Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education on reforming Child Benefit rules to better support children experiencing mental-health crises who cannot attend school.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.

For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.

The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.

Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment on the effect of school-attendance-linked Child Benefit rules on children with mental-health-related disabilities.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.

For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.

The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.

Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Child Benefit cessation on families where a child or young person is unable to attend school as a result of clinically evidenced mental-health conditions or trauma.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.

For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.

The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.

Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of families who have had Child Benefit reduced or withdrawn because a child or young person has been unable to attend school due to mental ill-health.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.

For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.

The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.

Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review Child Benefit eligibility rules linked to school attendance in relation to absence caused by severe mental ill-health or trauma.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.

For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.

The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.

Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Motor Insurance Taskforce report will be published.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The motor insurance taskforce report will be published shortly.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what conversations her Department has had with Ofcom regarding the use of powers under section 121 of the Online Safety Act to detect child sexual abuse and exploitation in private messaging services.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DSIT is working closely with Ofcom on issues related to the Online Safety Act, including the implementation of Technology Notice powers under section 121. These powers can and should be used to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse content shared in private messages.

As part of this work, Ofcom ran a consultation on minimum standards of accuracy for accredited technology and draft guidance for providers, which closed in March 2025. Ofcom will publish their advice to the Secretary of State by April 2026.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the NSPCC's report, Tools to Combat Online Harms, published in November 2025.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We welcome the NSPCC’s recent report and are grateful for their longstanding work to improve the evidence base on children’s experiences online. We share concern at the troubling findings and remain committed to protecting children online.

The data within the report predates the Online Safety Act’s child safety duties coming into force, which provide significant mitigations against the harms highlighted by the NSPCC. The government’s focus remains on implementing the Act’s protective measures, and we are actively monitoring its impact and effectiveness. We will continue to engage with emerging evidence to ensure that any future government interventions are proportionate and evidence based.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her department will conduct an assessment into the feasibility of exempting tips from income tax.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Employees pay tax on all payments that reward them for the work they do. This includes wages, tips, gratuities, or any share of a service charge that they receive. Whether National Insurance contributions are due on tips depends on how tips are managed in the workplace. More information on how tips are taxed can be found here: Tips at work: Tips and tax - GOV.UK'.

The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has discussed with Royal Mail updating the international addressing systems so that Northern Ireland can be selected as a distinct region.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

International addressing systems are operational tools, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with their primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore the government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial or technical decisions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has discussed with Royal Mail updating international addressing systems so that Northern Ireland can be selected as a distinct region.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

International addressing systems are operational tools, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with their primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.

Royal Mail is an independent business and therefore the government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial or technical decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals from Hong Kong who have been granted asylum or refugee status will be required to meet a 20-year settlement requirement.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK. We fully recognise the significant contribution that Hong Kongers have already made to the UK, and the role they will continue to play in the years ahead.

Those on the BN(O) visa route will receive a 5-year reduction under the new earned settlement model.

For those recognised as refugees, we will introduce a starting point of a 20-year qualifying period of settlement. Those who move from core protection onto the new core protection-work and study routes will be able to earn reductions.

Resettled refugees who have been granted protection and moved to the UK through official resettlement programmes are intended to start at 10 years, bringing them in line with other arrivals on planned migration routes.

Beyond this, full details of the new earned settlement model will be finalised following the currently ongoing public consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether B1 English-language qualifications will remain valid for current BNO visa holders approaching eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the requirement to B2 on carers, older applicants, and lower-income households.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed Migration Quantitative Indicators and changes to existing exemptions, including the English-language waiver for applicants aged 65 and over, will apply to current BNO visa holders who are nearing eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the rules originally in place.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed requirement for a sustained economic contribution under the BNO visa application route will apply to all adult applicants, including non-working spouses, unpaid carers, full-time students and retirees.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young adults currently in full-time education, who were under 18 at the time of their initial BNO visa application, will be exempt from the proposed sustained economic contribution requirement.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of retrospective protections for BNO dependants unable to meet the sustained economic contribution requirement.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help improve awareness and acceptance of XI VAT numbers among businesses outside Northern Ireland.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the member to the answer given to UIN 95354 on 04 December 2025

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve awareness and acceptance of XI VAT numbers among businesses outside Northern Ireland.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC has published guidance on GOV.UK setting out the requirements for any business trading in goods between the EU and Northern Ireland and the need for an XI VAT number.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of parcels from Northern Ireland being incorrectly flagged for EU customs checks due to UK-wide system defaults.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government introduced important new arrangements for the movement of parcels moving to and from Northern Ireland, ensuring that goods can continue to move smoothly between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

HMRC does not carry out routine customs checks on parcels moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, save those that are conducted on a risk and intelligence led basis to tackle fraud and criminality.

HMRC has published clear guidance to support parcel operators and continues to engage with the express sector regularly to ensure businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland benefit from these arrangements.

Phenylketonuria awareness and access to treatment (No. 2)

Thanking postal workers

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

New private capital in the NHS in the Autumn Budget

Sodium valproate and surgical mesh redress

68 Is Too Late report by the Prison Officers' Association

Recognising pets in domestic abuse protection orders

Two-child limit

Found: Labour; Gower) (Chair) Dan Aldridge (Labour; Weston-super-Mare) Chris Bloore (Labour; Redditch) Sorcha Eastwood

Found: Chinook Helicopters: Accidents 16 Jul 2025 | 65994 Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood To ask the Secretary