Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Business Rates policy on employment in hospitality-dependent areas.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has announced a £4.3 billion business rates support package to protect ratepayers from large overnight increases in bills.

In addition, the Government is introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible RHL properties. These are worth almost £1 billion per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

On top of this, pubs and live music venues will also benefit from 15% off their new business rates bills, ahead of their bills being frozen in real terms for a further two years.

As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases next year, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure landlord and property rules to hold directors owners accountable.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Building owners are responsible for managing and addressing fire and structural safety risks in their buildings. They are required to apply for a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC), which includes an assessment by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) of whether they understand and are managing their building safety risks to an acceptable standard.

Where a BAC is rejected by the BSR, the building owner will be notified by the Regulator of the issues they need to fix, and the deadline they must fix them by. The BSR can also take further enforcement action for non-compliance. The building owner is often the principal accountable person. Where the principal accountable person is not meeting their duties, residents should raise a complaint to them directly. If the resident is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, they can contact the Building Safety Regulator.

One of the significant challenges local regulators (local authorities and fire and rescue authorities) can face in relation to building safety, is identifying who is practically responsible for each building. While determining the legal owner is usually straightforward, the identity of the parent company, which makes decisions and benefits financially, is often hidden behind layers of corporate ownership. This obfuscation makes it difficult to pinpoint where the real decision-making power lies.

To address this issue, the government is proposing legislation that will provide regulators with the powers to compel the disclosure of full ownership structures. This measure aims to enhance transparency and ensure that enforcement bodies can hold the appropriate parties accountable. This legislation will be brought forward in the Remediation Bill, when parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of children injured in road traffic incidents within 500 metres of a school in each of the last five years.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The information requested is not available.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the designated bathing waters framework.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

A review of the Bathing Waters Regulations (2013) was undertaken in 2024-25. Following a consultation on potential reforms to the regulations from November-December 2024, the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 came into force on 21 November 2025. Defra will continue to keep the implementation of the regulations under review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the current status is of work to develop or introduce a recreational water status in England.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In our response to the consultation on amending the Bathing Water 2013 Regulations at the end of 2024, the Government noted the support for expanding the definition of a bather to include other recreational water users. Work has begun on an evidence review to consider the environmental and public health implications of any change.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to close illicit (a) mini‑marts, (b) barbers, (c) vape shops and (d) other similar outlets.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is committed to working with partners to tackle high street illegality from businesses such as mini marts, barbers, vape shops and similar outlets.

Building on recent operational activity (Operation MACHINIZE), led by the National Crime Agency in conjunction with National Police Chief’s Council, in the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Government allocated £10 million per year for three years to tackle high street illegality. This funding includes the creation of the High Streets Illegality Taskforce, enhancements to Trading Standards capabilities and support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers.

Hosted by the Home Office, the cross-government Taskforce is now operational and is working to develop a strategic long-term policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets, including other forms of economic crime, tax evasion, and illegal working, tackling the systemic vulnerabilities that criminals exploit.

More broadly, following the completion of Economic Crime Plan 2 in March 2026, we expect to publish a new Economic Crime Plan in 2026. Developed jointly with HMT and in partnership with the private sector, the Plan will set a clear direction for strengthening the UK’s approach to tackling money laundering and boosting asset recovery.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department is making on the cross‑government taskforce to tackle organised crime and money laundering on high streets.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is committed to working with partners to tackle high street illegality from businesses such as mini marts, barbers, vape shops and similar outlets.

Building on recent operational activity (Operation MACHINIZE), led by the National Crime Agency in conjunction with National Police Chief’s Council, in the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Government allocated £10 million per year for three years to tackle high street illegality. This funding includes the creation of the High Streets Illegality Taskforce, enhancements to Trading Standards capabilities and support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers.

Hosted by the Home Office, the cross-government Taskforce is now operational and is working to develop a strategic long-term policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets, including other forms of economic crime, tax evasion, and illegal working, tackling the systemic vulnerabilities that criminals exploit.

More broadly, following the completion of Economic Crime Plan 2 in March 2026, we expect to publish a new Economic Crime Plan in 2026. Developed jointly with HMT and in partnership with the private sector, the Plan will set a clear direction for strengthening the UK’s approach to tackling money laundering and boosting asset recovery.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle high‑street money laundering.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is committed to working with partners to tackle high street illegality from businesses such as mini marts, barbers, vape shops and similar outlets.

Building on recent operational activity (Operation MACHINIZE), led by the National Crime Agency in conjunction with National Police Chief’s Council, in the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Government allocated £10 million per year for three years to tackle high street illegality. This funding includes the creation of the High Streets Illegality Taskforce, enhancements to Trading Standards capabilities and support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers.

Hosted by the Home Office, the cross-government Taskforce is now operational and is working to develop a strategic long-term policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets, including other forms of economic crime, tax evasion, and illegal working, tackling the systemic vulnerabilities that criminals exploit.

