Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) extending Theatre Tax Relief to include the costs of moving productions between UK venues, (b) reducing the qualifying thresholds for touring opera and ballet productions and (c) extending business rates relief to theatres, in supporting the financial sustainability of touring productions and improving access to live theatre in towns and smaller communities.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reductions in development assistance to Nepal on (a) levels of poverty, (b) humanitarian support and (c) the UK's bilateral relationship with Nepal; and if he will reconsider those reductions in light of Nepal's longstanding contribution to the British Armed Forces through the service of Gurkha soldiers.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is proud to be a longstanding partner to Nepal. We have shared priorities in many areas including Gurkhas in the British Army, who make an outstanding contribution to the UK, and development. We have disbursed £5m in humanitarian assistance in response to the recent flooding and we stand ready to help Nepal build for the future. Our bilateral relationship with Nepal is evolving into a modern partnership which combines expertise, sustainable finance, multilateral investment, private-sector mobilisation and locally led delivery. We are in regular contact with the government of Nepal on how we can support its efforts to deliver for the people of Nepal.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) employer-provided health cash plans and (b) other preventative health benefits on (i) sickness absence, (ii) economic inactivity and (iii) demand for NHS services.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care’s Joint Work and Health Directorate was set up to co-ordinate Government activity which helps those managing health conditions and disabled people to get into and thrive in work.
The Department for Work and Pensions’ 2024 Employer Survey provides evidence of the impact of different employer health and wellbeing interventions and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-employer-survey-2024
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of financial mutuals on (a) regional economic growth and (b) the proportion of businesses and financial institutions that are (i) locally and (ii) member owned.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Financial mutuals, such as building societies and credit unions, have a strong focus on serving local communities for the benefit of their members. This leaves them well placed to make an important contribution to the Government’s priority to drive good growth in every postcode of the UK.
The Government is undertaking a multi-year programme of work to support financial mutuals. This includes, for example, updating the Building Societies Act 1986 to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and provide greater funding flexibility, reforming the credit union common bond through the Financial Services and Markets Bill, and asking the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to produce their joint Mutuals Landscape Report, which identified opportunities for growth-focused reform.
Access to capital is a longstanding structural issue for mutual businesses, and one in which the Government takes a close interest. The Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council is currently considering this, including the barriers faced by the sector and potential solutions. The Government will review the Council’s work as it develops and consider the proposals it brings forward.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential challenges faced by financial mutuals seeking to raise external capital while retaining their mutual status.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Financial mutuals, such as building societies and credit unions, have a strong focus on serving local communities for the benefit of their members. This leaves them well placed to make an important contribution to the Government’s priority to drive good growth in every postcode of the UK.
The Government is undertaking a multi-year programme of work to support financial mutuals. This includes, for example, updating the Building Societies Act 1986 to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and provide greater funding flexibility, reforming the credit union common bond through the Financial Services and Markets Bill, and asking the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to produce their joint Mutuals Landscape Report, which identified opportunities for growth-focused reform.
Access to capital is a longstanding structural issue for mutual businesses, and one in which the Government takes a close interest. The Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council is currently considering this, including the barriers faced by the sector and potential solutions. The Government will review the Council’s work as it develops and consider the proposals it brings forward.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to increase the contribution of financial mutuals.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Financial mutuals, such as building societies and credit unions, have a strong focus on serving local communities for the benefit of their members. This leaves them well placed to make an important contribution to the Government’s priority to drive good growth in every postcode of the UK.
The Government is undertaking a multi-year programme of work to support financial mutuals. This includes, for example, updating the Building Societies Act 1986 to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and provide greater funding flexibility, reforming the credit union common bond through the Financial Services and Markets Bill, and asking the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to produce their joint Mutuals Landscape Report, which identified opportunities for growth-focused reform.
Access to capital is a longstanding structural issue for mutual businesses, and one in which the Government takes a close interest. The Mutual and Co-operative Sector Business Council is currently considering this, including the barriers faced by the sector and potential solutions. The Government will review the Council’s work as it develops and consider the proposals it brings forward.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available to help young people develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills and work experience during the period between claiming Universal Credit and becoming eligible for the Jobs Guarantee.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Lack of experience is a key barrier for young people. Through the Government’s additional £2.5 billion investment into the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy, young people will benefit from a range of support to help young people develop confidence, resilience, leadership skills and work experience before they become eligible for the Jobs Guarantee.
Young people aged 16-24 on Universal Credit who are looking for work receive tailored employment support through the Youth Guarantee Gateway. If they are not earning or learning after 13 weeks, they receive a dedicated Youth Guarantee Gateway meeting followed by four weeks of intensive support from a Work Coach. During this period, they are offered opportunities including employment, work experience placements, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), apprenticeships, training or learning.
As part of this offer, the Government is creating up to 300,000 additional sector-based work academy programme (SWAP) across Great Britain and work-experience placements. These placements are designed to help young people develop employability skills, confidence and work readiness, supporting them to move into employment, education or training. SWAPs are being expanded through the Youth Guarantee, with 145,000 starts planned by 2028/29, further supporting young people in gaining valuable work experience whilst building up sector-specific skills. The Department for Work and Pensions is engaging with national and local employers to create these opportunities.
Young people can also access support through an expanded network of Youth Hubs across Great Britain in the future. Youth Hubs bring together employment support with services such as skills development, mental health support, employer engagement and wider community-based support, helping young people build confidence and prepare for work.
Together, these measures help young people gain the confidence, resilience, skills and experience needed to progress towards sustained employment before becoming eligible for the Jobs Guarantee after 18 months claiming Universal Credit.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming Stamp Duty Land Tax.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is an important source of Government revenue, raising around £14 billion each year. The structure of SDLT ensures that those buying the most expensive properties contribute the most.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with mutual building societies on their role in increasing sustainable homeownership and supporting economic growth.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Building societies play an important role in supporting home ownership and economic growth. Ministers and officials regularly engage with building societies and the wider mutuals sector to discuss their business, understand the barriers they face and consider opportunities to support their growth and better serve their members.
The Government is committed to creating the conditions that enable the sector to flourish. In December 2025, the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority published their joint Mutuals Landscape Report, which set out the sector’s regulatory framework and identified opportunities for growth-focused reform. As part of that initiative, the Prudential Regulation Authority removed the Building Societies Sourcebook, supporting a more proportionate regulatory framework for building societies.
In addition, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament in July 2026 that would support the building society sector by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and providing greater funding flexibility.
Asked by: Patrick Hurley (Labour - Southport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current regulatory framework for mutual building societies.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Building societies play an important role in supporting home ownership and economic growth. Ministers and officials regularly engage with building societies and the wider mutuals sector to discuss their business, understand the barriers they face and consider opportunities to support their growth and better serve their members.
The Government is committed to creating the conditions that enable the sector to flourish. In December 2025, the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority published their joint Mutuals Landscape Report, which set out the sector’s regulatory framework and identified opportunities for growth-focused reform. As part of that initiative, the Prudential Regulation Authority removed the Building Societies Sourcebook, supporting a more proportionate regulatory framework for building societies.
In addition, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament in July 2026 that would support the building society sector by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and providing greater funding flexibility.