Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential distributional impact of reducing inheritance tax; and what proportion of the financial benefit of such a reduction would accrue to households in each (a) income and (b) wealth decile.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The combination of nil-rate bands, exemptions, and reliefs means less than 10 per cent of estates across the UK are currently forecast to have an inheritance tax liability in 2030-31. Inheritance tax makes an important contribution to the public finances and it is forecast to raise more than £14 billion in 2030-31 to help fund public services.

The latest available statistics are available at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a reduction in inheritance tax on housing market transactions.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The combination of nil-rate bands, exemptions, and reliefs means less than 10 per cent of estates across the UK are currently forecast to have an inheritance tax liability in 2030-31. Inheritance tax makes an important contribution to the public finances and it is forecast to raise more than £14 billion in 2030-31 to help fund public services.

The latest available statistics are available at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to (a) schools and (b) local authorities experiencing falling pupil numbers.

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

We recognise that falling pupil numbers can present difficult strategic choices for local areas. Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that sufficient school places are available. We expect local authorities, academy trusts and other partners to work together to balance supply and demand as local demographics change.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduced measures to strengthen cooperation between local authorities and schools on admissions and place planning.

The department’s ‘Strategic school place planning framework’, due to be published this autumn, will support earlier strategic discussions and more transparent, evidence-led decisions about mainstream school capacity and space. It will help local leaders balance the opportunities presented by falling birth rates – such as using space to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, school-based nursery provision and Best Start Family Hubs – against longer-term risks.

The government is supporting the sector to repurpose space through new capital investment, including £400 million for school-based nursery places and £3.7 billion over 5 years to create tens of thousands of specialist places, including within mainstream schools.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to publish a strategy on falling pupil numbers in schools.

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

We recognise that falling pupil numbers can present difficult strategic choices for local areas. Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that sufficient school places are available. We expect local authorities, academy trusts and other partners to work together to balance supply and demand as local demographics change.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduced measures to strengthen cooperation between local authorities and schools on admissions and place planning.

The department’s ‘Strategic school place planning framework’, due to be published this autumn, will support earlier strategic discussions and more transparent, evidence-led decisions about mainstream school capacity and space. It will help local leaders balance the opportunities presented by falling birth rates – such as using space to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, school-based nursery provision and Best Start Family Hubs – against longer-term risks.

The government is supporting the sector to repurpose space through new capital investment, including £400 million for school-based nursery places and £3.7 billion over 5 years to create tens of thousands of specialist places, including within mainstream schools.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the Local SEND Reform Plans submitted by local area partnerships to her Department.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Local special educational needs and disabilities reform plans are live, operational documents owned by Local Area Partnerships, which decide whether to publish. The department will publish confirmation of areas with approved and deferred reform plans, alongside grant allocations for local authorities with plans that have met the threshold, in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a public food waste reporting requirement for large businesses in reducing food prices through increased supply chain efficiency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the importance of improving food waste data to help reduce food waste and improve resource efficiency. The Department is engaging with industry to improve reporting and data quality, while considering a range of policy options. Potential reporting requirements for larger businesses, including mandatory reporting, remain under consideration.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond further to the 2023 consultation on food waste reporting.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the importance of improving food waste data to help reduce food waste and improve resource efficiency. The Department is engaging with industry to improve reporting and data quality, while considering a range of policy options. Potential reporting requirements for larger businesses, including mandatory reporting, remain under consideration.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of children living in temporary accommodation in London.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

From 2026/27 to 2028/29, over £4 billion in funding will be provided for homelessness and rough sleeping services to help local areas deliver tailored services to tackle all forms of homelessness. In addition, the Government has committed £30 million for a three-year Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme to support local authorities with the highest pressures to bring down B&B use, particularly unlawful placements in B&B beyond 6 weeks, with eight London Boroughs receiving funding in 2026/27. The Government is also providing £950 million of investment for the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund – the largest investment in the fund to date - to support local authorities in England to increase the supply of good quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of costly bed and breakfasts and hotels.

The Committee are launching an inquiry into the UK export support system. The inquiry examines whether the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade alongside UK Export Finance:

Submit Evidence (by 12 Nov 2026)

Entrepreneurs are vital to driving growth, innovation, competition, productivity and job creation, across the country and across communities.