Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of holding discussions with the EU on introducing a UK-EU youth mobility scheme.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Prime Minister and the president of the European Commission met in Brussels on 2 October and agreed to strengthen the relationship between the EU and the UK, putting it on a more solid, stable footing. We are committed to finding constructive ways to work together and deliver for the British people.

We are not going to give a running commentary on negotiations. We will obviously look at EU proposals on a range of issues, but we will not return to freedom of movement.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support people who let short-term furnished holiday properties.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We are introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets in England. Our aim is to reap the benefits of a thriving tourist economy whilst protecting the spirit and fabric of communities, including by giving local authorities valuable data on short-term lets in their area to help address housing impacts through the scheme.

The registration scheme will work to create a level playing field across the guest accommodations sector and ensure short-term lets are set to the same standards as more traditional accommodations such as hotels and B&Bs.

The scheme will support operators of short-term lets by boosting the reputation of England’s guest accommodation sector and attracting more visitors by giving visible assurance we have a high-quality, safe guest accommodation offer.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much the UK received through the Horizon Europe programme in each year from 2010 to 2024; and what estimate he has made of that figure after the implementation of Framework Programme 10.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Horizon Europe runs from 2021 to 2027. Data on UK receipts from the Framework Programmes between 2010 and 2020 is available via the EU’s Horizon Dashboard.

The UK associated to Horizon Europe in January 2024, and with a small number of exceptions, UK organisations have not received any funding from prior to association. UK participation between 2021 and 2023 was funded by the UK Guarantee, and the funding data is available on the UK Research and Innovation website. As 2024 data becomes available, this will be published via the Dashboard.

Framework Programme 10 is still being developed by the EU.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information his Department holds on how much universities received in research and development funding from the EU in each year from 2010 to 2024.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT does not hold this information. That information is held by the European Commission and available on the Horizon Dashboard for the period between 2010 and 2020.

The UK associated to Horizon Europe in January 2024, and with a small number of exceptions, UK organisations have not received any funding prior to association. UK participation in Horizon Europe between 2021 and 2023 was funded by the UK Horizon Guarantee, and the funding data is available on the UK Research and Innovation website.

As 2024 data becomes available, this will be published via the European Commission’s dashboard.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a new European Youth Mobility scheme.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The UK currently operates 13 bilateral Youth Mobility Scheme arrangements, which allow young people aged 18-30 (18-35 for some nationals), to live, work and study in the UK for up to two years, with some nationals eligible to apply for a third year. Each country is subject to an annual quota, based on a yearly review of outbound UK participants of the scheme.

The European Commission has not approached the UK to consider a new European Youth Mobility Scheme. We will look at proposals on a range of issues, but we will not return to free movement and our focus is on reducing net migration after it rose to record highs.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with HSBC on pension clawback policy; and if she will make representations to HSBC on reviewing that policy.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

No discussions on this subject have taken place with HSBC. The design of a pension offered as part of an employer’s reward package is a matter for that employer, provided that it meets the relevant legal requirements.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many EU-born staff were working in the NHS in each year since 2010.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department does not collect data on where staff working in the National Health Service were born. However, NHS England publishes quarterly data on the number of staff split by nationality in NHS trusts and other core organisations in England. The following table shows the number of staff working in the NHS in England with nationalities from the European Union, each September from 2010 until June 2024, the most recent data point available:

All staff within NHS trusts and commissioning bodies provide a self-reported nationality which is recorded on the Electronic Staff Record system. This may reflect an individual’s cultural heritage rather than their country of birth, with some individuals choosing not to specify it.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of increasing the purchase price limit under the help-to-buy ISA scheme in line with average house price increases.

Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home, and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.

The Government keeps savings policy under review, any changes of this kind would be made at a relevant fiscal event.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with mobile phone operators on trends in the level of roaming fees since the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The guarantee of surcharge-free roaming with the EU ceased at the end of the Brexit Transition Period. Against this background, my Department, in close coordination with the Department for Business and Trade, is considering the Government’s approach to the issue of roaming fees for people travelling in Europe to ensure we deliver the best outcomes to promote competition and protect consumers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the EU's Entry/Exit System on UK travellers.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government engages with the European Commission on a range of border issues, including the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). The system is expected to increase processing times at Schengen Area border crossing points, and the Government therefore continues to work with EU Member States, industry and operators to understand the possible impacts and support their plans to mitigate disruption for travellers and businesses. To support this, I have been having regular meetings with other HMG Ministers to progress cross-government efforts for EES, including communications to the travelling public. However, implementation of EES is a matter for the EU and EU Member States.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department has taken to help reduce mobile phone roaming fees for people travelling in Europe since the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The guarantee of surcharge-free roaming with the EU ceased at the end of the Brexit Transition Period. Against this background, my Department, in close coordination with the Department for Business and Trade, is considering the Government’s approach to the issue of roaming fees for people travelling in Europe to ensure we deliver the best outcomes to promote competition and protect consumers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure that all teachers are trained to support students with Special Educational Needs.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Lewes to the answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 10604.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service 40th anniversary

Triple negative breast cancer

Children's Grief Awareness Week 2024

Protecting wild sea birds and sand eels

In memory of Jim Farmer

Family visas

ARK at Egwood, King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Puppy smuggling bill

D-Day veteran George Chandler

Ocean Oarsmen’s Atlantic Rowing Challenge

Use of swift bricks

Visually impaired cricket team Australia tour

Glastonbury Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Angela Yeoman Award

North East Fife Scottish Fish and Chip Award winners (No. 2)

Implications for rural communities of the Autumn Budget 2024

Social care workers and National Insurance

Cuts to the International Development Budget

Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

GWR Sunday timetable

Contribution of animals to the Armed Forces

Humanitarian situation in Sudan

Occupational Therapy Week 2024

Found: Lee Dillon Bob Blackman Liz Saville Roberts John Milne Ian Roome Tessa Munt Marie Goldman James

Found: Lee Dillon Bob Blackman Liz Saville Roberts John Milne Ian Roome Tessa Munt Marie Goldman James