Mike Martin

The Department for Business and Trade has responsibility for the National Investigation Service, given it is overseen by the Insolvency Service. As a result, the Crown Prosecution has made no assessment of the adequacy of the National Investigation Service.

Since the commencement of Covid-related investigations, the National Investigation Service has opened 254 criminal cases into alleged Bounce Back Loan fraud, with 131 cases currently ongoing.

We remain committed to tackling fraud and are working closely with the National Investigation Service and the Insolvency Service to ensure that cases are managed effectively. The Department for Business and Trade is considering a range of options for the transfer of cases, and further decisions will be made, guided by the latest information and statistics on the current caseload and enforcement activity.

The Department for Business and Trade does not maintain a central record of complaints specifically about the National Investigation Service (NATIS).

While no formal complaints have been received directly by the Department, NATIS has been the subject of various Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests, indicating a level of interest.

In July 2025, the Department supported a response to a written complaint submitted to the Insolvency Service which included concerns about NATIS.

All correspondence is handled in line with established procedures to ensure appropriate and consistent responses.

On 12 October 2023, the Public Sector Fraud Authority were requested to undertake a formal operational review of National Investigation Service, with a primary purpose to focus on performance. The review team included experts from the National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Government Internal Audit Agency, and NHS Counter Fraud Authority.

The review report was provided to DBT on 17 November 2023 and made recommendations to prevent future risk of secondments lapsing and appropriate governance.

There have been no other formal audits or reviews undertaken by the Public Sector Fraud Authority into National Investigation Service.

At the time of the Spring Statement 2022 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) had commissioned and managed NATIS to undertake potentially fraudulent covid loan investigations.

Through the Machinery of Government changes accountability for NATIS passed to DBT in February 2023. Financial, Commercial and Security due diligence was completed by DBT in preparation for the contract that commenced April 2024.

NATIS was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), subsequently The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in September 2020 to undertake investigations into potentially fraudulent activity by recipients of loans under the Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The contract was renewed effective from 1^st April 2024.

The Government provides fiscal incentives to encourage businesses to install rooftop solar, such as through tax relief and business rate exemptions. Through permitted development rights, there is no limit to the capacity of a commercial solar installation, although prior approval is required for installations greater than 50kW.

The forthcoming Solar Roadmap will set out recommendations on how the Government and industry will work together to achieve the ambition to radically increase the UK’s solar capacity by 2030 including for non-domestic solar.

Energy suppliers are best placed to advise on suitable tariffs for households affected by the switch-off of RTS, including those with Economy 10 electricity tariffs.

Ofgem is consulting on plans to introduce new RTS licence conditions for energy suppliers, one of which states that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a tariff that leaves their customers ‘no worse off’ than previously once their RTS meter is replaced.

Energy suppliers are contacting all households with RTS meters and Ofgem is encouraging customers to book an appointment to ensure they are provided with a replacement meter ahead of the switch-off.

Most reforms to the Electronic Communications Code through the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 have already been implemented. Government is committed to implementing the remaining provisions as soon as possible.

A technical consultation on provisions from the Act that - when commenced - make changes to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 is open until 2 July. We expect to publish a response to this consultation later this year. The exact timeframe depends on the responses to the consultation and issues raised.

While there is no legal requirement for online games to display ratings, most major storefronts require the display of PEGI ratings. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with the Games Rating Authority in the UK to promote and encourage the display of age ratings online.

We expect all platforms, including user-to-user games services in scope of the Online Safety Act, to comply with the law. This currently requires all user-to-user and search services to have systems and processes in place to remove illegal content, and in the coming months, to protect children from harmful content.

The government keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

The Online Safety Act will place strict ‘illegal content’ duties on online platforms to protect children from being groomed by online predators, and to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse content on their services.

Ofcom sets out steps providers can take for these duties in draft codes of practice. It can assess the merits of any proposed measures for its codes, including those that relate to VPNs. The first codes for the ‘illegal content duties’ came into force in March 2025 and Ofcom has said it will develop these iteratively.

The Competition and Markets Authority launched a Strategic Market Status designation investigation in January on both Apple and Google’s position in mobile ecosystems. This investigation is independent to Government and will also include the consideration of in-app purchase fees and conditions. The CMA have consulted on the scope of this investigation and is gathering evidence before publishing a provisional Strategic Market Status designation decision in July.

