Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Digital Services Tax; and whether she plans to review the rate at which it is set.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor and any changes will be announced at the budget in the usual way.

The Digital Services Tax is an interim solution to widely held concerns with the international corporate tax framework, and the UK remains committed to remove it once a global solution on the reallocation of taxing rights is in place.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of risk-stratified screening on improving early detection of prostate cancer.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), which advises ministers on all screening matters, commissioned an evidence review modelling the clinical effectiveness and cost of several approaches to prostate cancer screening. This included different potential ways of screening the whole population and targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher-than-average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.

The modelling and evidence review reports are now complete, and the UK NSC plans to open a three-month public consultation towards the end of the year. After this, the UK NSC will make a recommendation on screening for prostate cancer. Ministers will then be asked to consider whether to accept the recommendation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of late-night pharmacy provision in Newbury constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local authority health and wellbeing boards have a statutory responsibility to assess if local provision, including pharmacies’ opening hours, is adequate to meet local needs for pharmaceutical services and to publish their assessments every three years.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the business rates system from 1 April 2026 on businesses in the horseracing industry.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 - those with Rateable Values (RVs) of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Ahead of these changes being made, we recognise that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, the Government has prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and the Government has frozen the small business multiplier.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ending temporary business rates reliefs for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from 1 April 2026 on racehorse training yards.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 - those with Rateable Values (RVs) of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Ahead of these changes being made, we recognise that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, the Government has prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and the Government has frozen the small business multiplier.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for children with speech and language challenges in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department, in collaboration with NHS England, has extended the Early Language and Support for Every Child (ELSEC) programme to strengthen early identification and intervention for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in early years settings and primary schools.

Under the Best Start in Life strategy, the department is investing in evidence-based initiatives such as the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI), which has demonstrated significant impact on oral language and early literacy, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

Since 2021, English Hubs have delivered targeted professional development to enhance whole class early language provision, primarily in early years and key stage 1, with plans to expand support for reception classes.

Recognising the critical role of speech and language therapists, the department is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including speech and language therapy, for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending Orchestra Tax Relief to (a) vocal performance groups and (b) choirs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government supports the creative industries, including orchestras, through funding and through the tax system. To qualify for Orchestra Tax Relief, a concert must be performed by a group of at least 12 instrumentalists. The voice is not considered to be an instrument for these purposes. However, orchestra concerts with a vocal element are eligible for the relief providing that the orchestra also contains at least 12 instrumentalists, not including the voice, and the instrumentalists are the primary focus.

Vocal performance groups and choirs do not qualify for Orchestra Tax Relief since the scheme aims to support the cultural and distinct economic activity associated with orchestral concerts. We do of course recognise the benefits choirs and vocal performance groups offer to those who participate and who enjoy their performances.

When considering new tax reliefs, the Government takes into account a wide range of factors including costs, complexity, and fairness.

The Chancellor makes announcements on tax at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to ensure rural community owned businesses are included in the Small Business Strategy.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Small Business Plan outlines how we will make thriving small businesses a reality across the UK, whether across towns or countryside. Rural areas offer significant growth potential and fulfilling the needs of people and businesses in rural areas is at the heart of our policymaking.

The Plan was developed through engagement with a large number of key stakeholders and trade associations including roundtables with farms and community-based businesses.

The Government has made a commitment that all policy decision-making should be rural proofed, ensuring that all intended outcomes are deliverable in rural areas and include community-owned businesses.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) VAT and (b) business rates on the hospitality sector.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

In April 2026, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with ratable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible hospitality businesses, including pubs, benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, the Government prevented RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.

Business rates are a vital source of Local Government funding and support critical local services, including children's and adult social care. As such, the Government has no plans to abolish business rates for pubs.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption that applies to most goods and services.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to help support the financial needs of families, including their (a) eligibility for benefits and (b) access to childcare support.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Universal Credit is designed to be a flexible benefit which offers support for both those in and out of work. It provides an invaluable safety net for millions of customers through the standard allowance and additional elements.

The government recognises the value of this safety net to millions of people and has therefore legislated for the first ever sustained above-inflation uplift to the UC standard allowance.

In September we launched the Best Start in Life website for carers and parents, providing information on the government childcare offers available and an eligibility checker.

Independent, free and anonymous benefit calculators are available to help people check what benefits they may be entitled to. The calculators can be accessed on the Government website at: https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on improving rural broadband coverage for farming communities.

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

Defra officials are in regular contact with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and continue to work closely with the department on connectivity issues facing rural and farming communities. Project Gigabit is the Government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. This includes farms and other rural businesses.

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 improve access to specialist mental health support for farmers in rural areas.

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

Defra is supporting farmers’ access to specialist mental health services through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant, which is designed to offer tailored support as well as prevent further cases of poor mental health by helping to build resilience within farming communities.

