sales are significantly affected by (a) the weather and (b) other unpredictable factors.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts from the zero hours contract measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025. These assessments include consideration of increases in labour costs and the subsequent effects, as well as setting out the sectors most likely to be impacted by the measures.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
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 impact of food inflation on hospitality businesses.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in January 2026 CPI food price inflation stood at 3.6%, down from 4.5% in December. Overall CPI inflation was 3% in January 2026, compared with 3.4% in December 2025, and remains 1 percentage point above the Bank of England's 2% target.
We are committed to ensuring that regulation works better for food businesses. The new Food Inflation Gateway will assess the impact of proposed Government regulations on food businesses and food prices; while also giving firms a single, clearer line of sight on upcoming regulatory changes so they can plan with greater confidence.
In addition, the Government has introduced a series of measures to help ease cost pressures across the sector, including permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. We will continue to work closely with the sector and across Government to support resilience and help hospitality businesses navigate ongoing cost challenges.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase public awareness of Martha's Rule.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has undertaken extensive work to develop, test, and rollout communication products in relation to Martha’s Rule. This includes public communication materials for hospitals that have implemented Martha’s Rule to ensure inpatients, and their families and carers, are aware of and informed about this important patient safety initiative.
NHS England is considering plans for a wider communications campaign once Martha’s Rule is fully implemented in all relevant settings, later in 2026/27. This will take account of feedback in relation to the communication materials produced so far.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of removing the three-year statue of limitations for offences under Part 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is extending the statute of limitations period for bringing proceedings for offences under Part 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Section 90(2).
This change aims to give the Care Quality Commission more time to gather evidence, conclude investigations, and prosecute where appropriate.
By extending the period in which proceedings can be brought, the Department seeks to encourage learning from failures in care and provide greater assurance and confidence for families seeking justice. The change will support the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan to improve quality of care generally.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that parking companies (a) behave appropriately towards their customers and (b) have adequate ticketing practices.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.
The government launched a consultation on 11th July 2025 which outlined its proposals for raising standards and protecting motorists.
All of the responses are now being analysed and the government will publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who is the responsible Minister for the Team Plymouth partership.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The responsible Minister for the Team Plymouth partnership is the Minister of State in the House of Lords, my noble. Friend, The Lord Coaker.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered amending the school admissions code to allow schools to withdraw an offer if new information suggests that their admittance poses a risk to another student.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
All children, from whatever background and no matter what challenges they face, deserve a safe environment in which they can learn. Nothing is more important than safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. Keeping children safe in education is statutory guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Admission authorities must comply with parental preference and can only refuse a place or withdraw a place in limited circumstances, as set out in admissions law.
Admission authorities can refuse a place in year, in specific circumstances, where they have good reason to believe a child may display challenging behaviour, but cannot withdraw a place, once offered, on this basis.
Any changes to the Code will require a statutory process, including a full public consultation and Parliamentary approval.
Asked by: Fred Thomas (Labour - Plymouth Moor View)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to review the School Admissions Code.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
All children, from whatever background and no matter what challenges they face, deserve a safe environment in which they can learn. Nothing is more important than safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. Keeping children safe in education is statutory guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Admission authorities must comply with parental preference and can only refuse a place or withdraw a place in limited circumstances, as set out in admissions law.
Admission authorities can refuse a place in year, in specific circumstances, where they have good reason to believe a child may display challenging behaviour, but cannot withdraw a place, once offered, on this basis.
Any changes to the Code will require a statutory process, including a full public consultation and Parliamentary approval.