Lillian Jones

Our Plan for Small Business, published in July, places high streets at the centre of economic renewal, recognising them as vital centres of growth, employment and local identity. This plan, alongside MHCLG’s Pride in Place Strategy, reflects the role of communities and local leaders in shaping their high street environments.

Co-operatives, Mutuals and the wider social economy combine entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to supporting workers and communities. That is why we are committed to doubling the size of the Co-operative and Mutuals sector; benefitting both high streets and other business environments.

At Budget 2025, DBT launched a Call for Evidence on business support for Co-operative and Non-Financial Mutuals that runs until 18 February: Business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals - GOV.UK.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

The UK and the EU share the common commitment to tackling deforestation in supply chains. We recognise the need to take action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation, and we will set out our approach to addressing this in due course.

Improving the performance of our railways, including by delivering the biggest overhaul of the railway sector in a generation, is a top priority for this Government.

I have been clear with operators and with Network Rail that I will not tolerate poor performance while we rewire the system to work in the interest of passengers.

Ministers continue to meet with Managing Directors of Train Operating Companies and their Network Rail counterparts to assess their performance, and we will not hesitate to demand immediate action to raise standards.

At Spending Review 2025, the Department for Transport received a real-terms capital funding increase of £1.7 billion between 2023-24 and 2029-30 to support economic growth through transport infrastructure.

The Scottish Government received an uplift in its Barnett funding from the increased investment by the UK government.

As transport is a devolved policy area, it is for the Scottish Government to determine its own transport funding and how that will deliver economic growth in Scotland.

The Government recognises that credit, when provided responsibly, can be crucial for people facing unexpected expenses or managing their cash flow. That is why it is committed to expanding access to affordable credit, so that everyone has the opportunity to access products and services which support their financial wellbeing and goals.

HM Treasury regularly engages with the banking and mutuals sector — which includes building societies — to discuss a range of policy matters, including provision of affordable credit. It has sought to understand the current barriers faced by the mutuals sector and to identify further opportunities for growth, acknowledging the sector’s valuable role in providing affordable credit.

In addition to continuing to engage with the banking and mutuals sector, HM Treasury will assess the provision of affordable credit more broadly as part of the financial inclusion strategy work announced last year.

We are committed to ensuring the Defence industry is a powerhouse for economic growth through strengthened industrial relationships and domestic investment. As published in the UK Defence Footprint Scotland has seen £2.1 billion of Defence spending in 2024-25. We have committed £6 billion this Parliament towards munitions, as outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, which supports defence capacity whilst generating local jobs and economic prosperity. This investment includes £1.5 billion for building six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK to deliver an 'always on' pipeline, locations and arrangements of which are being assessed through ongoing work. Whilst the secretary of state announced a list of sites under consideration on 19 November, it is currently premature to finalise specific site proposals and their assessment, more detail will be available once the necessary preparatory work has been completed.

The UK is a world leader in military rehabilitation and provides a comprehensive tiered rehabilitation service for Armed Forces personnel extending from the more minor to the most severe injuries.

The medical entry standards for Armed Forces applicants were updated in August 2024 following an intensive period of review of undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel and the recruiting agencies.