Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2026 to question 14817, what specific representations his Department made on behalf of the vending industry to the Department for Health and Social Care.

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)

The Department regularly engages with the Department of Health and Social Care on a range of issues affecting business sectors. This has included consideration of the impacts of policy proposals on businesses and implementation considerations. However, it would not be appropriate to disclose further details of internal Government policy discussions, as doing so could prejudice the effective development of Government policy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Laotian counterpart on the protection of Christian converts and other religious minority communities in that country.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The UK is committed to promoting and defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK has discussed freedom of religion or belief with the Lao authorities through bilateral dialogue, including at the UK-Laos Political Dialogue which took place in London in September 2025. We also work through the UN to promote and protect these rights, including raising country specific issues at the UN Human Rights Council. Laos' UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held in 2025, during which the UK raised concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and religion.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of whether the UK's tax treaty arbitration arrangements allow multinational companies to delay the collection of UK tax in transfer pricing and Diverted Profits Tax disputes; and whether the Government will review those arrangements to ensure that profits generated in the UK are taxed fairly in the UK and that UK tax revenues are protected.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

There is no special provision or allowance under the UK’s tax treaties for the suspension or deferral of tax payments by multinational companies.

For transfer pricing cases, HMRC may suspend collection of the disputed tax while a Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) case is ongoing. MAP may include mandatory binding arbitration where provided for under the relevant treaty, however, there is no additional or separate right to delay payment of UK tax in relation to arbitration. Postponement of tax during MAP is only available under the same conditions that apply to domestic administrative or judicial remedies. Interest will continue to accrue, where appropriate, on any underpaid tax ultimately found to be due.

DPT charges cannot be postponed on any grounds. The Diverted Profits Tax (DPT) was repealed by the Finance Act 2026 and replaced by the Unassessed Transfer Pricing Profits (UTPP) rules, as part of a wider package of reforms to simplify and modernise the legislation relating to transfer pricing, diverted profits tax and permanent establishments. Charges under the UTPP rules also cannot be postponed on any grounds, except to the extent that tax has already been paid on the same profits.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the thematic Value for Money Review of homelessness will include an analysis of value added by charitable and not-for-profit homelessness services which do not currently receive government funding.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Value for Money Review of homelessness will assess the underlying cost-effectiveness of cross government spend that helps to prevent and relieve all forms of homelessness, and will make actionable recommendations that improve efficiency, accountability, outcomes, and reduce financial pressures on councils. As part of the review, we will also seek views from external stakeholders via the Homelessness Expert Group which includes representatives from front-line services, local government, and the third sector.

For further details please see the published Terms of Reference available here.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in each of the past three financial years, how much Housing Benefit has been paid to providers of Supported Accommodation.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Department's Benefit Expenditure and Caseload outturn and forecast tables can be found in the ‘Housing Benefits’ sheet here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2026.

Equivalent estimates are not available for earlier years due to historical data quality issues in the recording of supported accommodation cases.

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Found: Dollimore Josh Newbury Andrew Pakes Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Henry Tufnell Tonia Antoniazzi and John Glen

Found: Horley) Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat; Carshalton and Wallington) Jim Dickson (Labour; Dartford) John Glen

Found: Q658 John Glen: Could we turn to the Leeds reforms?

Found: John Glen: At least he’s honest.

Found: Horley) Bobby Dean (Liberal Democrat; Carshalton and Wallington) Jim Dickson (Labour; Dartford) John Glen

Found: John Glen MP.

Found: . © Historic EnglandDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport4 Foreword By John Glen, Minister

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