Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold on the ability of veterinary practices to recruit staff; and what appeals process is available where salary thresholds do not reflect local pay levels.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Practices sponsoring veterinarians for Skilled Worker applications post 22nd July 2025 will need to offer a salary of at least £49,500 to meet the requirements.
There are salary discounts available for “New entrants” at the start of their careers. If they meet any of these requirements then instead of the £49,500 salary requirement vets could qualify with a minimum pay of £34,600.
A technical annex (www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex) was published alongside the Immigration White Paper setting out the impact of some of the key policy changes.
The national salary thresholds are set at the median levels according to the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, and are in place to ensure that resident workers’ wages should not be undercut and also to protect overseas workers from being exploited as low-cost labour.
On 2 July we asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee to advise on future salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payments rate; and whether she plans to update that rate.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses). In considering potential changes to the AMAP/simplified motoring expenses rates, the Government would need to balance support for individuals with the responsible management of public finances which fund our essential public services.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the minimum salary requirement is for overseas-qualified veterinary surgeons to be eligible for Skilled Worker visas.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Practices sponsoring veterinarians for Skilled Worker applications post 22nd July 2025 will need to offer a salary of at least £49,500 to meet the requirements.
There are salary discounts available for “New entrants” at the start of their careers. If they meet any of these requirements then instead of the £49,500 salary requirement vets could qualify with a minimum pay of £34,600.
A technical annex (www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex) was published alongside the Immigration White Paper setting out the impact of some of the key policy changes.
The national salary thresholds are set at the median levels according to the Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, and are in place to ensure that resident workers’ wages should not be undercut and also to protect overseas workers from being exploited as low-cost labour.
On 2 July we asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee to advise on future salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support access to NHS prescriptions for people unable to operate online health services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
People who are unable to use online health services are still able to access the NHS via traditional routes. To get a prescription without online services, patients can visit their GP surgery and request a paper repeat prescription slip or fill out a form, or call their GP to request a telephone appointment to discuss their needs.
NHS England has successfully run several programmes to support patients, carers, and health service staff with their digital skills. These include:
- The Digital Health Champions programme, a proof of concept to support citizens who have no or low digital skills with understanding how to access health services online.
- The Widening Digital Participation programme, aimed to ensure more people have the digital skills, motivation and means to access health information and services online.
- The NHS App ‘Spoken Word’ Pilot project, designed to test the efficacy of promoting NHS digital health products and services in languages other than English.
We have also recruited over 2,000 NHS App ambassadors and 1,400 libraries to help people to learn how to use it.
NHS England has published a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion and is developing further resources to support practical actions. All programmes are actively considering how they can contribute to improvements in healthcare inequalities and digital inclusion.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to cash for disabled people who are not able to use cash machines.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals as a priority.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules ensure cash continues to be a viable method of payment for the millions of people who depend on it and help businesses to continue to accept cash by providing reasonable access to cash deposit facilities.
The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals who need face-to-face support with critical cash and in-person banking services. Over 180 Banking Hubs are already open across the UK.
The provision of cash machines (and their functions) is overseen by LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network. LINK provide a free cash locator tool on their website allowing consumers to find their nearest cash access points, including showing access points where audio assistance and wheelchair access is available. https://www.link.co.uk/cash-locator
The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the merits of implementing a national strategy to tackle (a) the sale of (i) illegal tobacco and (ii) vapes and (b) money laundering.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK Government has national strategies to curb the sale of illegal tobacco and combat money laundering, and is developing a robust compliance framework for the upcoming Vaping Products Duty.
In January 2024, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Border Force launched their latest illicit tobacco strategy, “Stubbing Out the Problem”. This builds on a series of previous strategies which, together, have contributed to a significant reduction in the tobacco duty tax gap, from 21.7% in 2005/06 to 13.8% in 2023/24. Tackling the trade in illicit tobacco requires a comprehensive, cross-government approach and the latest strategy is supported by over £100 million in new Smokefree funding over five years to further enhance enforcement capabilities to disrupt both supply and demand across the entire tobacco supply chain.
As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, Vaping Products Duty (VPD) will come into effect on 1 October 2026. In preparation HMRC is developing a comprehensive compliance strategy to address the illicit vaping market. This includes vaping duty stamps and enhanced enforcement powers. These measures will be implemented before the duty goes live and will form part of a cross-government enforcement approach supporting provisions in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
The Government’s approach to tackling money laundering is embedded within the Economic Crime Plan 2 (2023–2026). This plan sets out what the public and private sectors should do to continue to transform the UK’s response to economic crime, including money laundering. HMRC supports several of the actions in their plan, such as anti-money laundering supervisory reform and targeted intelligence and operational work on high-harm money laundering methodologies.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking (a) ensure the safeguarding of beagles at MBR Acres during periods of extreme warm weather and (b) phase out the use of dogs in clinical trials.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Licensed establishments are responsible for the welfare of animals in their care at all times, including during extreme weather. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), all such establishments must comply with legal requirements and standards set out in the Home Office’s published Operational Guidance and Code of Practice.
These documents require establishments to have contingency plans for temperature extremes to ensure animal welfare. Establishment licence holders must ensure sufficient trained staff are in place to maintain high standards of care and facility management.
Daily checks by competent personnel are mandated under Standard Condition 4 to monitor animal welfare and environmental conditions, with prompt action required to address any issues. Standard Condition 18 requires that any breaches or potential breaches of licence conditions be reported to the Secretary of State.
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) monitors compliance through regular audits, including both announced and unannounced visits, to assess animal welfare and adherence to ASPA.
The Government is committed to working towards a vision of phasing out the use of animals in science. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is engaging with stakeholders to finalise a strategy to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing which is scheduled for publication later this year.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average response time was to public complaints submitted to her Department in the last 12 months.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Performance against service standards in relation to replies to customer complaints for UKVI, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force (excluding His Majesty’s Passport Office) is available from published data and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of (a) UK-flagged and (b) EU member state-flagged fishing vessels were subject to port inspections in in Scotland in the last 12 months.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The regulation and oversight of port inspections in Scotland predominantly fall within the remit of the Scottish Government. As such, the Scotland Office does not hold the specific information requested. I recommend contacting the Scottish Government for further details on this matter.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the closure of the FA Futsal Committee on futsal governance in England; and if she will publish a long-term development strategy for the sport.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I recognise the passion within the futsal community in England and the importance of effective governance for the sport's development. Last year, the Football Association (FA), as the sport's National Governing Body, evolved its structure for futsal, integrating its oversight within the Football Development Committee and collaborating with "England Futsal" for delivery.
Ultimately, the governance and strategic direction of futsal in England, including its long-term development, are matters for the recognised National Governing Body to lead. The Government continues to observe their progress and engagement with the futsal community as they implement their plans for the sport.