Every parliamentary written question tabled by Gareth Thomas this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 101–120 of 217 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she will hold discussions with her Israeli counterpart on allowing (a) Medicines Sans Frontiers and (b) UNWRA to continue to provide aid in Gaza.
I refer the Hon Member to the statement to the House I made on 5 January, and to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and several of her counterparts on 30 December, available on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jointstatementon-the-gaza-humanitarian-response
If she will visit a community development finance institution within the next six months.
Community development finance institutions (CDFIs) play an important role in supporting access to credit. My predecessor was pleased to chair a roundtable in July 2025 attended by banks and CDFIs, to discuss the barriers to achieving greater growth for CDFIs providing personal lending products. I am looking forward to a similarly productive discussion when I meet the Chief Executive of Responsible Finance later this Spring.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to stop goods produced in illegal settlements in the West Bank from entering the UK.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I provided on 15 October 2025 in response to Question 77510.
If she will ask the Financial Conduct Authority to assess whether the mission critical neighbourhoods, as identified by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, have an effective credit union or a community development finance institution providing access to affordable credit for local residents and businesses.
The Government recognises that credit, when provided responsibly, can be crucial for people facing unexpected expenses or managing their cash flow. The UK has a diverse landscape for credit provision to individuals and businesses, comprising traditional banks, challenger and specialist banks, and non-bank finance providers such as Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). In November, I published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, which includes a focus on how to improve access to affordable credit.The Strategy includes a pilot scheme for small sum lending and measures to strengthen the community finance sector, including encouraging partnerships with mainstream financial firms. The Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders to deliver on the interventions.
Communities and Local Government, if he will convene a meeting of ministers from relevant Departments to discuss the final report of the Independent Commission for neighbourhoods.
We continue to closely follow the work of the Commission which continues to make a strong case for investment in our most deprived neighbourhoods. The Pride in Place Programme, announced in September, demonstrates this Government’s firm commitment to backing neighbourhoods that have for too long been left behind and overlooked. This flagship programme will deliver up to £5bn funding and support to 244 of the most deprived places across Britain over the next decade, and our accompanying Pride in Place Strategy set out a broader plan for giving communities across the country the tools and powers they need to drive change in their neighbourhood. We will carefully consider the Commission’s findings once the final report is published which will inform our response on how we can build on this agenda to support the most in need neighbourhoods.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of a third runway on communities close to Heathrow.
The Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) sets out the mitigations a promoter must provide to minimise the impact of the project on the environment and affected communities. The review of the ANPS will consider if any changes are required to the existing mitigations. We will consult on any proposed amendments to the ANPS in summer 2026, and communities will have the chance to express their views.
Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to encourage the take-up of sport by people aged over 70.
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, including older people, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities to stay fit and healthy.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through DCMS’s Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Their ten-year Uniting the Movement strategy reinforces their commitment to increasing participation in sport and physical activity for those from under-represented groups, including older people. Sport England has also ensured that each of its programmes impact directly on those with long-term health conditions, including older people, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign.
What information his Department holds on changes in the number of pawn shops in England and Wales since 2010.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 8th January is attached.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions to ODA on access to prevention tools such as long-acting PrEP; and what steps she is taking to (a) ensure equitable global access to those tools and (b) end AIDS.
The UK remains firmly committed to ending AIDS. We continue to support the organisations at forefront of the global response to HIV, including UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and our investments to Unitaid, CHAI and MedAccess have helped shape the market for new HIV innovations, including Lenacapavir. A formal Equality impact assessment of Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025 to 2026 was published on 2 September 2025, and is available on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-official-development-assistance-programme-allocations-2025-to-2026-equality-impact-assessment/equality-impact-assessment-of-official-development-assistance-oda-programme-allocations-for-2025-to-2026). Assessments of the impact of future funding allocations will be made in due course once those allocations are set.
Whether she will discuss access to finance for businesses based in areas of deprivation with the Chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods.
HMT has engaged the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods and the Department continues to work with the Commission, including engaging with their recent report. I would welcome a discussion with the Chair on access to finance, should she think it helpful.
When he plans to make a decision on the replacement system for the NHS Electronic Staff Record.
The NHS Business Services Authority signed a contract with Infosys to deliver a new enhanced workforce management system for the National Health Service on 10 October 2025. Further details on the programme can be found at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/future-nhs-workforce-solution-transformation-programme
If she will introduce legislation to allow cooperatives to issue capital instruments to raise finance which don’t lead to demutualisation.
