Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has the Government made of whether lenders' published eligibility criteria for interest-only and part-interest arrangements are attainable for borrowers in financial difficulty who are not high-net-worth individuals.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the difficulties faced by mortgage borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The Financial Conduct Authority requires lenders to engage individually with customers who are struggling or worried about their payments in order to provide tailored support. This could include a term extension, a temporary switch to interest-only payments, a temporary payment deferral or part-interest, part-repayment; the right option will depend on the borrower’s circumstances.

Earlier this year, signatories also recommitted to the Mortgage Charter, which is a voluntary industry agreement that covers 90% of the mortgage market. The Charter provides additional flexibilities to help borrowers who are up-to-date with their repayments to manage their repayments over a short period.

Any borrower who is concerned about making their repayment should contact their lender. Seeking support and engaging with lenders to discuss options will not affect a borrower’s credit score in any way, and earlier engagement will mean that lenders can offer more support.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of apprenticeship assessment reforms on workforce capacity in agriculture, forestry and other land-based sectors.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and the Department for Work and Pensions regularly discuss routes into the sector. Apprenticeship reforms aim to increase flexibility, prioritise critical skills and reduce pressure on students, providing more scope for ongoing assessment. The additional £725 million Government investment will support 50,000 more apprenticeships, reversing a 40% decline in starts over the past decade.

Agreed changes to the End Point Assessment for the groundbreaking degree-level Professional Forester apprenticeship, which the Forestry Commission delivers in partnership with the University of Cumbria and the Institute of Chartered Foresters, are considered to be very positive, reducing pressure of students and staff and providing more scope for ongoing assessment.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, who will represent the UK at the Global Partnership for Education replenishment summit in New York on 23 September 2026; whether the Government intends to announce the UK's contribution to the Partnership’s 2026-30 replenishment at or in advance of the summit; and when such an announcement is expected to be made.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

Our pledge to the Global Partnership for Education is subject to Treasury approval. UK representation at the event is being confirmed as part of the UK's overall United Nations General Assembly programme.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the commitment in HCWS1444 to consult on the Smart Export Guarantee, what assessment he has made of cases where households with existing FiT-registered solar installations cannot obtain an export mPAN due to distribution network operator infrastructure constraints; and whether the consultation will consider the obligations of DNOs to facilitate SEG access.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that some households, including those with existing Feed-in Tariff installations, can face delays in obtaining the export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) needed to access a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff.

The forthcoming SEG review will provide an opportunity to consider evidence on how Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and supplier processes affect access to the scheme, including whether responsibilities are clearly defined and the associated arrangements operate effectively.

Wider questions concerning DNO connections processes and obligations, including the generation of export MPANs, are being considered through Ofgem’s Connections End-to-End Review.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the barriers for unemployed people aged 50 to State Pension age with extensive work histories but limited formal qualifications, who have developed health conditions which restrict their employment options and face challenges navigating digital recruitment processes; and what targeted support his Department provides to help such people return to work.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department recognises the challenges that people aged 50 and over with health conditions can face when seeking to access employment. We value the wealth of skills and experience that people aged 50 and over bring to the workplace and the economy and are committed to supporting them to find work through a wide-ranging strategy that promotes inclusion, flexibility and progression.

We provide additional, dedicated support in jobcentres for those who are aged 50 and over and in receipt of benefits. This includes 50PLUS Champions, who ensure that the specific needs of midlife workers are recognised and met. This can include IT training to help people to engage with digital services. Our Midlife MOT and local Employer and Partnership Teams also provide tailored guidance and connect people with health, skills, and financial support, and with employers.

We also have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals with health conditions to stay in work and get back into work. These include support from work coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in jobcentres, Access to Work grants and the Connect to Work programme, as well as initiatives joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, and WorkWell.

As part of our plans to Get Britain Working, we are creating a Jobs and Careers Service, with an enhanced focus on skills and careers, available to all. Support will be more inclusive and tailored to individual needs, regardless of their barriers to work, to help them find secure, meaningful work, develop new skills and progress in their careers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of pension contributions being reduced during maternity leave on women's retirement savings.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Automatic Enrolment has delivered substantial progress in increasing workplace pension participation among women, in addition to the reforms delivered through the new State Pension which have reduced historic inequalities. However, for the significant gaps between men and women remain, both in terms of pension participation and wealth, reflecting wider structural inequalities in the labour market. Periods of reduced pay during maternity leave may also contribute to reduced retirement savings for women.

The Pensions Commission will consider steps to improve pension outcomes for all, especially those groups we have identified at greater risk of under saving for retirement, including women. The Commission's final report will be published in early 2027 and the Government will consider their recommendations carefully.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Climate Shock Fund to boost Britain's resilience to extreme weather.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In the course of developing the next National Adaptation Programme, due in 2028, we will be assessing a range of interventions to build the UK's resilience to extreme weather, including targeted funding mechanisms, where appropriate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of sponsor licence revocations on the sustainability of residential care providers in areas experiencing workforce shortages; and what consideration she has given to the proportionality of revocation decisions where compliance breaches are administrative in nature.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains extremely concerned about levels of worker exploitation in the adult social care sector and UKVI continue to investigate all allegations of sponsor non-compliance.

Revocation is generally a last resort, for example where a sponsor breaches their mandatory duty to pay the worker in accordance with the Immigration Rules and/or national minimum wage regulations.

The Home Office continues to work very closely with the 15 Regional Partnerships funded by the Department for Health and Social Care, together with officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This involves data sharing agreements to ensure local authorities are in a position both to address risks to continuity of care and support workers who need new employment.

UKVI also offers a dedicated point of contact, which ensures the prioritisation of all applications for sponsorship or visas related to the workforce who are displaced by revocation absent of any additional priority service fees.

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 impact of South West Water’s leakage performance on customer’s bills; and whether the Government is taking steps to ensure that customers do not face increased charges where significant quantities of treated water are lost through leakage.

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

Ofwat set specific performance commitments for water companies including on leakage. South West Water continues to underperform on leakage, and the company did not meet its 2024 target. Government expects Ofwat to enable fair prices for customers through the setting of licence conditions and guaranteed service standards. To further support this, Government is enabling the largest smart meter rollout to date over this price review to protect customer bills by, identifying and eradicating leakage.

Wyke Farms at the 2026 Global Cheese Awards

Publication of Legal Advice on Local Government Reorganisation

Found: Cotswolds) (Chair) Mr Clive Betts (Labour; Sheffield South East) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Rachel Gilmour

Found: Cotswolds) (Chair) Mr Clive Betts (Labour; Sheffield South East) Anna Dixon (Labour; Shipley) Rachel Gilmour