Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority plans to (a) investigate and (b) report on whether all firms’ (i) flood and (ii) storm definitions comply with the Consumer Duty.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which is operationally independent from government. The FCA will respond to the Member by letter, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent VAT fraud by (a) misrepresentation and (b) impersonation.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Tax fraud undermines our economy, hurts legitimate businesses and robs our vital public services of much-needed funds. The Government is committed to tackling tax non-compliance through technology, operational interventions and policy change.

HMRC deploys advanced analytics and risk profiling to identify businesses that misrepresent their activities, turnover, or goods classification to gain VAT advantages, which are subject to targeted compliance interventions. The number of HMRC compliance officers will grow by an additional 5,500 by 2029/30 from July 2024 levels.

HMRC combines identity verification and registration checks using a range of risk indicators to prevent and detect impersonation. HMRC also uses a wide range of civil and criminal powers to tackle the criminal groups behind VAT fraud. The Government is investing to ensure HMRC can continue to improve resilience of its systems and improve the way customers engage securely with HMRC.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of lowering VAT on construction projects on town centre regeneration.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government supports town centre preservation and regeneration. In September, the Government launched an overarching Pride in Place programme, providing up to £5bn over 10 years to support almost 250 places. It will target investment to communities that need it most, addressing the visible decline on high streets and the wider public realm. Local areas will be able to invest in things like youth clubs, libraries, community grocers, cultural venues, and health and wellbeing services.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

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 impact of trends in the pace of the regeneration of empty buildings on high streets.

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

There are no plans to make such an assessment. However, MHCLG has commissioned a formal evaluation of the Future High Streets Fund as part of the wider Towns Fund evaluation. Emerging findings published in July 2025 include case studies on regeneration projects in Northallerton, Loftus and Yeovil, highlighting early process and impact insights on pride in place, well-being and economic growth. Final results are expected in Spring 2026.

The Government is committed to bringing empty buildings back into use, and is championing the use of High Street Rental Auctions by local authorities, a key tool to help reduce vacancy and make high streets more accessible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Independent Game Developers’ Association on the adequacy of the level of the Games Expenditure Credit for smaller studios.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector. DCMS have engaged with The Independent Game Developers Association, including through the industry-led UK Video Games Council, to discuss proposals for enhanced tax relief support for lower budget productions.

There are a multitude of factors to consider when deciding on new tax reliefs beyond return on investment and sector impact, and the government is committed to ensuring that all public money is spent and targeted effectively across the creative industries and wider economy.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of potential impact of the UK Games Fund on (a) employment, (b) investment, (c) studio formation and (d) IP development over the next 12 months.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DCMS commissioned an independent evaluation of the UK Games Fund (UKGF) by Alma Economics which was published on 18th July 2025. This evaluation assessed the fund’s impact between April 2022 and March 2025, as well as previous iterations of the programme since 2015.

The evaluation found that:

1. UKGF was estimated to contribute around 430 additional FTE jobs in the video games sector during the three years evaluated.

2. UKGF-funded companies surveyed leveraged an additional £18.2m in funding, which exceeds the total £13m invested into the fund.

3. On IP development, 74% of beneficiaries agreed or strongly agreed that their prototype or video game would not have been completed without UKGF support, which was associated with an eight-percentage-point increase in the probability of beneficiaries having developed a prototype or video game after one year of funding, compared to those who did not receive UKGF support.

The evaluation did not measure the fund’s impact on studio formation but, in response to interviews, some applicants commented that UKGF was well-targeted to smaller studios early in the development process, noting it as a critical funding source for games studios that had not yet made a game in full.

As part of the recently published Creative Industries Sector Plan, the government announced the £30 million Games Growth Package, including an expansion of the UKGF over the next three years. While we do not have an assessment of the fund’s impact over the next 12 months, it is anticipated that the programme will achieve greater impact with its increased funding.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussion she has had with the video games industry on the availability of business training for entrepreneurs in that sector.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The then Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism met with the newly formed Video Games Council in September where the availability of business training for entrepreneurs in the video games sector was discussed.

As noted in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the Video Games Skills Strategy is being developed and published in 2025 by a sector-convened UK Games Skills Network. This will build on findings from the Creative Industries Council Skills Audit, giving video games skills organisations and delivery partners a clear remit for tackling persistent skills gaps.

The Government looks forward to this important piece of industry-led work to assess sector needs, including in business training for entrepreneurs.

