Liz Jarvis

The Government is committed to tackling the challenges women face in the labour market, whether they want to find a job, return to work, or progress in-work. We are driving this forward through the support measures in the Employment Rights Bill, Make Work Pay and the Get Britain Working White Paper. We are making flexible learning a Day One right, opening up access to childcare with £8 billion investment to roll out further free hours, and tackling the gender pay gap to ensure women are paid fairly.

Reducing victim attrition remains a serious concern for this Government. We are committed to improving the experiences of victims of rape and sexual violence and ensuring they receive the support they need to continue with their cases.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that it has a key role to play in ensuring that victims receive better communication and support at both the pre- and post-charge stages, underpinned by timely and high-quality decision making.

Through its Victim Transformation Programme, the CPS is taking action to improve the service offered to all victims of crime. As part of this work, all adult victims of rape now receive an Enhanced Service – which includes access to a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer, as well as the offer of a pre-trial meeting with the prosecution team. Victims are also able to speak with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, who can answer questions and signpost them towards relevant support services.

More broadly, in May 2025, the CPS published its Victim Service Standards, which publicly set out the expectations CPS staff should meet when writing to or speaking with victims. The Standards make clear that victims can expect consistency, empathy and clarity from the CPS.

The two tables below show the overall volumes of prosecutions conducted by the CPS since 2021 for (1) rape flagged cases, and (2) cases where the principal offence category was ‘sexual offences’ (excluding rape flagged cases to avoid double counting).

For each category, the tables also provide the volume of victim attrition (the number of prosecutions that were stopped because the victim no longer supported, or was unable to support, the prosecution) and the rate of victim attrition (the proportion of total prosecutions that were discontinued for this reason).

Further information is available in the quarterly data published on the CPS website: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-quarterly-data-summaries

Table 1: Victim attrition in rape flagged prosecutions

Table 2: Victim attrition in prosecutions for Sexual Offences (excluding rape flagged prosecutions)

We have agreed to work towards the association of the UK to the EU Erasmus+ programme. We are taking forward the next stage of negotiations on the clear mutual understanding that the UK will only associate to Erasmus+ on terms that provide value for money for the UK taxpayer. The timelines for any association will be subject to further discussion as part of these negotiations.

The Government recognises the vital role that night-time venues, including those in Eastleigh constituency play in supporting local economies.

In April, the Government established the Licensing Taskforce, bringing together representatives from the hospitality industry to help shape reform. The Government’s response, published on 31 July, set out proposals for a new National Licensing Policy Framework designed to simplify outdated licensing rules and protect long-standing venues from noise complaints, which are particularly relevant to the night-time economy.

Additionally, we are reforming the business rates system to support high street investment, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000.

The Government published its Small Business Plan in July 2025 delivering the most comprehensive package of support for small and medium sized businesses in a generation

The Plan outlines a series of actions, including unlocking access to finance, ending the scourge of late payments and revitalising high streets. It was developed through engagement with businesses and drew on a significant body of evidence and research. The Intuit report referenced was published after the Plan’s launch.

We will continue to monitor delivery of the Small Business Plan and work with businesses as we implement it, alongside the Modern Industrial and Trade Strategies.

Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the independent regulator for the postal sector.

It is for Ofcom to decide how to respond should Royal Mail fail to meet its obligations. While the government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions, in January, I met with representatives from Ofcom to discuss the importance of Royal Mail’s quality of service performance.

The government expects that Ofcom will continue to closely monitor Royal Mail’s performance and take action where appropriate.

We recognise the vital role hospitality businesses play in driving economic growth and strengthening community cohesion across the country.

We plan to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, we have reduced alcohol duty on qualifying draught beer products, saving the sector over £85 million annually. We’ve introduced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council priorities, such as supporting initiatives like Pub is The Hub to encourage local investment. We have also launched a licensing taskforce to cut red tape and remove barriers to business growth.

There is a cross-Government programme of work to tackle unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters and associated products such as lithium-ion batteries, involving the Office for Product Safety and Standards in my Department, and the Department for Transport, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. DBT is not responsible for regulations covering the storage of electric vehicles. The Government’s Buy Safe, Be Safe campaign contains vital safety advice for consumers where these products are kept in the home.

