Mims Davies

Ministers within the Equalities portfolio regularly engage with their counterparts in other Government Departments on a range of matters.

This is in addition to officials within the Office for Equality and Opportunity working closely with those in the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the differing experiences and needs of women and LGBT+ personnel are reflected across their work, including ex-service personnel and veterans.

For example, women are a crucial part of this Government’s new Veterans’ Strategy with commitments including the establishment of a new women veterans’ forum, and an oral history project. Additionally, last year the Government launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK.

The Government has also been clear that historic treatment of LGBT+ veterans was a moral stain on our nation. The Ministry of Defence has already made substantial progress in delivering the Financial Recognition Scheme for veterans who served under, and were impacted by, the Ban on LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces. Decisions have been made on 78% of cases and over £54.6m paid out. We continue to take a proactive approach to ensure all affected veterans are made aware of the Schemes; working with local councils, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, charities and an external communications specialist.

Ministers within the Equalities portfolio regularly engage with their counterparts in other Government Departments on a range of matters.

This is in addition to officials within the Office for Equality and Opportunity working closely with those in the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the differing experiences and needs of women and LGBT+ personnel are reflected across their work, including ex-service personnel and veterans.

For example, women are a crucial part of this Government’s new Veterans’ Strategy with commitments including the establishment of a new women veterans’ forum, and an oral history project. Additionally, last year the Government launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK.

The Government has also been clear that historic treatment of LGBT+ veterans was a moral stain on our nation. The Ministry of Defence has already made substantial progress in delivering the Financial Recognition Scheme for veterans who served under, and were impacted by, the Ban on LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces. Decisions have been made on 78% of cases and over £54.6m paid out. We continue to take a proactive approach to ensure all affected veterans are made aware of the Schemes; working with local councils, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, charities and an external communications specialist.

Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010 permits the use of positive action measures to alleviate disadvantage experienced by people who share a protected characteristic, reduce their under-representation in relation to particular activities, and meet their particular needs. It allows measures to be targeted to particular groups, including internships and training, to enable them to gain employment.

Section 159 permits an employer to take a protected characteristic into consideration when deciding whom to recruit or promote, where people who hold the protected characteristic are at a disadvantage or are under-represented. This can only be done where the candidates are as qualified as each other. The question of whether one person is as qualified as another is not a matter only of academic qualification, but a judgement based on the criteria the employer uses to establish who is best for the job. This could include matters such as suitability, competence and professional performance. Section 159 does not allow employers to have a policy or practice of automatically treating people who share a protected characteristic more favourably than those who do not have it in these circumstances; each case must be considered on its merits.

Any action taken in light of either Section 158 or 159 must be a proportionate means of addressing such disadvantage or under-representation. The Equality Act 2010 provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society which make it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity. Guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. There are currently no plans to issue further guidance on positive action.

The Department for Education is working on a number of initiatives and schemes to provide young people with a clear progression into further work-based training and employment.

Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010 permits the use of positive action measures to alleviate disadvantage experienced by people who share a protected characteristic, reduce their under-representation in relation to particular activities, and meet their particular needs. It allows measures to be targeted to particular groups, including internships and training, to enable them to gain employment.

Section 159 permits an employer to take a protected characteristic into consideration when deciding whom to recruit or promote, where people who hold the protected characteristic are at a disadvantage or are under-represented. This can only be done where the candidates are as qualified as each other. The question of whether one person is as qualified as another is not a matter only of academic qualification, but a judgement based on the criteria the employer uses to establish who is best for the job. This could include matters such as suitability, competence and professional performance. Section 159 does not allow employers to have a policy or practice of automatically treating people who share a protected characteristic more favourably than those who do not have it in these circumstances; each case must be considered on its merits.

Any action taken in light of either Section 158 or 159 must be a proportionate means of addressing such disadvantage or under-representation. The Equality Act 2010 provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society which make it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity. Guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. There are currently no plans to issue further guidance on positive action.

The Department for Education is working on a number of initiatives and schemes to provide young people with a clear progression into further work-based training and employment.

Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010 permits the use of positive action measures to alleviate disadvantage experienced by people who share a protected characteristic, reduce their under-representation in relation to particular activities, and meet their particular needs. It allows measures to be targeted to particular groups, including internships and training, to enable them to gain employment.

Section 159 permits an employer to take a protected characteristic into consideration when deciding whom to recruit or promote, where people who hold the protected characteristic are at a disadvantage or are under-represented. This can only be done where the candidates are as qualified as each other. The question of whether one person is as qualified as another is not a matter only of academic qualification, but a judgement based on the criteria the employer uses to establish who is best for the job. This could include matters such as suitability, competence and professional performance. Section 159 does not allow employers to have a policy or practice of automatically treating people who share a protected characteristic more favourably than those who do not have it in these circumstances; each case must be considered on its merits.