This is an issue the Government takes very seriously. The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated, for all customers across the UK.

I chaired two roundtables with communication providers on this issue in September and November 2024, which included BT. Major communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, and the Government secured further commitments to protect vulnerable customers during the PSTN migration in November 2024. DSIT officials regularly meet, with signatories of the PSTN charters, including BT, to monitor how they are meeting the safeguards. This includes discussions on the speed of the rollout.

The Department has acknowledged that customers who may be considered vulnerable in the context of the digital switchover may require additional support. A definition of vulnerable customers was published in November 2024. It includes those who are telecare and other social or medical alarm users. Any customer, including the elderly, can also self-identify as requiring additional support.

In February 2024, the Intellectual Property Office published independent research examining the potential economic impact of equitable remuneration on performers and the music market in the UK. The research found that applying the ‘broadcast model’ of equitable remuneration to music streaming would likely be disruptive for the music industry with a high likelihood of damaging unintended consequences, which could impact some creators. This Government does not intend to make a further assessment of the merits of the ‘broadcast model’.

This Government recognises the importance of ensuring that music creators are fairly compensated for their work. We are engaging with stakeholders from across the music industry, including streaming platforms, music creators and record labels, through a creator remuneration working group. The working group aims to drive industry-led action on music streaming remuneration and will meet for the fifth time in the coming weeks.

The Government is aware of issues relating to the life-span of digital content, including video games, and we appreciate the concerns of players of some games that have been discontinued. We have no plans to amend existing consumer law on digital obsolescence, but we will monitor this issue and consider the relevant work of the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) on consumer rights and consumer detriment.

Video games sellers must comply with existing consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). However, there is no requirement in UK law for software companies to support older versions of their products. Decision-making is for those companies, taking account of commercial and regulatory factors and complying with existing consumer law.

There may be occasions where companies make decisions based on the high running costs of maintaining older servers for games with declining user bases. If software is offered for sale that is not supported by the provider, then this should be made clear, for example on product webpages and physical packaging.

The Government is keeping an open mind about the future of the licence fee, and firmly believes that the unique obligations placed on the BBC demand continued, sustainable public funding to support its vital work.

There are a range of alternatives and we are thinking creatively about options for the future, to ensure we future-proof our national broadcaster for many years to come. The Government will be taking forward the question of how the BBC is funded as part of the Charter Review process.

Non-medical help hourly rates, together with any awards for travel, accommodation, or other costs, are supplied in the student’s entitlement letter, which outlines approved support. Additionally, the full breakdown of equipment costs is detailed in the needs assessment report, and students are entitled to request a copy of this report at any time. This means that students can see the costs associated with each element of their Disabled Students' Allowance support.

Student Finance England (SFE) is part of the Student Loans Company (SLC). The SLC is a wholly owned government company which delivers student finance services to students on behalf of the four UK Governments (the shareholders).

The department is responsible for oversight of the SLC, and my noble Friend, the Minister for Skills meets regularly with the SLC chair and chief executive. Alongside the other shareholders, the department sets key performance targets in the SLC Annual Performance and Resource Agreement. These targets include measures for customer service and satisfaction and are monitored at the SLC Board and through Board committees. The department and the shareholders scrutinise data relating to the quality of customer experience, including call response times and contact resolution.

Since the 2022/23 financial year the SLC has invested in improving its digital platforms for students and customers. Customers now have a variety of options to contact the SLC, including online account interactions, virtual assistants, live chat, social media and by telephone or in writing.

The SLC reports on customer satisfaction targets for applicants, students, sponsors, and customers in its Annual Report and Accounts. The most recent publication can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/slc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024/slc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024.

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

The department does not prevent early education and childcare providers from charging parents for hours that are additional to any government funded early education place to which they are entitled. These are a private transaction between parents and their provider.

However, where providers agree to offer early education entitlements places that are funded by the taxpayer, it is a statutory requirement that those places must be available free of charge to parents. This means that mandatory charges associated with entitlements places are not permitted, and this was confirmed by the High Court in February this year. However, as departmental statutory guidance sets out, providers may offer and charge parents for food and extras, such as nappies, on an optional basis.

Next year alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements. This is a more than 30% increase compared to 2024/25.

The government is delivering the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% to up to £570 per eligible child per year.

