Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the barriers faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in offering apprenticeship opportunities, and what steps are needed to address these.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 12 June 2026 to Question UIN 7073.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that apprenticeship reforms support employers and employer engagement, particularly in engineering and manufacturing sectors.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government is transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy in England, backed by £1 billion of additional investment, giving employers greater flexibility, including within the engineering and manufacturing sectors, creating more opportunities for young people, and directly supporting the Industrial Strategy.
In April 2026, we launched the first apprenticeship units focussing on priority sectors including in engineering and manufacturing. These short courses will help employers upskill their workforces quickly and flexibly.
Additionally, we have introduced new foundation apprenticeships, to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. The first foundation apprenticeships were focussed on industrial strategy and priority areas including engineering and manufacturing. They are underpinned by an employer incentive payment of £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career.
More widely, to support non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) to meet the additional costs associated with employing young apprentices, we are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on eligible 16–24-year-old apprentices, at all levels, as new employees.
The government will also fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers for all eligible young people aged under 25 from the next academic year, to boost small business starts. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16 to 21 and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of potential merits of releasing surplus Strategic Industrial Location at Park Royal for affordable housing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
No such assessment has been made by the government.
The use of Strategic Industrial Land in London is a matter for the Mayor of London and considered through his London Plan.
I understand that the Mayor intends to consult on a new draft London Plan in the near future.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of police misconduct proceedings being publicly available on police officer mental health.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the significant psychological demands of policing and is committed to ensuring officers are supported throughout their careers, from initial training through to retirement. The College of Policing sets clear standards for forces through the National Policing Curriculum for initial training. This includes required content on preparing officers for the operational and emotional demands of the role.
We are also taking further action through the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, including strengthening trauma prevention and early intervention and providing protected time for trauma and suicide prevention training for new recruits and supervisors to help build resilience and ensure officers receive the support they need throughout their careers.
While the Home Office is not undertaking research in this area directly, we continue to fund the College of Policing’s National Police Wellbeing Service, which works to develop and promote evidence-based approaches to psychological wellbeing and trauma support.
The presumption is that misconduct hearings, held for officers facing serious allegations of gross misconduct, should be open for the public and media to attend. This is in keeping with a general principle that discipline proceedings are as open, transparent and fair as possible for both the public and parties to the procedures.
However, by exception, misconduct hearings may be held in private, or reporting restrictions may apply when circumstances outweigh the public interest. This could be to protect sensitive operational or national security material or to safeguard individuals involved.
It is critical that officers involved in disciplinary procedures receive the support they need and that due process is maintained in accordance with principles of fairness and natural justice. The Police Reform White Paper commits to improving the consistency of wellbeing support across policing, including introducing more consistent wellbeing checks throughout officers’ careers to help identify and respond to wellbeing needs at an early stage.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research is being undertaken into building mental resilience and treating trauma in serving police officers.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the significant psychological demands of policing and is committed to ensuring officers are supported throughout their careers, from initial training through to retirement. The College of Policing sets clear standards for forces through the National Policing Curriculum for initial training. This includes required content on preparing officers for the operational and emotional demands of the role.
We are also taking further action through the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, including strengthening trauma prevention and early intervention and providing protected time for trauma and suicide prevention training for new recruits and supervisors to help build resilience and ensure officers receive the support they need throughout their careers.
While the Home Office is not undertaking research in this area directly, we continue to fund the College of Policing’s National Police Wellbeing Service, which works to develop and promote evidence-based approaches to psychological wellbeing and trauma support.
The presumption is that misconduct hearings, held for officers facing serious allegations of gross misconduct, should be open for the public and media to attend. This is in keeping with a general principle that discipline proceedings are as open, transparent and fair as possible for both the public and parties to the procedures.
However, by exception, misconduct hearings may be held in private, or reporting restrictions may apply when circumstances outweigh the public interest. This could be to protect sensitive operational or national security material or to safeguard individuals involved.