Currently, businesses are able to access Business & IP Centres, coordinated by the British Library, that provide businesses and entrepreneurs with access to IP knowledge, market intelligence, and support services, with locations across the UK.

As outlined in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the government will also work with industry to support sector training pathways through a new DCMS and Skills England led Creative Sector Skills Forum.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to amend regulations on luggage sizes for short haul air travel.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department is not currently planning to amend regulations on luggage sizes for short haul air travel. As the aviation industry in the UK operates almost entirely in the private sector, permitted luggage sizes are a commercial decision for each airline.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the cost of state pensions on other public spending priorities.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has published Spending Review 2025, which set departmental spending allocations consistent with the fiscal strategy set out at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. This will be updated at Autumn Budget 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered reviewing banding for vehicle excise duty based on emissions rather than registration date.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Different Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates apply to cars, vans, motorcycles and HGVs and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

Since 2001, the VED system has encouraged the uptake of cars with low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to help meet the UK's legally binding climate targets. Cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay VED annually according to CO2 emissions.

From 1 April 2017, new cars pay a variable first year rate according to the emissions of the vehicle, with the most polluting currently paying over £5,400, and zero emission models currently pay £10. After the first year, most cars move to a standard annual rate, currently set at £195.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set out the appointment process for the Permanent Secretary, Director of Government Communications.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The appointment process for the Director of Government Communications followed the process for Permanent Secretary recruitment set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles (here, paragraphs 44 - 47).

The role was advertised on Civil Service Jobs from 19 May to 15 June 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for civil servants to access the ill health retirement scheme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Department recognises the importance of timely access to ill health retirement and there is a process in place to ensure that members, employers, the scheme medical advisor and, where appropriate, the pension scheme administrator, all work together to complete this as quickly as possible.

Whilst there are indicative timelines for various steps, timelines may vary due to the complexity of each case and complex cases may take longer when external parties are also required to contribute to the process.

Employers and members have oversight of progress of their own individual cases and the Cabinet Office continues to monitor the contractual performance of the scheme medical advisor and the pension scheme administrator.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for the civil service ill health retirement scheme.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

Members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme are eligible for ill-health retirement benefits under the Scheme if the Scheme Medical Adviser is of the opinion that they have suffered a permanent breakdown in health involving incapacity for employment. The eligibility criteria was reviewed on the introduction of the Alpha scheme in 2015, and are consistent with those in other public service pension schemes.

The Cabinet Office regularly monitors ill-health retirement cases and currently 99.9% of quotes for ill health retirement are being issued within 10 days by the scheme administrator.

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 impact of property businesses that do not adequately renovate town centre commercial properties on economic growth.

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

There are no plans to make such an assessment. However, the National Planning Policy Framework supports the role of high streets and town centres, by expecting local plans to create a positive framework for their growth and adaptation.

This Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets. To address the blight of vacancy, the Government has implemented High Street Rental Auctions, which empowers local authorities in England to auction the lease of persistently vacant commercial high street properties.

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 proposals to introduce unitary government in Gloucestershire on democratic representation in towns with a population of more than 100,000 people.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Gloucestershire councils have not yet submitted their proposal(s) for local government reorganisation. They are due by 28 November. Once proposals are submitted, and following a statutory consultation, Ministers will carefully consider proposals against the criteria set out in the invitation letter sent to Gloucestershire councils on 6 February 2025, before a decision is taken on which proposal, if any, is implemented.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of self-driving taxis on local economies.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Automated Passenger Services permitting scheme, which was consulted on between July and September 2025, facilitates the deployment of self-driving bus-, taxi- and private hire-like services. Pilot deployments under this scheme, which will be in place from Spring 2026, are anticipated to be in specific locations and small in scale. Over this initial period, the economic impact is anticipated to be small. Pilot deployments will contribute to government’s understanding of the economic impact of these services, including their relationship with existing modes of transport.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to harmonise tax rates on gambling on jobs in horse racing.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Future proposals on gambling duties are a matter for HMT. Should changes to the tax regime be announced in the Autumn Statement, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the video games industry on the number of vocational qualifications for 16 to 18 year olds.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Students deserve high-quality qualifications that meet their needs. The department continues to develop and improve qualifications so that they meet the needs of students and employers.

The Digital Software Development T Level provides young people with the core knowledge and skills for a career in software production and design, including in games design and development.