The UK has huge potential for solar power, and the Government is committed to working with industry to radically increase our existing solar capacity, through a variety of methods, to meet the targets set out in the Clean Power Action Plan. Plug-in solar provides an opportunity for households to adopt solar more cheaply. The recently published Solar Roadmap includes an action for the Government to conduct a safety study this year. This safety study is currently out to tender, and the results will determine how we can progress with this work, with the aim of unlocking opportunities for plug-in solar in the near future.

Maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for Government. DESNZ work closely with the energy industry to ensure robust response plans are in place to mitigate the impacts of energy disruption. These emergency procedures and protocols are set out in the National Emergency Plan for Downstream Gas and Electricity which is available on the GOV.UK website.

We recognise that bills going up will be worrying news for families. The reason for the increase to the price cap is due to an increase in wholesale energy costs which are influenced by international energy markets which we cannot control. This is why our Clean Power 2030 Mission is so vital. In the short term, we are extending support to ballplayers through the expanded Warm Home Discount, and we are working with Ofgem to accelerate work on a potential energy debt scheme.

The Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.

The Government is receptive to representations regarding the BCSSS. I recently met with the Trustees of the Scheme to discuss their proposals, and will be discussing the matter with the Treasury in due course.

Unsolicited direct marketing calls are regulated by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), which are enforced by the Information Commissioner. The Commissioner has a range of investigatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to issue financial penalties. Details of enforcement actions are published at: https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/

Reforms introduced through the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 will give the Commissioner new powers, including the ability to impose higher maximum fines for infringements. The Commissioner will also be able to take enforcement action based on the volume of unsolicited direct marketing calls made—regardless of whether those calls are answered by the intended recipient —reflecting the potential risk of harm to consumers.

The Government has recently published the Creative Industries Sector Plan which will make the UK the number one place for creativity and innovation by 2035.

The plan includes a commitment that UKRI will lead efforts to increase public funding for the creative industries.

The plan identifies video games as a priority growth sector, with a new Games Growth Package worth £30 million over three years.

The Government’s consultation on copyright and AI, which closed on 25 February, specifically sought views on a proposal to require AI model developers to be more transparent about how they obtain and use copyright works in their training.

Our priority now is to review the evidence from the consultation which will inform the Government response, including any legislative proposals.

The government is implementing the Online Safety Act as quickly and effectively as possible, so children can be protected from criminal behaviour and harmful content online.

The illegal content duties are now in force, so platforms already need to act to protect their users.

The child safety duties will be in force from the Summer, at which point companies will need to further protect children from harmful content such as pornography, suicide and self-harm material.

DCMS closely monitors factors that may influence inbound tourism, including the cost of electronic travel authorisations (ETAs). We recognise the importance of balancing secure and efficient border processes with the need to remain competitive as a global tourism destination.

DCMS continues to engage with the Home Office to ensure that any changes to the cost of ETAs are proportionate and informed by robust evidence on their potential impact on our 50m inbound target. Supporting the UK's tourism industry remains a priority, and we will continue to review any challenges to its growth.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the nation following the Spending Review.

We will now work closely with sporting bodies - including the Lawn Tennis Association - and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England provides long term investment to the LTA, which receives up to £10.2 million for 5 years from 2022 to invest in tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit as many people as possible.

The Future of Cricket fund was publicly announced by the previous Government before the General Election but did not receive formal business case sign off nor any financial commitment.

Future funding of sports facilities will be considered as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector as part of the upcoming creative industries sector plan, having identified the creative industries as one of eight priority sectors in the industrial strategy.

We recognise the challenges faced by the video games sector, and the wider creative industries, when it comes to accessing finance. These challenges are outlined in the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre 2024 report on Growth Finance for the Creative Industries.

To address these issues at an early stage, the Government has announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26, which will provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop prototypes and new intellectual property, and run development programmes for new graduates. Previous independent evaluation found that UKGF programmes served a well-established and identifiable gap within the sector – the provision of early stage funding and support to companies and teams seeking to develop video games. DCMS has commissioned a further independent evaluation of the UKGF which will be published in due course.