Any action taken in light of either Section 158 or 159 must be a proportionate means of addressing such disadvantage or under-representation. The Equality Act 2010 provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society which make it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity. Guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. There are currently no plans to issue further guidance on positive action.

The Department for Education is working on a number of initiatives and schemes to provide young people with a clear progression into further work-based training and employment.

Ministers in AGO have had 60 MP surgeries from July 2024 – July 2026 inclusive.

There are plans in place for the public to receive critical information in both of these scenarios. This includes the use of both BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4 which will continue to broadcast key advice to the public.

In a prolonged broadband outage there are other ways to send critical information, such as emergency alerts, which do not require broadband connection to function.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Parliamentary Question of 7th July is attached.

The Civil Service is committed to being an inclusive employer. The adoption for British Standard BS 30416, is delegated to departments as individual employers.

The Government Car Service (GCS) provides Departmental Pool Cars (DPC) to the following Government departments:

• Attorney General’s Office

• Cabinet Office

• Department for Business and Trade

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport

• Department for Education

• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Department for Health and Social Care

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

• Department for Transport

• Department for Work and Pensions

• HM Treasury

• Home Office

• Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

• Ministry of Justice

• Scotland Office

DBT is supporting the creation of well-paid jobs in East Grimsby by supporting businesses to start, scale, export and attract investment, leading to higher-skilled roles.

The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority utilising new devolved funding helps local businesses invest in growth and infrastructure, exploiting major assets such as the Humber Freeport and offshore wind cluster.

By developing high-value sectors, strengthening skills and supporting local regeneration, it ensures higher productivity and better-paid employment for residents.

The Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub offers SMEs specialist advice on scaling up, accessing new markets and alternative funding options through the British Business Bank.

The Government recognises the pressures facing pubs and the important role they play in communities across the UK. That is why we have introduced targeted support, including a 15% reduction in business rates bills for pubs from April 2026, followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, alongside permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties. We have also increased the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million over three years to help pubs diversify and remain financially sustainable.

In addition, the Great British Summer Savings scheme is reducing VAT from 20% to 5% on selected hospitality, leisure and visitor economy activities between 25 June and 1 September 2026, helping to drive customer demand and support hospitality businesses during the busy summer period.

BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace is a voluntary British Standard published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the UK's National Standards Body. The standard is available as a free download through BSI's website. As with other voluntary British Standards, decisions on whether and how to adopt the standard are a matter for individual organisations.

The National Crime Agency estimates that at least £1 billion is being laundered through rogue shops operating on UK high streets. Addressing this threat is a priority for the Government, and on 19 May, the government announced a £30 million crackdown targeting cash intensive business such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops operating on our high streets, over three years.

Consumers who have concerns about the conduct or legitimacy of a business can contact the Citizens Advice consumer service. The helpline can refer issues to local trading standards officers for them to act upon. The information shared is also used by enforcement teams and regulators nationwide to identify wider market issues and allow for more serious action to be taken against the most egregious breaches of consumer law.

Trading Standards are provided by local authorities who operate independently from central government, so local authorities make decisions according to their individual needs.

The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase on 2025-26. Much of this funding is not ringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

My officials are undertaking a review of Trading Standards duties, to ensure that consumers remain protected from harm and that local enforcement teams are able to focus on the issues that have the most impact on citizens and communities.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Local planning authorities and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the impact of onshore oil and gas developments on housing and drinking water respectively.

The North Sea Transition Authority regulates exploration and development licensing for England’s onshore oil and gas resources on behalf of the Secretary of State. Licence holders require further consents and permits before any operations take place.

The Government is taking action to continue to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage for UK industry, including working with our international partners to develop a coordinated approach to carbon leakage. The Government also continues to provide protection against carbon leakage through domestic measures, currently reviewing with the UK ETS Authority the approach to the provision of UK ETS free allocation to industrial sectors to ensure it remains fit for purpose, and introducing a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in 2027. The Government is committed to ensuring that industry can invest in decarbonisation with confidence that this will not be undermined by the risk of carbon leakage throughout the decarbonisation process.

The UK ETS Authority is currently conducting a review into free allocations, the UK’s primary carbon leakage mitigation method. As part of this review, in December 2024 the UK ETS Authority consulted on two approaches for assessing carbon leakage risk. The UK ETS Authority invited feedback and engaged with industry representatives, including those in the ceramics sector, on the robustness of the data and methodology used. An Impact Assessment will be conducted and published alongside final decisions by the end of 2025.

The UK Government and the ceramics sector have also recently inaugurated a working group, enabling direct dialogue with ceramics manufacturers.