The Department of Health and Social Care are investing to give mental health the same priority as physical health. This includes hiring 8,500 new mental health support workers to reduce delays and provide faster treatment closer to home, including in rural communities.

One recipient, the Farming Community Network, is using the funding to expand their FarmWell platform. This online resource provides free business and personal resilience advice on topics including mental health, isolation, depression and suicide.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Farming Resilience Fund in supporting farmer wellbeing.

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

An evaluation of the Farming Resilience Fund has been completed and is due for publication before the end of this year. The survey includes a question on impact of the scheme on farmers' wellbeing.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to review the effectiveness of the Childcare Funding system.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

We see the early years as more than just childcare and central to our mission to give every child the best start in life. The department is focused on reforming the childcare system to ensure it is fit for purpose, so children get the best start in life and that high quality early education is available to all who need it.

To ensure that the early years funding system is hardwired to support those children and parts of the country that have higher levels of additional need, the department will review early years funding, including the early years national funding formulae, consulting on a set of changes by summer 2026.

We will review how funding is distributed nationally and locally to ensure the funding system remains fair and effective at reflecting the costs of delivery and supporting those children and parts of the country that have higher levels of additional need. The department will set out full details in the consultation next year.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review inheritance tax reliefs for agricultural property.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This includes the largest financial investment into nature-friendly farming ever.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a rural community ownership fund.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department commissioned an evaluation of the Community Ownership Fund in May 2023 to measure the social and economic impacts of different kinds of asset ownership, which will conclude in March 2026.

Interim findings will be published in the coming months highlighting the impact of the funding. A final report will be published in Spring 2026.

The evaluation will assess the impact of assets across a range of different types of geography including assets based in rural areas.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of automated translation tools for use in the asylum decision making process.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not currently use AI or automation for interpreting or translation purposes.

The Home Office is currently exploring the technology landscape for translation and transcription solutions with the view to better understand the capabilities and their current maturity, along with the risks and benefits. The intent is to understand the feasibility and adequacy of utilising this type of technology to support processes within the Migration & Borders system. This exploration is also supportive of engaging with experts and academia to ensure a well-informed and evidence-based approach.

The Home Office is investing in innovative techniques, including AI, to explore how we can improve productivity, speed up processing the asylum backlog, streamline the provision of accommodation and support, and restore order in the asylum system. This will not be at the cost of compromising on accuracy due to the complexity and importance of asylum decisions.

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 the potential impact of the proposed Community Right to Buy on the establishment of community owned businesses.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, we are introducing a new community right to buy to give communities stronger powers to protect a range of assets which are important to them.

This will help to ensure that community owned businesses have the spaces they need to operate effectively, meeting the needs of the community and benefiting the local economy.

West Berkshire Toy Appeal

Britain’s canals and rivers

Newbury Velo at the 2025 British Cycling Awards

Safeguarding rural schools

Neurodivergent service personnel in the armed forces

Access to banks

Gambling executives' profits

Safeguarding pubs, brewers and one million jobs

Fly-tipping and illegal waste dumping by criminal gangs

National Tree Week 2025

UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement

UK Youth Parliament 2025

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on 20 November 2025

Tackling van and tool theft

50th Anniversary of women’s right to independent mortgages

110 years of the Women's Institute

UK access to the EU SAFE defence fund

World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2025

Accessible healthcare for deaf people and those with hearing loss

President Trump’s 20-point peace plan

Mouth Cancer Action Month

Support for the Shakespeare Curriculum Project

Water scarcity and agricultural reservoirs

Buying community energy locally

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Scientific hearing on animal experiments

Right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly

Local Housing Allowance

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025

Cancer waiting times

RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Units

Release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and the plight of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad

Support for the UK-Ukraine Trauma and Recovery Collaborative

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Family Business Week 2025

Conduct of Samir Zitouni and Stephen Crean on the 18.25 Doncaster to Kings Cross train on 1 November 2025

Affordable rail travel for over-30s

NHS Food Scanner App and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition Guidance

Taxi accessibility for disabled people

Protections for animals and people

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Will Stone;

Found: the meeting Members present: Bambos Charalambous (Chair); James Asser; Sir Christopher Chope; Mr Lee Dillon

Found: meeting Members present: Florence Eshalomi (Chair); Lewis Cocking; Andrew Cooper; Chris Curtis; Mr Lee Dillon

Found: College is located within his constituency, to inform him of the FE Commissioner’s findings: • Lee Dillon

Written Parliamentary Questions (WPQs) are an important tool for Members of Parliament to obtain detailed and targeted information to aid in the scrutiny of Government policy and operations. The long-established purpose of WPQs is to uphold transparency and accountability by ensuring that the Government provides clear and timely information to Parliament, and to the public via their publication.