Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the £625 million allocated for compensating Equitable Life with-profits annuity holders has been spent up to and including 2024-25; and how much was originally forecast to be spent on a (a) cash and (b) discounted basis.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government allocated £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).

The total value of payments made by the Scheme stood at £1.35 bn as of 30 May 2025, and the Scheme is on track to pay out the remainder. Annual annuity payments to the over 17,000 eligible WPAs amounted to £20m in 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on supporting the victims of cross-border grooming gangs.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

This Government is committed to working closely with the Scottish Government to strengthen protections for victims of cross-border grooming gangs.

We have accepted all 12 recommendations of Baroness Casey’s report, ensuring a comprehensive, victim focused response to tackling group-based child sexual exploitation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support employment in the defence sector in Scotland.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We are developing the Defence Growth Deal for Scotland which will drive innovation, deliver support to businesses, boost local employment and ensure long-term sustainable growth.

Initiatives like the Defence Skills Passport and Destination Defence will make it easier for people in Scotland to access skilled employment in the defence sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that future SPS alignment with the EU does not reintroduce regulatory barriers for precision-bred crops already permitted under the Precision Breeding Act 2025.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra remains committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act and enabling the safe development of innovative genetic technologies.

Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The detail of those areas is now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, Defra has been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK remains a competitive destination for international investment in agricultural biotechnology compared to EU member states.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is taking steps to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the global agricultural biotechnology sector, which is expected to reach £232.23 billion by 2034.

Precision breeding is a key growth technology within engineering biology, and a critical subsector in the Industrial Strategy. The global plant and precision breeding market is currently worth approximately £6.7 billion and is expected to grow to over £10 billion by 2030. By enacting the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025 we have the potential to be at the forefront across Europe and to be a major global competitor in this rapidly growing industry.

Found: Hillsborough) Tracy Gilbert (Labour; Edinburgh North and Leith) Gurinder Singh Josan (Labour; Smethwick) John Lamont

Found: Hillsborough) Tracy Gilbert (Labour; Edinburgh North and Leith) Gurinder Singh Josan (Labour; Smethwick) John Lamont

Found: Richard Baker; Markus Campbell- Savours; Charlotte Cane; Sam Carling; Lauren Edwards; Peter Lamb; John Lamont

Found: for item 6) Tom Goldsmith Andy Helliwell (Lords) Steve Hails Elizabeth Hunt (R&R Client Team) John Lamont

Found: John Lamont: I am slightly confused.

Found: Richard Baker; Markus Campbell- Savours; Charlotte Cane; Sam Carling; Lauren Edwards; Peter Lamb; John Lamont

Found: meeting Members present: Simon Hoare (Chair); Markus Campbell-Savours; Lauren Edwards; Peter Lamb; John Lamont

Submit Evidence (by 27 Feb 2026)

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee scrutinises the work and performance of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.