Additionally, video games companies can benefit from Video Games Expenditure Credit, the UK Global Screen Fund, and access support from the Create Growth Programme.

In January 2025 we announced that the British Business Bank will increase its support for the creative industries, including video games, as an area of high growth potential as part of the Industrial Strategy. Further detail will be set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, to be published in the coming months.

The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector as part of the upcoming creative industries sector plan, having identified the creative industries as one of eight priority sectors in the industrial strategy.

We recognise the challenges faced by the video games sector, and the wider creative industries, when it comes to accessing finance. These challenges are outlined in the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre 2024 report on Growth Finance for the Creative Industries.

To address these issues at an early stage, the Government has announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26, which will provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop prototypes and new intellectual property, and run development programmes for new graduates. Previous independent evaluation found that UKGF programmes served a well-established and identifiable gap within the sector – the provision of early stage funding and support to companies and teams seeking to develop video games. DCMS has commissioned a further independent evaluation of the UKGF which will be published in due course.

Additionally, video games companies can benefit from Video Games Expenditure Credit, the UK Global Screen Fund, and access support from the Create Growth Programme.

In January 2025 we announced that the British Business Bank will increase its support for the creative industries, including video games, as an area of high growth potential as part of the Industrial Strategy. Further detail will be set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, to be published in the coming months.

The government remains committed to providing opportunities to study and work abroad, especially for those students from disadvantaged backgrounds. That is why we have agreed to work towards association to the Erasmus+ programme on much better financial terms for the UK. The Turing Scheme is now in its fifth year, with placements starting this September. Details on the future of the Turing Scheme will be shared in due course.

The department is committed to supporting diverse routes into higher education (HE). Students with qualifications other than A levels can progress to university, with many providers accepting these qualifications.

HE providers are autonomous institutions who set their own entry requirements, many with high or additional entry requirements for some courses. While the department cannot intervene in individual cases regarding university admission policies, we remain committed to supporting progression routes.

The department works closely with sector bodies such as UCAS and Universities UK, as well as individual providers, to ensure that admissions processes are inclusive and transparent. We also work with these bodies to ensure that T Levels are understood by universities as a high quality offer.

The department continues to monitor accessibility and outcomes for students entering via vocational routes and are funding initiatives to widen participation and improve support for all learners.

All 16 to 19 study programmes should be tailored to support students to progress to education at a higher level or into employment, or should prepare them for adult life.

These study programmes should include substantial qualifications that stretch students. Students who are not awarded 5 GCSEs may take other level 2 qualifications to prepare them for employment or further study.

Any student on a 16 to 19 study programme, who has not yet achieved an English and/or maths GCSE grade 4 or higher, must continue studying these subjects.

In the 2025/26 academic year, the department has increased 16 to 19 funding for English and maths delivery and to help with the additional costs associated with teaching and supporting students who have not yet achieved English and/or maths GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 by the end of year 11.

Statutory care planning guidance is clear that everything should be done to minimise school changes and ensure transitions are well-planned and supported. Where a change is unavoidable, the child’s Personal Education Plan should set out arrangements to reduce disruption, particularly during exams and other key periods in their education.

The government is introducing measures to rebalance the placement market, improve regulation and commissioning of placements, and bring greater visibility to the prices local authorities are paying. This includes addressing the barriers that prevent homes for looked-after children being established where they are needed.

Through the department’s Plan for Change, we’re investing £2 billion to give more children a safe, loving home, including expanding the children’s home estate, delivering more foster care placements and helping keep families together by providing targeted support before problems escalate.

These measures will mean more placements are available, allowing children to be placed closer to home and school when in their best interests.

High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child, in every region of the country, the best start in life.

In the 2025/26 financial year, the government has committed £27.7 million to support and drive high and rising standards in reading and writing. This summer, the department will publish a Writing Framework which will be a first step to support schools in delivering high-quality writing provision across England.

The department recognises the important work of organisations such as the National Literacy Trust in promoting reading and writing and will continue to engage with them on this important issue.