Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the overnight visitor levy will be applicable to scout camps organised by scouting units.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
It will be for leaders of strategic authorities to decide, subject to consultation, whether to introduce levy. Strategic authorities will have the option to exempt certain types of accommodation in their areas, including dormitory-style accommodation like hostels, tent pitches, and touring caravan pitches.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
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 early years funding levels on the ability of providers to meet increasing operating costs and deliver high-quality early education and childcare.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is our ambition that families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving the life chances for every child and the work choices for every parent. As the government builds a stronger economy with sustainable public finances, it is continuing to invest in the early years sector, supporting the successful delivery of the entitlements.
In 2026/27, we plan to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements. National average local authority hourly rates will increase by 4.95% for 3 and 4-year-olds before the termly adjustment, 4.36% for 2-year-olds, and 4.28% for children aged 9 months to 2 years.
These increases continue to reflect in full forecast cost pressures, including the National Living Wage announced at Autumn Budget 2025 and wider workforce pressures. Hourly rates are intended to cover the staff and non-staff costs of providing 15 or 30 entitlement hours.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support early years providers to recruit, train and retain a skilled workforce, including through opportunities for providers to develop and train staff in-house.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We want early years careers to be respected, rewarding, and something people are proud to pursue. Our Best Start in Life Strategy sets out how we are strengthening career pathways and championing early years teachers, with a long-term ambition of an early years teachers in every nursery setting.
To boost recruitment and retention, we are introducing recognition payments for early years teachers in 30 local authority areas of greatest need, offering up to £4,500. Roll out will start this November.
We are expanding funded places on Early Years Initial Teacher Training over three years, aiming to more than double capacity by 2028. We have also introduced a new degree apprenticeship route, backed by financial support for employers, making it easier for more people to become early years teachers.
We have consulted the sector on proposals to reform how early years teachers are trained and supported. The proposals aim to strengthen the quality of training built on strong evidence of effective practice, improve career progression opportunities, and raise the status of early years teaching across all settings. We are currently in the process of reviewing and analysing the feedback from the consultation, which closed 24 September 2026, and a full response will be published in due course.
We are also raising skill levels across the workforce by funding high-quality training for educators and leaders, including free online child development training, more places on the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership and investment in evidence-based interventions in early maths and language.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many Illegal Gambling Taskforce sub groups have been established by the Illegal Gambling Taskforce and what issue each is focussed on.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Illegal Gambling Taskforce consists of over 50 individuals across the ministerial taskforce and its three subgroups. As set out in the Illegal Gambling Taskforce terms of reference, the subgroups focus on advertising of illegal gambling, preventing payments associated with illegal gambling, and improving cross-agency collaboration to tackle illegal gambling. The ministerial taskforce has met twice with a further meeting intended before the end of the year. The subgroups meet more frequently.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many times the Illegal Gambling Taskforce has met since its inception.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Illegal Gambling Taskforce consists of over 50 individuals across the ministerial taskforce and its three subgroups. As set out in the Illegal Gambling Taskforce terms of reference, the subgroups focus on advertising of illegal gambling, preventing payments associated with illegal gambling, and improving cross-agency collaboration to tackle illegal gambling. The ministerial taskforce has met twice with a further meeting intended before the end of the year. The subgroups meet more frequently.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many individuals are members of the Illegal Gambling Taskforce.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Illegal Gambling Taskforce consists of over 50 individuals across the ministerial taskforce and its three subgroups. As set out in the Illegal Gambling Taskforce terms of reference, the subgroups focus on advertising of illegal gambling, preventing payments associated with illegal gambling, and improving cross-agency collaboration to tackle illegal gambling. The ministerial taskforce has met twice with a further meeting intended before the end of the year. The subgroups meet more frequently.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what actions he is taking to ensure that each UK embassy and consulate around the world is using British made tableware.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have a specific policy to buy British crockery or tableware for embassies or consulates or the Heads of Mission Residences; however, there is a pattern requirement which often necessitates the use of specific (British) suppliers.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many meetings have taken place within the department and appropriate predecessor departments to consider the responses to the consultation on retaining and expanding access to market for small and independent brewers since 22nd October 2025.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the important contribution that pubs and small and independent breweries make to local economies and communities across the country, and remains committed to supporting a diverse and competitive beer and pub sector.
Over the last six months I have met with all interested stakeholders directly to consider the evidence received through the review of the beer market and I have discussed this evidence in detail with policy experts within my department.
However, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) recently wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting a market investigation into this area. Given the CMA's role as the UK's independent competition regulator, it is important that the CMA is given the opportunity to consider that request.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he plans to publish the outcome of the consultation on access to market for small and independent brewers before Christmas recess 2026.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the important contribution that pubs and small and independent breweries make to local economies and communities across the country, and remains committed to supporting a diverse and competitive beer and pub sector.
Over the last six months I have met with all interested stakeholders directly to consider the evidence received through the review of the beer market and I have discussed this evidence in detail with policy experts within my department.
However, The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) recently wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting a market investigation into this area. Given the CMA's role as the UK's independent competition regulator, it is important that the CMA is given the opportunity to consider that request.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the UK brick manufacturing sector to meet domestic demand bricks.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2025, the UK brick manufacturing sector produced 1,557 million bricks. This equated to around 82% of the UK brick market, with under 20% being met by imports. Brick imports increased by 11% on the previous year.
The Government is working with the sector to encourage domestic production by addressing electricity costs, through the British Industry Supercharger and through the Ceramics Industry Support Scheme which will also be open to the sector when it is formally launched.