It is critical that officers involved in disciplinary procedures receive the support they need and that due process is maintained in accordance with principles of fairness and natural justice. The Police Reform White Paper commits to improving the consistency of wellbeing support across policing, including introducing more consistent wellbeing checks throughout officers’ careers to help identify and respond to wellbeing needs at an early stage.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that police officer initial training equips officers with adequate mental resilience.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the significant psychological demands of policing and is committed to ensuring officers are supported throughout their careers, from initial training through to retirement. The College of Policing sets clear standards for forces through the National Policing Curriculum for initial training. This includes required content on preparing officers for the operational and emotional demands of the role.
We are also taking further action through the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, including strengthening trauma prevention and early intervention and providing protected time for trauma and suicide prevention training for new recruits and supervisors to help build resilience and ensure officers receive the support they need throughout their careers.
While the Home Office is not undertaking research in this area directly, we continue to fund the College of Policing’s National Police Wellbeing Service, which works to develop and promote evidence-based approaches to psychological wellbeing and trauma support.
The presumption is that misconduct hearings, held for officers facing serious allegations of gross misconduct, should be open for the public and media to attend. This is in keeping with a general principle that discipline proceedings are as open, transparent and fair as possible for both the public and parties to the procedures.
However, by exception, misconduct hearings may be held in private, or reporting restrictions may apply when circumstances outweigh the public interest. This could be to protect sensitive operational or national security material or to safeguard individuals involved.
It is critical that officers involved in disciplinary procedures receive the support they need and that due process is maintained in accordance with principles of fairness and natural justice. The Police Reform White Paper commits to improving the consistency of wellbeing support across policing, including introducing more consistent wellbeing checks throughout officers’ careers to help identify and respond to wellbeing needs at an early stage.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of serving police officers have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not collect data on the number of police officers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Government recognises the significant psychological demands of policing and is committed to ensuring officers are supported throughout their careers.
Through the measures set out in the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, we are taking steps to strengthen support for the policing workforce, including improving wellbeing provision, embedding consistent wellbeing standards across policing and strengthening the delivery of the Police Covenant to ensure officers receive the support they need throughout their careers.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure the government's industrial strategy supports industry in Lancashire.
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 Government is ensuring its Industrial Strategy supports industry in Lancashire by aligning national priorities with local strengths in advanced manufacturing, defence, digital and clean energy sectors. This includes targeted investment in skills, innovation and infrastructure, alongside support for business growth and exports through the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) integrated Business Growth Service. DBT is working with local partners to deliver the Lancashire Growth Plan, strengthen connectivity to city regions and support high-growth firms, including midsized businesses, complemented by programmes like Made Smarter helping SMEs adopt advanced digital technologies and improving productivity, competitiveness and long term regional growth outcomes.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the he is taking to ensure the government's industrial strategy supports towns in the North of England.
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 Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy is a 10-year, place-based plan supporting towns across the North to grow and attract investment. It aligns with the Northern Growth Strategy, realising the potential of the North’s £476 billion economy and 8.1 million jobs.
Through the industrial strategy eight priority sectors—including clean energy, advanced manufacturing and defence—we are targeting investment and innovation where the North has clear strengths. We are working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities and local authorities to deliver local priorities, while improving skills, infrastructure and access to finance so that growth benefits towns and communities across the North.
Asked by: Jonathan Hinder (Labour - Pendle and Clitheroe)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the barriers to achieving the swift delivery of legal papers.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government recognises that the swift delivery of legal papers is fundamental to due process and in ensuring effective access to justice and procedural fairness.
In most circumstances, court procedure rules allow for the immediate service of documents by electronic means, such as email or uploading helping us to drive efficiencies through new technology. The Civil Auto File Share, for example, enables call handlers to access electronic court files in real time and provide informed responses instantly.
However, where other methods are used, manual administrative processes, incorrect contact information, and postal service delays can cause failure or delay in service. Our broader court reforms aim to tackle these kinds of inefficiencies. We are pulling every lever at our disposal – record financial investment, pragmatic structural reform, and a programme of efficiencies – to tackle the Crown Court backlog, reduce delays for victims, and modernise our criminal courts.
We are committed to building an efficient and dynamic system that is fit for the future.