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is our flagship programme for deploying renewables. We have introduced a suite of reforms to the scheme, which are vital to our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. The reforms are intended to balance the need for significant renewables deployment to deliver an independent and clean power system, whilst minimising costs to consumers.

The government recognises the importance of diverse and resilient communications networks as part of the UK's national resilience. Telecommunications providers are required under the Communications Act 2003, as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, to take appropriate and proportionate measures to identify, reduce and prepare for risks to the availability and resilience of their networks and services. Ofcom oversees compliance with these duties.

The UK benefits from a range of communications technologies, including fixed, mobile, satellite and broadcast services. A diverse communications ecosystem helps reduce dependence on any single technology and can support continuity of communications during disruptive events. The government works closely with industry, Ofcom and resilience partners to strengthen the resilience of communications infrastructure, including through planning for severe weather, power outages and other risks.

The government recognises the importance of resilient communications networks and services. Telecommunications providers are required to take appropriate and proportionate measures to identify, reduce, prepare for and recover from risks to the security and resilience of their networks and services under the Communications Act 2003, as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021. The government works closely with Ofcom and industry to strengthen telecommunications resilience and to ensure providers are able to manage a range of risks, including cyber threats, through appropriate resilience and security measures. These measures may include maintaining different communications architectures and modes of delivery, although this is not, in general, legally mandated.

The Government works closely with communications providers, Ofcom, the energy sector and other partners to ensure the resilience and security of the UK's communications infrastructure. Communications providers are responsible for the resilience of their networks and services and have statutory obligations to identify, reduce and manage risks that could affect the security and availability of services. Ofcom oversees compliance and has powers to monitor, investigate failures and take enforcement action where appropriate. The Government is also supporting collaboration between the electricity and telecommunications sectors to reduce the likelihood of telecommunications disruption during power outages and, where disruption occurs, minimise the number of people affected and the duration of any impact. In the event of a national power outage or a large-scale cyber incident affecting broadband networks, plans are in place to ensure the public can continue to receive critical information. This includes the use of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4, which would continue to broadcast key public advice. In the event of a prolonged broadband outage, critical information can also be communicated through alternative channels, including Emergency Alerts, which do not require a broadband connection to operate.

On 6 September 2024, Ofcom published updated Network and Service Resilience Guidance setting out the measures communications providers should take to improve network resilience. In February 2025, Ofcom published a technical report on mobile power resilience and undertook further analysis of mobile network resilience. Building on this work, Ofcom updated its Resilience Guidance in June 2026, clarifying its expectations for mobile network operators' backup power arrangements and sharing its findings with Government to support wider policy development.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 established a strengthened framework for the security and resilience of public telecommunications networks and services, introducing enhanced security duties on providers to protect their networks and services against cyber attack and reduce the risk and impact of security compromises. The framework is supported by the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which was updated in 2026 to reflect evolving threats, technologies and operational practices.

The Government works closely with communications providers, Ofcom, the energy sector and other partners to ensure the resilience and security of the UK's communications infrastructure. Communications providers are responsible for the resilience of their networks and services and have statutory obligations to identify, reduce and manage risks that could affect the security and availability of services. Ofcom oversees compliance and has powers to monitor, investigate failures and take enforcement action where appropriate. The Government is also supporting collaboration between the electricity and telecommunications sectors to reduce the likelihood of telecommunications disruption during power outages and, where disruption occurs, minimise the number of people affected and the duration of any impact. In the event of a national power outage or a large-scale cyber incident affecting broadband networks, plans are in place to ensure the public can continue to receive critical information. This includes the use of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4, which would continue to broadcast key public advice. In the event of a prolonged broadband outage, critical information can also be communicated through alternative channels, including Emergency Alerts, which do not require a broadband connection to operate.

On 6 September 2024, Ofcom published updated Network and Service Resilience Guidance setting out the measures communications providers should take to improve network resilience. In February 2025, Ofcom published a technical report on mobile power resilience and undertook further analysis of mobile network resilience. Building on this work, Ofcom updated its Resilience Guidance in June 2026, clarifying its expectations for mobile network operators' backup power arrangements and sharing its findings with Government to support wider policy development.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 established a strengthened framework for the security and resilience of public telecommunications networks and services, introducing enhanced security duties on providers to protect their networks and services against cyber attack and reduce the risk and impact of security compromises. The framework is supported by the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which was updated in 2026 to reflect evolving threats, technologies and operational practices.

The government recognises the importance of maintaining public communications during disruptions affecting telecommunications networks. Telecommunications providers are required to take appropriate and proportionate measures to identify, reduce, prepare for and recover from risks to the resilience of their networks and services, under the Communications Act 2003, as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021. The department works closely with industry, Ofcom and other government departments through established resilience and emergency response arrangements to prepare for, respond to and recover from major telecommunications incidents, while continuing to strengthen the resilience of the UK's telecommunications infrastructure.