The government is keen to ensure that the law governing co-operatives and community benefit societies supports their growth. That is why we are funding the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. The Law Commission’s independent review is considering ways to update and modernise the legislation for co-operatives and community benefit societies, ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies as well as ensuring that regulation is proportionate and effective. The Law Commission is considering methods of raising capital, including society shares, as part of its review. The Law Commission will publish its final recommendations in 2026. Once this is published, the government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations to understand whether reform of the legislation is needed to ensure these businesses are supported to grow and succeed into the future.
Whether the replacement system for the NHS Electronic Staff Record will be required to record whether (a) clinicians have condition-specific specialisations such as a Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse and (b) roles are speciality-specific such as neuro physiotherapist.
National Health Service provider trusts are required to provide core workforce data to NHS England and the Department based on definitions set out in the National Workforce Data Set (NWD). The NWD is kept under review to ensure it is kept up to date while the burden on trusts of data collection remains proportionate.The replacement system for the NHS Electronic staff Record (ESR), the Future NHS Workforce System (FWS) will make it easier to record the information that aligns with NHS organisational needs, including the skills and specialisms of staff. NHS England is currently working with the NHS Business Services Authority to make the best use of the data capture ability of the new system.There is not a hard deadline for deciding what will be recorded on the FWS. As with ESR, new fields will be able to be added to meet the changing requirements of trusts and of national workforce planning. We will though need to continue to work with trusts to ensure that the data we require them to capture is both useful, proportionate and aligned with operational needs.
Whether she plans to apply for UK membership of Eurodac.
The UK-EU Summit on 19 May set out a framework for future cooperation on migration issues. We are working closely with EU partners to deliver new capability as it is crucial part of our response to Illegal Migration. We will not provide a running commentary of these negotiations
Whether she will discuss support for new mutual banks with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Business and Trade.
The government is committed to supporting the growth of mutual financial services in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the mutual and co-operative sector. HM Treasury works closely with departments across government, including the Department for Business and Trade, to deliver this commitment. We also engage regularly with the mutuals sector to understand the challenges they face and explore opportunities to help the sector grow.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92513, if he will confirm who the relevant authorities are.
The Secretary of State is aware that the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Ombudsman have been responding to the implications for clients in England and Wales of the firm’s closure. It would not be appropriate for him to comment any further and any inquiries should be directed to these relevant authorities.
What steps she is taking to improve access to affordable credit.
The Government recognises that affordable and responsible credit can help households manage unexpected costs and cash flow.In November, we published the Financial Inclusion Strategy, developed with consumer groups and industry. The Strategy includes a pilot scheme for small sum lending and measures to strengthen the community finance sector, including encouraging partnerships with mainstream financial firms.We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to implement the Strategy and improve access to affordable credit.
What steps she is taking to increase levels of household savings.
Everyone should have access to affordable and appropriate products for their financial wellbeing. The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring individuals and households have greater financial security.This is why the government offers several ways to help people save and increase their financial resilience. The overall ISA allowance of £20,000 ensures that savers can put significant sums away in a tax-free savings account. For those who save outside of an ISA, the Personal Savings Allowance provides up to £1,000 of tax-free savings interest for basic rate taxpayers, and £500 for higher rate taxpayers.The Help to Save scheme supports financial resilience for working people on low incomes by encouraging consistent, long-term saving and helping them build a financial buffer to plan and prepare for the future. The scheme is currently available to working individuals in receipt of Universal Credit, ensuring it remains targeted at its intended population.As announced at Autumn Budget 2025, the government will make the Help to Save scheme permanent and, from April 2028, will expand eligibility to include all Universal Credit claimants who receive the child element, the caring element or both.
Whether British students will be able to take part in the Erasmus+ exchange programme by January 2027.
As set out at the UK-EU Summit in May, the UK agreed to work towards association to the Erasmus+ programme on mutually agreed financial terms.Negotiations are ongoing, and the timelines for any association are subject to ongoing discussion. We are open to associating to Erasmus+ for 2027 in principle, but only if we can reach agreement on financial terms, which should ensure a fair balance as regards the contributions of and benefits to the UK.
Whether she will bring forward plans to make car insurance more affordable in general and particularly for those living in areas of deprivation.
Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment on the likelihood of a claim being made and the cost of those claims. The government does not generally intervene in these pricing decisions by insurance companies. However, the government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value, meaning the price paid by consumers should be reasonable compared to the overall benefits received. The Government launched a cross-government Motor Insurance Taskforce in October 2024 to address the rising costs of motor insurance, identifying short and long-term actions aimed at stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. The government plans to publish the final report of the Taskforce shortly. As part of the taskforce’s work to understand how the cost of motor insurance impacts on particular groups of customers, the FCA is conducting statistical analysis to evaluate the impacts on different age groups and consumers living in areas with a higher proportion of minority ethnic residents. The FCA will publish its findings later this year.