Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will amend the Financial Promotions Order to remove the exemption for self-certified sophisticated investors.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The financial promotion regime includes a number of targeted exemptions that are designed to reduce regulatory burdens, including for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to raise capital through sophisticated private investors.

The previous government brought forward proposals to amend the exemptions for self-certified sophisticated investors and high-net-worth individuals, which came into effect in January 2024. Those reforms aimed to strike a balance between increasing consumer protection and preserving the ability of SMEs to raise capital.

However, following significant concerns having been raised about the impact of these changes on SMEs raising capital, the previous Chancellor announced at Spring Budget 2024 that the government would legislate to reinstate the previous eligibility criteria. Those changes came into effect on 27 March 2024.

The Government has no plans to remove the exemption for self-certified sophisticated investors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of whether the recent presidential election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was conducted in a free and fair manner.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state.

We respect the right of the Turkish Cypriot community to choose their representatives in the UN-led settlement process, and we engage with Turkish Cypriot representatives under our non-recognition policy to support the UN-led settlement process. I will meet Mr Erhürman at the next informal UN-led talks to support momentum towards a just and lasting settlement. We followed his recent leadership election and are not aware of any evidence of irregularities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to meet the newly elected President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state.

We respect the right of the Turkish Cypriot community to choose their representatives in the UN-led settlement process, and we engage with Turkish Cypriot representatives under our non-recognition policy to support the UN-led settlement process. I will meet Mr Erhürman at the next informal UN-led talks to support momentum towards a just and lasting settlement. We followed his recent leadership election and are not aware of any evidence of irregularities.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Found: Phil Brickell; Dan Carden; Richard Foord; Uma Kumaran; Abtisam Mohamed; Edward Morello; Sir John Whittingdale

Found: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour; Sheffield Central) Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat; West Dorset) Sir John Whittingdale

Found: Fleur Anderson; Aphra Brandreth; Phil Brickell; Dan Carden; Richard Foord; Uma Kumaran; Sir John Whittingdale

Found: If you would bear with me—I just love this quote —in 2015 John Whittingdale asked the Office of Tax