Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the number of people who use a salary sacrifice scheme.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC does not hold administrative data on the number of employers offering and employees using salary sacrifice schemes. However, estimates based on other information are held.
HMRC analysis of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings suggests that around 7.7 million employees made salary sacrifice pension contributions in 2024. That analysis is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/surveys/informationforbusinesses/businesssurveys/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashe
HMRC’s non-structural tax relief statistics publication sets out the estimated number of participants in the cycle to work scheme and is accessible here:
Non-structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department holds data on the number of employers offering salary sacrifice schemes.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC does not hold administrative data on the number of employers offering and employees using salary sacrifice schemes. However, estimates based on other information are held.
HMRC analysis of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings suggests that around 7.7 million employees made salary sacrifice pension contributions in 2024. That analysis is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/surveys/informationforbusinesses/businesssurveys/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashe
HMRC’s non-structural tax relief statistics publication sets out the estimated number of participants in the cycle to work scheme and is accessible here:
Non-structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what economic analysis she has carried out on construction of a third runway at Heathrow.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My department has recently commenced the ANPS review. As there have been significant changes since the ANPS was designated in 2018 the review is being undertaken to reflect changes in legislation, policy and data and to ensure any proposed scheme meets the Government’s four tests. One of these tests is that it contributes to economic growth across the country, as such economic analysis will form part of the ANPS review.
The currently published economic analysis undertaken as part of the designation of the ANPS in 2018 can be found in the Updated Appraisal Report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airport-expansion-updated-cost-and-benefits-appraisal.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
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 ending the use of (a) cages for hens and (b) farrowing crates for pigs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 47556
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many stage (a) one, and (b) two, complaints were submitted to HM Courts and Tribunals Service in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
HM Courts and Tribunals Service holds the following data on how many stage (a) one and (b) two complaints were submitted in 2024 and 2025. For context, the annual HMCTS report published for the period 2024/5 reports states HMCTS received over 4.2 million cases.
Year | Stage One (First Contact) | Stage Two (Review) |
2024 | 33,552 | 4,373 |
2025* | 26,411 | 3,974 |
*Data for 2025 is for the period 1 January – 30 September inclusive
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Competition and Markets Authority's press release entitled CMA confirms Apple and Google have strategic market status in mobile platforms, published on 22 October 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that third-party providers are able to access (a) contactless payment and (b) digital wallet services.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has ensured that the Competition and Markets Authority has bespoke powers to impose remedies and increase competition in digital markets. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for operating the digital markets regime, including deciding which remedies to impose.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
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 effectiveness of the UK's franchising framework.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The self-regulation of franchising through the British Franchise Association has generally served the UK well, with the franchise sector contributing significantly to our economy.
However, the government is not complacent and is concerned to maintain fairness in business relationships and will continue to monitor developments in this area. Government is dedicated to implementing an ambitious regulatory reform agenda. In March we published our Action Plan for Regulation outlining changes to streamline rules and regulations to support growth. Our modern Industrial Strategy also includes an ambitious package of regulatory reforms that will support our growth-driving sectors and the wider economy.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish a response to the report by the National Audit Office entitled Investigation into the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, published on 16 June 2025, HC 951.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The government does not plan to publish a formal, separate response to the National Audit Office (NAO) report, Investigation into the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, HC 951, published on 16 June 2025. The government has acknowledged and accepted the findings of the report. The report is also being reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee who will provide their recommendations in due course.
It should be noted that the government has taken significant steps to improve both the oversight and enforcement of performance standards in the Civil Service Pension Scheme administration, primarily through the new contract with Capita and enhanced internal controls. Capita has been contracted to assume full administrative responsibilities from 1 December 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to amend the presumption of parental involvement when a parent has been convicted of abuse or violent crimes.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government has announced that it will repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 when Parliamentary time allows.
We are committed to ensuring that the child’s welfare remains at the heart of the courts’ decision-making, and that each case considers the individual child and their family circumstances. Courts will continue to make decisions in line with the remaining provisions in the Children Act, the Human Rights Act 1998, ECHR considerations, and caselaw, with the child’s welfare remaining the paramount consideration.
The measure to repeal the presumption forms a key part of broader family court reforms, which include the expansion of the Pathfinder courts. These reforms aim to ensure that any decisions centre the child’s welfare and are based on a robust assessment of potential risks.
Alongside this announcement, we have published the Review of the Presumption of Parental Involvement and the accompanying reports from the three commissioned research projects.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department had with the Mayor of London on the planned closure of front counters in police stations in London.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Decisions regarding the management of local police resourcing and estates, including police stations, is a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents).
They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience.