Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with retailers on the prevention of shoplifting.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level and we will not stand for it. That’s why our Crime and Policing Bill introduces a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. Also included as part of the Bill, we will be repealing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, which means it can only be tried in a magistrate’s court, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.
Retail crime is regularly discussed with the sector at both Ministerial and official level. I am committed to chairing the Retail Crime Forum, which has held two very productive meetings to date. The Forum brings together representatives from the retail sector, security providers and law enforcement agencies to promote collaboration, share best practice and to work collectively to tackle the serious issue of retail crime.
This work includes the development of a new strategy to tackle shop theft published by retail sector representatives and policing. The strategy builds on previous progress made by police and retailers but provides a more comprehensive and intelligence-led approach to tackle all perpetrators of shop theft – not just organised criminal gangs.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to financially support the installation of flood defences in (a) Slough constituency and (b) the Thames Valley.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We’re investing a record £2.65 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The full list of over 700 schemes to benefit from fresh funding this year, including Thames Valley and Slough, was announced on 31 March and can be found here.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps has he taken to help reduce waiting times for mental health treatment in the South East.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Waiting times for those referred to mental health services are too high all across England, including in the South East.
Too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.
We are committed to improving mental health care for people with a range of mental health conditions, and to shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, as we make the National Health Service fit for the future.
In the Spending Review announcement, we have confirmed that we will fulfil the Government’s commitments to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health staff, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, by the end of the Parliament, and we will expand mental health support teams in schools in England to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30.
Our reforms to the Mental Health Act will give patients a greater say in their care and will ensure that people get the appropriate and compassionate mental health support they need.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to increase the purchase limit for properties outside of London when using a Help to Buy ISA.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home, and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.
The Government keeps savings policy under review, any changes to savings policy would be made at a relevant fiscal event.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has any plans to review the length of statutory paternity leave.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to making sure that parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and home lives. The Employment Rights Bill will make Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ Right allowing eligible employees to give notice of their intention to take these entitlements from their first day in a new job.
We understand that the parental leave system needs further improvement. That is why we have committed to conducting a review of the system, to ensure it best supports working families.
The review will look at Paternity Leave and Pay, and the length of leave available to fathers and partners.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to ban the import of produce from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the OPTs should be handled.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has provided military assistance to Israel since March 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence has provided military assistance to Israel since March 2025 for the sole purpose of rescuing hostages in Gaza.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps her Department has taken to help prevent (a) violence and (b) abuse against public transport workers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker; everyone should feel safe and be safe whilst working. The Government values the commitment of everyone who works in the public transport sector ensuring the continued running of all the vital services which many people rely on daily.
We work closely with the transport industry, and on the railway the British Transport Police (BTP), on a continuous basis to ensure that they are supported to tackle offences wherever they occur on the transport network.
On the railway the BTP work closely with the rail industry to encourage staff to report offences so they can take action against offenders.
Through the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, we propose to mandate training for staff including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. Training for drivers should cover how to identify and respond to anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. We intend to make clear that training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so. The government intends to issue statutory guidance that considers the most appropriate response to criminal or anti-social behaviour, while protecting the safety of staff.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to ensure adequate (a) working conditions and (b) pay for app-based (i) private hire drivers and (ii) couriers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In “Next Steps to Make Work Pay” the Department for Business and Trade committed to consulting on a simpler framework for employment status. As part of this consultation, it will also explore how to implement the targeted and specific manifesto commitments to enhance protections for self-employed workers.
Individuals are entitled to National Minimum Wage if they are considered a worker or employee under employment rights legislation - some app-based workers are self-employed so do not come in scope.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a cross-government strategy to eliminate period poverty.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
We recognise that period poverty is a symptom of the wider pressures of the cost of living, which is why this Government is focussed on raising living standards in every part of the UK, so working people have more money in their pocket, and supporting those most in need.
As regards period products specifically, several steps have been taken to improve the overall affordability of products. Since 2021, a zero rate of VAT has applied to all period products, and in 2023 this was extended to cover reusable period underwear.
The Government additionally supports a number of schemes so that those in most need can access period products. All women and girls being cared for by the NHS are entitled to be given, on request, appropriate period products free of charge. Similarly, the Department for Education run a scheme to provide free period products to girls and women in their place of study; with all state-maintained primary and secondary schools, and 16-19 educational organisations, eligible.