We will consider how to continue to improve the quality of qualifications available to students, including on games design, in the light of the recommendations from the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and will engage with employers and sector organisations on this in due course. The Curriculum and Assessment Review will publish recommendations in autumn 2025.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the 50 PLUS: Choices scheme.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Since the launch of the Midlife MOT, we have reached older people through multiple channels to help them assess their health, finances and skills.

The Private Sector Midlife MOT pilot programmes concluded at the end of June 2024 and the evaluation can be found here: Private Sector Midlife MOT Pilots qualitative research interim findings - GOV.UK. The evaluation report on the JCP Midlife MOT was published in September 2025: Jobcentre Plus Midlife MOT qualitative research - GOV.UK. We have other evaluation work in progress covering a range of 50 plus policies, with a synthesis of evaluation findings which we are currently planning to publish next year.

Our new Jobs and Careers service will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and help them progress in work or increase their earnings. The Jobs and Careers Service will incorporate principles of accessibility and inclusivity, acknowledging diverse support needs, including those of older individuals.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) bringing forward legislative proposals to charge interest on outstanding debts of child maintenance of more than a year's standing and (b) ensuring that outstanding debts are paid by his Department to the parent with care.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Where a paying parent fails to pay on time or in full, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) aims to take immediate action to recover the debt and re-establish compliance.

If the paying parent is employed, the CMS will request that ongoing child maintenance payments be deducted directly from their salary. The CMS also has a range of other enforcement powers that can be used against those who consistently refuse to meet their obligations to provide financial support to their children, including deducting maintenance from a wide range of bank accounts. The CMS can also use further measures, including using Enforcement Agents to take control of goods, disqualification from driving or commitment to prison, and disqualification from holding or obtaining a UK passport.

Interest is not charged to outstanding debts. However, the CMS imposes enforcement fees to incentivise paying parents to meet their obligations voluntarily. If a parent fails to pay through a voluntary arrangement (like Direct Pay), the CMS may switch the case to Collect and Pay, which includes a 20% surcharge for the paying parent.

The CMS is committed to ensuring all separated parents within the statutory scheme support their children financially and will continue to pursue unpaid child maintenance debt, including deducting payments from pensions income.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times a court has cited Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights as a reason for non-deportation in the last 12 months; and if she will provide a breakdown of those instances by level of court.

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

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the severity modifier criteria on access to drugs for cancer patients.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been monitoring the impact of the severity modifier since it was implemented in 2022. Data up to March 2025 shows that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher (85%) than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced (75%) and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher (81% compared to 69%).

Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed, including treatments for advanced breast cancer (such as Truqap and Korserdu), which are now available to eligible National Health Service patients.

The severity modifier is therefore working as intended and there are currently no plans to adjust or change it in the near future. However, NICE has commissioned research on people’s attitudes to how the severity modifier should be applied that will inform future reviews of NICE’s methods.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of NICE's decision to restrict secondary breast cancer patient's access to Enhertu on the grounds of patient wellbeing.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes independent, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service in England on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded for eligible patients based on an evaluation of clinical and cost effectiveness.

NICE has recommended Enhertu, also known as trastuzumab deruxtecan, for use in the Cancer Drugs Fund for the treatment of women with HER2-positive secondary breast cancer and it is now available for the treatment of eligible patients while further data on its effectiveness is being collected that will inform a NICE decision on routine funding.

NICE published guidance in July 2024 on the use of Enhertu for the treatment of HER-2 low metastatic and unresectable breast cancer and was unfortunately unable to recommend it for routine NHS funding. I understand that NICE and NHS England have sought to apply as much flexibility as they can in their considerations of Enhertu for HER2-low breast cancer and have made it clear to the companies that their pricing of the drug remains the only obstacle to access.

Ministers met with the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo in November 2024, to encourage them to re-engage in commercial discussions with NHS England. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. NICE’s guidance published in July 2024 will therefore remain unchanged. NICE has reassured me that the door remains open for the companies to enter into a new NICE appraisal if they are willing to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price.

Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed. These treatments are now available to eligible National Health Service patients.

Lions at Large

Gloucestershire Tech Week

National inquiry into child sexual exploitation

Government proposals for mandatory digital ID

Motor neurone disease

Elon Musk at the Unite the Kingdom rally

Equitable national prostate cancer screening

Naloxone

Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain

Found: dated 06/10/2025 from Graeme Reynolds, Director, Competition and Interim Director, Insurance, to Max Wilkinson