Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the High Streets Illegality Taskforce; and how she measures that effectiveness.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
At the Autumn Budget 2025, the Chancellor announced the creation of a dedicated cross-government taskforce to tackle money laundering and associated criminality on our high streets.
The Taskforce is currently being established. It will develop an intelligence-led understanding of the threat, design systemic interventions to disrupt money laundering and related criminality and set strategic priorities for future operational activity. Effectiveness will be assessed through systematic monitoring and evaluation of progress against its objectives. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Valuation Office Agency on the application of business rates to pubs and breweries.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I have regular discussions with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), who are responsible for independently valuing properties.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what process will her Department follow in order to set the visa allocations under the Seasonal Worker Scheme beyond 2026; and what factors will be considered when tapering the allocation.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting the UK Horticulture sector, but it is also important that the sector reduces its ongoing reliance on significant numbers of seasonal workers from overseas. Decisions on future allocations will take into account a broad range of factors including, current usage, steps taken to reduce ongoing reliance, such as the adoption of automative technology, and the ongoing costs of operating the route, including compliance and asylum costs.
The Home Office will work closely with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to determine future scheme allocations.