More broadly, following the completion of Economic Crime Plan 2 in March 2026, we expect to publish a new Economic Crime Plan in 2026. Developed jointly with HMT and in partnership with the private sector, the Plan will set a clear direction for strengthening the UK’s approach to tackling money laundering and boosting asset recovery.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners living in rural, off-grid homes who are ineligible for Pension Credit but are in fuel poverty due to reliance on heating oil; and whether he plans to (a) review eligibility thresholds and (b) introduce targeted support for such households.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Pension Credit provides direct financial support to pensioner households on the lowest incomes, ensuring that they receive a guaranteed minimum level of income – the Standard Minimum Guarantee (SMG). The Standard Minimum Guarantee is subject to the Secretary of State’s annual statutory review of State Pension and benefit rates, and it will increase this year by 4.8% from April.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on creating a public reporting line for illicit high‑street businesses.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The High Streets Illegality Taskforce is working to develop a strategic long-term policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets, including other forms of economic crime, tax evasion, and illegal working, tackling the systemic vulnerabilities that criminals exploit. As part of this work, the Taskforce will consider mechanisms to support effective information flows.

The public can report concerns about illicit high street businesses to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555 111.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is considering piloting a recreational water status.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In our response to the consultation on amending the Bathing Water 2013 Regulations at the end of 2024, the Government noted the support for expanding the definition of a bather to include other recreational water users. Work has begun on an evidence review to consider the environmental and public health implications of any change.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to accelerate the development and adoption of non-animal methods for sepsis research.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 December 2025 to Question UIN 94115.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the funding to deliver the Replacing Animals in Science strategy; and whether funding for delivery bodies will be provided on a ring-fenced, multi-year basis.

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

The Government has announced £75m of funding to accelerate alternatives and innovation, with new capabilities being developed across the UK. This funding will help bring forward advanced testing methods that can save lives and support a faster, science‑led route to regulation. £60 million of this is ring‑fenced, multi‑year funding secured through the 2025 Spending Review to provide long‑term stability for strategic programmes. The Department remains fully committed to delivering the actions set out in the Replacing Animals in Science strategy through the funding secured in the Review.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what governance arrangements are in place to oversee delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science strategy; how progress on the strategy will be monitored across Government; and what steps he will take to ensure sustained ministerial leadership throughout this Parliament.

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

The Department is working closely with colleagues across Government to strengthen the coordination, development, validation and uptake of non‑animal methods. The Replacing Animals in Science strategy commits to establish governance structures to oversee progress and delivery of the strategies actions, including a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess and monitor the delivery of the strategy. The first cross‑departmental ministerial meeting on the delivery of the strategy is scheduled to take place next month and will provide a formal mechanism to drive progress and ensure alignment across policy areas.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure effective collaboration with (a) regulators, (b) industry, (c) academia and (d) civil society organisations in the delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science strategy.

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

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing. The strategy was developed with regulators, industry, academia and civil society and this engagement will continue during implementation of the strategy. Regulators will be represented within new governance structures as part of the implementation process, and we will work closely with experts across these sectors to ensure the strategy remains science‑led, up to date and focused on driving the development, validation and uptake of advanced non‑animal methods.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including specific, time-bound targets and milestones for the replacement of animal experiments with non-animal methods.

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

Transparent targets and milestones and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy will be published later in 2026. It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements for their use. Any work to phase out animal testing must be science-led, in lock step with partners, so we will not be setting arbitrary timelines for overall reduction, but we will publish timelines for specific actions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what metrics will be used to measure progress in reducing the number of animals used in scientific research; and how often this data will be published.

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

Transparent targets and milestones and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy will be published later in 2026. It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements for their use. Any work to phase out animal testing must be science-led, in lock step with partners, so we will not be setting arbitrary timelines for overall reduction, but we will publish timelines for specific actions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to equalise the VAT treatment of Further Education colleges and school sixth forms.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Further Education (FE) funding is vital to ensure people are being trained in the skills they need to thrive in the modern labour market. The 2025 Spending Review provided an additional £1.2 billion per year by 2028-29 for skills and £1.7 billion of capital funding to help colleges maintain the condition of their estate. In addition, the Government is providing £375 million of capital investment to support the FE system to accommodate increasing student numbers.

For their non-business activity, FE colleges are unable to reclaim VAT incurred. We operate VAT refund schemes for schools and academies which are designed variously to ensure that VAT is not a burden on local taxation, and that academies are not disincentivised to leave LA control. FE colleges do not meet the criteria for either scheme.

In relation to business activity, FE colleges enjoy an exemption from VAT which means that they do not have to charge VAT to students but cannot recover it either.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available to local authorities to deliver road safety measures around schools, including crossings, speed management and parking enforcement in 2026-27 in (a) England, (b) the East of England, (c) Suffolk and (d) Suffolk Coastal constituency.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government provides a range of funding streams and national guidance to support local authorities in improving road safety around schools, including measures such as pedestrian crossings, traffic‑calming, speed management and School Streets schemes.

We have confirmed £7.3 billion of capital funding for local highway maintenance across England between 2026–27 and 2029–30, allocated to local authorities to maintain and improve their road networks. This includes the road infrastructure around schools.

The Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF) may be used to deliver safety improvements around schools as part of wider walking and cycling programmes. In the latest CATF allocation round, Suffolk County Council received £2,784,685, which can be used for schemes in any part of the county, including within the Suffolk Coastal constituency.

Local authorities are responsible for identifying risks around schools and selecting appropriate interventions, drawing on national guidance. This includes:

• Setting Local Speed Limits, which advises on implementing permanent or time‑limited 20 mph limits outside schools and is being updated as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.

• Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which provides guidance on the design and use of pedestrian crossings.

• Local Transport Note 1/07, which sets out advice on traffic‑calming measures.

• Guidance from the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on establishing and managing School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access near schools at peak times.

It is for local authorities to determine what measures are appropriate in individual cases as they have the local knowledge and it is right that they focus on the areas of highest risk, which may be where tragic collisions have occurred - but there is nothing to stop them implementing road safety measures elsewhere. The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure local authorities publish the outcome of school gate road safety assessments and the measures implemented at each school where risk is identified.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government provides a range of funding streams and national guidance to support local authorities in improving road safety around schools, including measures such as pedestrian crossings, traffic‑calming, speed management and School Streets schemes.

We have confirmed £7.3 billion of capital funding for local highway maintenance across England between 2026–27 and 2029–30, allocated to local authorities to maintain and improve their road networks. This includes the road infrastructure around schools.

The Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF) may be used to deliver safety improvements around schools as part of wider walking and cycling programmes. In the latest CATF allocation round, Suffolk County Council received £2,784,685, which can be used for schemes in any part of the county, including within the Suffolk Coastal constituency.

Local authorities are responsible for identifying risks around schools and selecting appropriate interventions, drawing on national guidance. This includes:

• Setting Local Speed Limits, which advises on implementing permanent or time‑limited 20 mph limits outside schools and is being updated as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.

• Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which provides guidance on the design and use of pedestrian crossings.

• Local Transport Note 1/07, which sets out advice on traffic‑calming measures.

• Guidance from the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on establishing and managing School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access near schools at peak times.

It is for local authorities to determine what measures are appropriate in individual cases as they have the local knowledge and it is right that they focus on the areas of highest risk, which may be where tragic collisions have occurred - but there is nothing to stop them implementing road safety measures elsewhere. The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on responding to road safety risks around schools, including time-limited 20 mph restrictions, crossings and school streets.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Government provides a range of funding streams and national guidance to support local authorities in improving road safety around schools, including measures such as pedestrian crossings, traffic‑calming, speed management and School Streets schemes.

We have confirmed £7.3 billion of capital funding for local highway maintenance across England between 2026–27 and 2029–30, allocated to local authorities to maintain and improve their road networks. This includes the road infrastructure around schools.

The Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF) may be used to deliver safety improvements around schools as part of wider walking and cycling programmes. In the latest CATF allocation round, Suffolk County Council received £2,784,685, which can be used for schemes in any part of the county, including within the Suffolk Coastal constituency.

Local authorities are responsible for identifying risks around schools and selecting appropriate interventions, drawing on national guidance. This includes:

• Setting Local Speed Limits, which advises on implementing permanent or time‑limited 20 mph limits outside schools and is being updated as part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.

• Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which provides guidance on the design and use of pedestrian crossings.

• Local Transport Note 1/07, which sets out advice on traffic‑calming measures.

• Guidance from the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on establishing and managing School Streets schemes, which restrict vehicle access near schools at peak times.

It is for local authorities to determine what measures are appropriate in individual cases as they have the local knowledge and it is right that they focus on the areas of highest risk, which may be where tragic collisions have occurred - but there is nothing to stop them implementing road safety measures elsewhere. The Government expects local authorities to work with local schools, parents, and communities to address concerns about road safety in their local area.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring children have access to practical road safety and cycle training.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Officials in the department engaged with the Department for Transport when developing the updated Relationships Sex and Health Education guidance.

The updated guidance, published in July 2025 has a new section on personal safety which includes how to recognise risk and keep safe around roads. The Department for Transport has dedicated interactive websites for schools with materials that focus on their THINK! campaign.

Officials also engage on active travel for schools. Bikeability, the government owned cycle training programme, is funded by Active Travel England in schools across England. Up to £30 million was allocated to the programme for 2025/26 and funding for the forthcoming 3-year period is due to be announced shortly. Almost 6 million children have received Bikeability cycle training since 2007, with 500,000 children booking onto training in 2024/25.

Found: Norfolk) Jayne Kirkham (Labour; Truro and Falmouth) Josh Newbury (Labour; Cannock Chase) Jenny Riddell-Carpenter

Found: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Sarah Dyke; Terry Jermy; Jayne Kirkham; Josh Newbury; Jenny Riddell-Carpenter

Found: Sarah Bool; Juliet Campbell; Charlie Dewhirst; Terry Jermy; Jayne Kirkham; Josh Newbury; Jenny Riddell- Carpenter

The UK Government has set numerous goals related to habitat restoration under the Environmental Improvement Plan, much of which of hoped to be achieved through the Government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes. The Government has also set several ambitious targets through its housebuilding programme and plans for net zero energy generation.