The department has confirmed funding rates for 2025/26 and announced a new £75 million expansion grant to support providers to deliver the additional staff and places required for next September.

A further £37 million of capital funding has been allocated to create or expand 300 school-based nurseries.

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

Parents are free to choose the childcare that is right for them and their children, and childminders are not prevented from caring for related children. Funding made available for the entitlements to early education for children aged 9 months to 4 years-old, however, cannot be claimed by, or spent on, childminders providing childcare for related children.

This restriction for local authority funding relatives is set out in the Childcare Act (2006). Section 18(4) of the 2006 Act specifically excludes care provided for a child by a parent or other relative, and section 18(8)(c) of the 2006 Act states that a relative, in relation to a child, means “a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership”.

Successive governments have taken this same approach to avoid creating an incentive for adults to register to become childminders and being paid to look after related children that they are already looking after on an informal basis. Allowing childminders to receive funding for looking after related children would not be an effective use of public money and may have a negative impact on the viability of existing childcare businesses. For this reason, we have no plans to change this long-standing position at this time.

Although childminders cannot receive entitlements funding for related children, flexibilities within staff to child ratios can be used to allow childminders who are caring for related children to avoid limiting the income they can earn.

The government is aware of the financial challenges currently affecting the higher education (HE) sector. The department is aware that some providers, including the University of Kent and the Canterbury Christ Church University, are making difficult decisions around staffing in order to safeguard their financial sustainability. As independent entities, universities are responsible for pay and provision of staff, and the government does not have a role in intervening. However, we expect providers to work with staff, using their knowledge and experience to help identify how best to operate efficiently. All efficiency measures taken by the sector should provide a better long-term future for staff, students and the country.

This government is determined to build a HE system fit for the future. Ministers and departmental officials remain dedicated to engaging with the Office for Students, HE unions, the employer body and the wider sector. Regular discussions are being held to gain a deeper understanding of the issues impacting HE providers, students and staff, and to develop our plans for HE reform, which will be announced in summer 2025.

The Government secured a record £104 billion of private investment into the water sector that will provide infrastructure including 9 new reservoirs and waste water treatment works across the country. This will support the building of 1.5 million new homes and new businesses including data centres and giga factories that will power economic growth, new jobs and higher wages. Our new Water Delivery Taskforce will ensure this vital infrastructure is delivered on schedule.

Responsibility for horticulture is a devolved matter and, as such, is a matter for the Welsh Government to consider in Wales.

We recognise the importance of our domestic growers who play a vital role in our food security, economy and rural communities. In England our approach to future funding for horticulture will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.

Horticulture will also be considered within our new food strategy, which will make our food system one we can be proud of, that protects our strong British traditions, helps to grow the economy and improves people’s health.

Underlining this commitment to our growers, we have provided a five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, giving farms certainty to grow their businesses. In the last month, we have also announced new grants within the Farming Innovation Programme, worth a combined £45.6 million, to support projects across the research and development (R&D) lifecycle. Horticulture has been in scope of this Programme with over £40 million awarded to the sector to date.

Local authorities are the regulators for private water supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has information about private water supplies on their website, some of which covers private supply networks.

Nature and catchment-based solutions in the water sector have an important role to play. Natural flood management (NFM) is a key part of our approach to mitigating flood risk, and can involve floodplain meadows when designed and located appropriately

Natural England support the role of nature-based solutions (NBS), like water meadows in resolving multiple pressures on the water environment. NBS are a core pillar of Natural England’s five-year aims.

The Environment Agency is increasingly looking to nature to enhance ecosystem services, reduce risks, and build resilience in rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. Using NBS involves protecting existing natural functions, restoring ecosystems, and recreating landscapes. NBS benefit wildlife, food security, and resilience to floods and droughts. Restoring floodplains and water meadows reduces pollution from intensive agriculture while improving aquifer recharge, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity (CIEEM, 2022). Projects like Mires for Moors show how peatland restoration and upland reforestation reduce runoff, prevent sewer overflows, and mitigate flooding, as seen in the Ullswater Catchment.

On 23 October, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system, to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

The scope of the commission is detailed in its terms of reference, available on GOV.UK. It includes specific mention of enabling the greater use of nature-based solutions where these represent good value for money.

The commission will provide a report to the Government by Q2 2025 with recommendations to the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers. Once the commission has made recommendations, both Governments will respond and consult on proposals, including potential legislation.