Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of access to (a) lifelong learning and (b) reskilling opportunities for adults seeking employment in emerging industries.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults (19 and over) through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), spending £1.4 billion in the 2025/26 academic year, ensuring that adults can access the education and training they need to get into employment or progress in work. The ASF supports a range of courses for adults of all ages including those relating to new and emerging industries, such as digital technologies.
Currently, 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Mayoral Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority (GLA). These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents, the allocation of the ASF to learning providers, and deciding how the ASF best meets the needs of the local economy. By honouring our commitments to combine and further devolve adult skills funding, we give those with local knowledge the power they need to make decisions that are best for their areas.
This government is also transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will give greater flexibility to employers and to learners throughout their careers.
From April 2026, the government will also enable employers to use the growth and skills levy for new short courses in areas such as digital, artificial intelligence and engineering, to support Industrial Strategy sectors. This new flexible offer will support employed learners to update or improve relevant aspects of their skills base, with the support of their employer.
Additionally, in August 2025 the government reduced the apprenticeship minimum duration to 8 months so that shorter duration apprenticeships are now possible. We expect this flexibility to open-up more opportunities, including where the apprentice already has relevant prior learning or experiences that reduces their time needed to train. This change will enable more adults with prior career experience to access apprenticeships and achieve occupational competence more quickly.
Lastly, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will launch in academic year 2026/27 and will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working lives. Learners will be able to use this new entitlement more flexibly than ever before to fund individual modules as well as full courses at levels 4 to 6, regardless of whether they are provided in colleges, universities or independent providers.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
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 impact of method-of-production labelling on UK animal products on (a) the economy and (b) export growth opportunities.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are considering the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the Government’s wider animal welfare strategy.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of mandatory method-of-production labelling on (a) animal welfare and (b) consumer transparency.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are considering the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the Government’s wider animal welfare strategy.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of court backlogs on levels of access to justice for (a) victims and (b) defendants.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog. As of June 2025, the open caseload reached 78,329. It is unacceptable that some victims, witnesses and defendants are waiting years for justice. This has left tens of thousands of victims facing devastating delays for justice, disrupting their ability to function, work, or maintain relationships, with many now pulling out of the process altogether.
Upon taking office, the Deputy Prime Minister took immediate action to allocate additional Crown Court sitting days this financial year, taking the total to a record 111,250 sitting days. The Government has allocated resources so that the Crown Court is sitting over 5000 extra days more than under the previous Conservative Government. We have also made significant increases in criminal legal aid with up to an additional £92 million investment.
However, demand is currently so high, it is indisputable that fundamental reform is needed. That is why this Government commissioned the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, to propose once-in-a-generation reform to improve timeliness in the courts and deliver swift justice for victims.
Part one of his report has now been published. We are carefully considering Sir Brian’s proposals and will respond in due course.
We are committed to creating a more sustainable justice system, in which victims and the public can have confidence.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of rehabilitation programmes on reoffending rates by young adults.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
We take an evidence-based approach to reducing reoffending, investing in a wide range of programmes that address offenders’ underlying criminogenic needs and support their rehabilitation. The pathway an individual takes - including young adults - is determined by their assessed risk and needs, ensuring interventions are targeted and proportionate.
Our approach is grounded in a robust body of research and evidence on what works and we recently published a synthesis of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce reoffending (Reducing Reoffending - A Synthesis of Evidence on Effectiveness of Interventions). We continue to strengthen this foundation through ongoing evaluation, data analysis, and insights from delivery partners and international practice. The Justice Data Lab (JDL) supports this by producing tailored reports on the impact of rehabilitation programmes (Justice Data Lab statistics - GOV.UK). While not all evaluations are conducted at a scale that allows for detailed analysis of specific cohorts, we do disaggregate findings where possible to provide more targeted insights. For example, in 2023, the JDL published two large-scale evaluations of the Thinking Skills Programme (TSP), the most widely delivered accredited offending behaviour programme in custody by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) for individuals aged 18 and over. The evaluations found that participants, including those aged 18–25, committed fewer proven reoffences and were less likely to have any prison adjudications recorded than non-TSP participants.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of workforce shortages on the delivery of social care services to older people.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department monitors workforce levels in the adult social care sector in England at a national and local level. As part of this monitoring, the Department considers Skills for Care estimates on the number of filled posts in residential and domiciliary care. The adult social care workforce is growing. Skills for Care data shows in 2024/25 there were 1.60 million filled posts, an increase of 52,000 (3.4%) from 2023/24. This was the second largest increase seen since Skills for Care records began in 2012/13.
Local authorities in England have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care.
We recognise the scale of reform needed to make adult social care attractive as a career and are determined to ensure those who work in care are respected as professionals. We are introducing a new Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care, implementing the first universal career structure for adult social care, and providing £12 million this year for staff to complete training and qualifications. These changes will help attract staff to the sector, providing proper recognition and opportunities for them to build their careers.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of lower-cost imports of electric buses from (a) China and (b) other countries on the competitiveness of UK manufacturers; and what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) procurement and (b) subsidy programmes support domestic industry while still delivering value for money.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The international market is key to spurring and driving innovation, as well as competitive pricing and enabling UK manufacturers to win orders around the world. Data gathered through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme suggests that UK bus manufacturers are not being undercut by international suppliers, with prices being broadly comparable. UK-based bus manufacturers have also benefitted most from the Department’s funding programmes.
To support the domestic Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) industry, the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was established in March 2025. The Expert Panel brings together industry experts and local leaders to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing.
The Expert Panel is looking at how social value can be embedded in the heart of the bus procurement process to ensure every pound of public money spent on ZEBs delivers the greatest possible benefit for our communities and the economy.
Section 17 of the Subsidy Control Act prevents state subsidies being given with conditions on using domestic over imported goods or services. This means that when providing subsidies, local transport authorities cannot impose conditions to require that bus operators receiving the subsidies must buy British buses.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with manufacturing firms on (a) their progress in adopting and (b) the barriers to the implementation of green technologies.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including manufacturers, through expert working groups and workshops to inform policy on Net Zero technologies in industry.
In 2023, a call for evidence on industrial electrification was held, with a summary published on 1 September 2024 outlining progress and key issues raised by industry, academia and trade bodies. This has been followed by continued stakeholder engagement.
A renewed Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy will guide efforts to build a competitive, low-carbon UK industrial base. Further details, including the role of fuel switching to electrification, will be set out in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan in October.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with train operators on the adequacy of criteria used to determine the provision of step-free access upgrades at train stations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The criteria used to select existing projects for delivery under the Access for All were determined by the previous government.
The transition to Great British Railways will remove artificial industry separations and result in the integrated planning and delivery of programmes such as Access for All.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of support provided by his Department to help small and medium-sized enterprises increase their exports to EU markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT offers a range of support for SMEs, with our Small Business Plan setting out the most comprehensive package of support for SMEs in a generation. This includes Unlock Europe, a programme from UK Export Academy designed to help businesses build relationships with European customers and increase exporting potential to the EU.
DBT has a robust monitoring and evaluation framework in place for export support. This data can be found in DBT’s Annual Report.