Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential merits of limiting the permitted dates for consumer use of fireworks in order to reduce distress to animals and to people.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of limiting the permitted dates for consumer use of fireworks. However, the Government is continuing to engage with stakeholders including consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues of fireworks to inform any future action.

The Government also launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes guidance for those running community fireworks events, which encourages the use of low-noise fireworks and new social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure that individuals who have signed an S1 certificate and reside abroad are correctly recorded as non-resident for NHS purposes; and what measures are in place to prevent or recoup costs for any routine NHS treatment received in the UK by such individuals.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department publishes guidance for United Kingdom-issued S1 holders when moving and retiring abroad. UK-issued S1 holders should notify the relevant UK authorities, including their general practitioner, so their general practice registration can be removed. The full guidance can be found at the following link:

www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad

The S1 scheme is part of Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements between the UK and European Economic Area/Switzerland. In England, people with a registered UK S1 residing abroad are exempt from charging under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015 while on a temporary visit. The National Health Service is required to check for the S1 entitlement before applying this exemption. There are therefore no measures in place to prevent or recoup costs from people holding a UK-registered S1. In exchange for providing this additional benefit for UK S1 holders, the UK receives a discount to costs for their healthcare in the country where they live.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is to respond to the 2022 report on the maximum 10 percent commission charged on park home sales; and when his Department plans to open its further evidence-gathering process with the sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 63790 on 4 July 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the value of the Shule Bora Fund is; how much has been spent; and what the remaining balance will be spent on.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The total programme budget of the Shule Bora fund is around £70.7 million with a spend of around £42.4 million to date. The fund will continue to be spent on improving learning outcomes, training teachers, making schools safer and more inclusive, and supporting systemic reforms to ensure equitable access and quality education nationwide. Further information can be found on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's Development Tracker website.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential merits of creating a sick pay scheme for self-employed people.

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

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid for by employers and there is no mechanism to include the self-employed in SSP.

It is important to highlight that many self-employed people already choose to take out some form of insurance or income protection to financially support them during periods of sickness absence.

The Government does have a wider safety net to ensure self-employed people are supported through the welfare system. Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick and they require further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit and/or new style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), depending on their personal circumstances.

New Style ESA is an income-replacement benefit for people who are unable to work because of a health condition or disability and is not an in-work benefit. The aim of ESA is to provide support to individuals who are unable to work due to their disability or health condition, and to help them move towards employment if and when they are able to do so. Eligibility is dependent on satisfying the basic conditions of entitlement and contribution conditions.

St Mirren Football Club

Thanking postal workers

Found: of Conscience • Dan Carden: Guaranteeing the Right to Maintain Contact in Care Settings • Lizzi Collinge

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bill Esterson (Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Lizzi Collinge; Torcuil

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bill Esterson (Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Lizzi Collinge; Torcuil

Found: Ms Polly Billington (Labour; East Thanet) Sir Christopher Chope (Conservative; Christchurch) Lizzi Collinge

Found: Lizzi Collinge has joined us just in time.