Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lee Dillon this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 261–280 of 640 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the continued delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank.
I refer the Hon Member to the responses given on 20 January to the identical set of questions asked by his colleague, the Member for South Cambridgeshire, on 12 January (UINs 105089, 105090, 105095 and 105097)
Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government has taken to reach a decision on the 10% commission charge payable to site owners on the sale of park homes.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.
What steps she is taking to address regional disparities in school exclusion rates.
The department publishes detailed exclusion data at a regional and local authority level and regularly monitors trends in school exclusion rates for pupil groups.The department is delivering a comprehensive programme of behaviour support for schools, including Attendance and Behaviour Hubs which are targeting schools with the highest need and providing wider national support The Suspension and Permanent Exclusion guidance states that schools, local authorities, and partners should work together to understand local trends. Local leaders should also use this to plan and implement targeted action suitable to local context. The guidance can be read in full here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion.Furthermore, the statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance includes curriculum content on drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping to ensure that pupils can understand the risks and implications of misuse. This guidance can be read in full here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.
Whether his Department has plans to extend business rates reimbursement to community pharmacies on the same basis as GP practices and NHS dental surgeries.
In the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Government took the hard choices to protect the National Health Service in England and to continue to prioritise reducing waiting times. We have also stepped in to cap bills and help businesses, as part of a £4.3 billion support package.This year, we have also increased funding to community pharmacies to almost £3.1 billion, the largest uplift in funding for any part of the NHS across 2024/25 and 2025/26.The Department will consult Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors for 2026/27 shortly.
What steps have been taken to help ensure that employers are aware of National Insurance relief available when hiring apprentices under the age of 25.
HMRC maintains comprehensive GOV.UK guidance to help employers understand the Class 1 NICs relief for apprentices under the age of 25, which has been in place since 2016. It can be found here: Paying employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25 - GOV.UK. Beyond the NICs relief, the government is committed to supporting the employers of young Apprentices and at Budget 2025 announced a change to fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible people under 25.
Whether she has plans to amend the temporary repatriation facility to encourage greater take-up by non-domiciled individuals.
On 6 April 2025 the outdated concept of domicile was removed from the tax system and replaced with a new residence-based regime, including a four-year foreign income and gains regime. The new regime includes the temporary repatriation facility (TRF) for individuals who have previously used the remittance basis to designate and pay tax at a reduced rate on foreign income and gains that arose prior April 2025. The reforms to the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive, with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. At Budget 2025, the government announced that it is introducing a cap on Inheritance Tax charges on trusts settled by former non-doms prior to Autumn Budget 2024. This reflects the significant amount of tax impacted individuals are expected to pay by remaining in the UK, as well as their wider economic contribution. This cap will apply to trust charges arising from April 2025. At Budget 2025, the government also published the Finance Bill, which includes technical amendments to the legislation for the TRF. These include amendments to remove specific barriers to using the facility.
What steps she is taking to provide increased incentives for non-domiciled individuals to remain in the UK.
On 6 April 2025 the outdated concept of domicile was removed from the tax system and replaced with a new residence-based regime, including a four-year foreign income and gains regime. The new regime includes the temporary repatriation facility (TRF) for individuals who have previously used the remittance basis to designate and pay tax at a reduced rate on foreign income and gains that arose prior April 2025. The reforms to the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive, with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. At Budget 2025, the government announced that it is introducing a cap on Inheritance Tax charges on trusts settled by former non-doms prior to Autumn Budget 2024. This reflects the significant amount of tax impacted individuals are expected to pay by remaining in the UK, as well as their wider economic contribution. This cap will apply to trust charges arising from April 2025. At Budget 2025, the government also published the Finance Bill, which includes technical amendments to the legislation for the TRF. These include amendments to remove specific barriers to using the facility.
When he plans to publish further details of apprenticeship units funded under the Growth and Skills Levy.
The department will publish this information shortly.
What evaluation has been carried out of the potential impact of fully funding apprenticeship training for under-22s in small and medium-sized enterprises on apprenticeship starts, prior to the announcement of an expansion to under-25s.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 101450.
What assessment he has made of trends in the level of employer investment in skills training since 2017.
