Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance on the treatment of vulnerable customers leads to changes in how payment terminals are (a) designed and (b) deployed; and whether she will take steps with the FCA to introduce binding requirements in this area.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers.
The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities.
Ensuring individuals have access to the financial products and services they need is a key priority for the government. This is why I published the Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes the launch of an industry-led inclusive design working group to consider how to make products more accessible.
As part of the focus on inclusive design, the strategy specifically acknowledges that the phasing out of tactile features from payment processes has made it more difficult for people who are blind or partially sighted to make payments independently.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People is working with providers and UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, to introduce accessible features for cards. UK Finance is developing a Code of Practice for Accessible Cards, providing a set of guidelines for accessibility features on card products for participating firms. The government welcomes this positive example of industry and consumer representatives working together on tangible solutions.
UK Finance also maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. It will be working with the British Retail Consortium to identify opportunities to go further in embedding accessibility features where they can make the most difference in practice.
The government continues to closely monitor progress in this important area.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of accessibility across all aspects of banking and financial services for blind and partially sighted customers, including (a) payment terminals, (b) online banking, (c) card design, (d) verification processes, and (e) compatibility with assistive technology.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers.
The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities.
Ensuring individuals have access to the financial products and services they need is a key priority for the government. This is why I published the Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes the launch of an industry-led inclusive design working group to consider how to make products more accessible.
As part of the focus on inclusive design, the strategy specifically acknowledges that the phasing out of tactile features from payment processes has made it more difficult for people who are blind or partially sighted to make payments independently.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People is working with providers and UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, to introduce accessible features for cards. UK Finance is developing a Code of Practice for Accessible Cards, providing a set of guidelines for accessibility features on card products for participating firms. The government welcomes this positive example of industry and consumer representatives working together on tangible solutions.
UK Finance also maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. It will be working with the British Retail Consortium to identify opportunities to go further in embedding accessibility features where they can make the most difference in practice.
The government continues to closely monitor progress in this important area.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered asking the Financial Conduct Authority to issue specific standards on payment terminal accessibility for blind and partially sighted people.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers.
The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities.
Ensuring individuals have access to the financial products and services they need is a key priority for the government. This is why I published the Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes the launch of an industry-led inclusive design working group to consider how to make products more accessible.
As part of the focus on inclusive design, the strategy specifically acknowledges that the phasing out of tactile features from payment processes has made it more difficult for people who are blind or partially sighted to make payments independently.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People is working with providers and UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, to introduce accessible features for cards. UK Finance is developing a Code of Practice for Accessible Cards, providing a set of guidelines for accessibility features on card products for participating firms. The government welcomes this positive example of industry and consumer representatives working together on tangible solutions.
UK Finance also maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. It will be working with the British Retail Consortium to identify opportunities to go further in embedding accessibility features where they can make the most difference in practice.
The government continues to closely monitor progress in this important area.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress his Department has made in implementing the Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The whole of government is focused on delivering the Industrial Strategy to make the UK the best country to invest and grow. We are making progress, including:
· Opening our consultation for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to reduce electricity costs for IS-8 and foundational sectors.
· Agreeing a landmark UK-US pharmaceuticals deal, safeguarding medicines access and driving vital investment for UK patients and businesses.
· Supporting Industrial Strategy Zones, including the Forth Green Freeport, where advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries will thrive.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to address the 15% of people who are dying in poverty in Mid Fife and Glenrothes every year.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A Scottish person at end of life can make a fast-tracked claim to the following reserved benefits (if they are eligible): Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment Support Allowance (NS ESA).
Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.
The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age
For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide people with financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable Scottish people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to UC and NS ESA. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to address the 25.9% of working age people who are dying in poverty in Fife every year.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A Scottish person at end of life can make a fast-tracked claim to the following reserved benefits (if they are eligible): Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment Support Allowance (NS ESA).
Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.
The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age
For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide people with financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable Scottish people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to UC and NS ESA. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of financial insecurity of people at the end of life.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age.
For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enables people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment and Support Allowance. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher UC Health rate, no matter when they make their claim.
Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department uses to determine site eligibility for participation in the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial; and whether the availability of focal therapy is a requirement.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
In November 2023, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is managing the award on behalf of the funders with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.
Once received, the protocol will be published on the NIHR website on the funding and awards page. This is expected to contain details of the site selection criteria.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the design of the TRANSFORM trial includes sites that do not currently offer focal therapy; and how treatment diversity is being considered in trial recruitment.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
In November 2023, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is managing the award on behalf of the funders with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.
Once received, the protocol will be published on the NIHR website on the funding and awards page. This is expected to contain details of the site selection criteria.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church of England is providing to Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Marsha De Cordova
The Church continues to support the Archbishops’ Appeal for the Diocese of Jerusalem, which helps more than thirty institutions, including hospitals, schools, clinics, rehabilitation centres, guesthouses, and retirement homes across the Diocese. Through charitable bodies like Friends of the Holy Land, the Church provides practical help directly to the most needy and vulnerable Christians, striking a balance between funding immediate relief of emergency needs and small, practical projects that help create a sustainable future in the Holy Land.