According to the Employer Skills Survey, a biennial site level survey of tens of thousands of employers across the UK, total employer expenditure on training fell by 17% in the UK between 2017 and 2024. The apprenticeship levy was introduced in 2017 to support employers to invest in high-quality apprenticeships training and to ensure sustainable funding for all employers of all sizes. We continue to engage with industry to support the upskilling and training of employees. The reforms set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper support adult skills training for industries across our economy through the Growth and Skills Levy (which received an additional £725m of investment at Budget 2025), the Adult Skills Fund, and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which will be available from academic year 2026/27. We will work with business and employers over the coming months to ensure that the Growth and Skills Levy offer is developed to help meet their needs and incentivise employer investment in training.
What safeguards he plans to include in the Growth and Skills Levy to protect funding for small and medium-sized enterprises.
This government recognises the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises who are responsible for around 40% of apprenticeship starts and provide valuable opportunities for young people. That is why we have said that we will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) for all eligible people aged under 25 from the start of the next academic year. This change will make it easier for those employers to engage with apprenticeships across the country by cutting costs and reducing bureaucracy for both them and their training providers. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16 to 21 and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care. Small and medium-sized enterprises also benefit from a £1,000 payment when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care. The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which comprises 2,500 employers and apprentices who volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. It operates across all parts of England through nine regional networks. These networks provide buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices.
What steps he will take to ensure that apprenticeship opportunities for young people are protected under the Growth and Skills Levy.
This government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy that will give greater flexibility to employers and support young people at the beginning of their careers. In August 2025, we introduced new foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. They are underpinned by additional funding for employers of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. We are investing an additional £725 million to deliver the next phase of the growth and skills levy and meet our ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We will expand foundation apprenticeships into sectors that traditionally recruit young people, launch a pilot with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities, and fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from the next academic year. The government also facilitates the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), comprising around 2,500 employer and apprentice volunteers who go into schools and colleges to share their compelling stories and experiences of what apprenticeships can do for young people.
What steps she is taking to encourage businesses to offer work placements for 16 to 18 year-olds within and outside the T Level programme.
T Levels give young people a strong route into skilled employment, with 96% of completing students completing their industry placement last year. The Skills for Life campaign raises awareness of T Levels and other training, ensuring businesses understand their value. Our network of over 1,000 T Level ambassadors strengthens understanding and engagement with businesses. The Careers & Enterprise Company provides resources to help employers engage with schools and colleges. Local careers hubs coordinate employer encounters such as work experience placements, career talks and mentoring. The department is delivering a targeted small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) campaign to increase awareness of T Level industry placements and encourage more employers to take part. The government is investing £6.3 million through the employer support fund to encourage SMEs and key‑sector employers to host T Level placements supporting with hosting costs. As part of the construction skills package, the government has committed £100 million to support 40,000 industry placements each year for level 2 and 3 construction learners.
What steps she is taking to increase employer awareness of training programmes available beyond apprenticeships.
The government’s Skills for Life campaign promotes the wide range of range of training options available to employers, including apprenticeships, T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications. This includes digital advertising, public relations, social media, trade press partnerships and collaboration with business organisations. We offer support, events and guidance to T Level providers to develop and implement effective employer engagement strategies. Our network of over 1000 T Level Ambassadors builds T Level understanding and engagement in the business community. 1,390 businesses of all sizes are using our Employer Standards framework to assess and report on the impact of their employer engagement, helping to open new pathways and opportunities in their sector for young people.Local Skills Improvement Plans bring together local employers, leaders and training providers to identify and address skills needs, giving employers a strategic voice in shaping skills provision and support to recruit/train skilled workforces.
What steps she is taking to improve the quality and availability of industry placements for T Levels.
T Levels are providing excellent opportunities for young people to progress into skilled jobs and careers, and 96% of students in receipt of a T Level result completed their industry placement last year. The national Skills for Life campaign raises awareness of skills development that includes T Levels, ensuring businesses and learners understand their value. Our network of over 1,000 T Level Ambassadors builds T Level understanding and engagement in the business community. The department supports employers to host high-quality placements through guidance, workshops and direct support. Our digital Connect service supports local providers and employers to connect with each other and our updated delivery approaches allow greater flexibility for providers to design a high-quality placement experience. We provide targeted support for industry placements in specific sectors and localities, with seven industry placement coordinators currently in local NHS integrated care systems, and an employer support fund supporting small and medium sized enterprises and priority sectors with the essential costs of hosting a placement.
What plans she has to increases levels of emphasis on the development of work-related skills in schools and colleges.
A reformed national curriculum will provide pupils with a broad range of knowledge and skills that prepares them for adult life. The department will prepare young people for life and careers in a changing world, embedding vital applied knowledge skills in financial, media and digital literacy in the revised curriculum, improving climate and sustainability education. We will make citizenship compulsory in key stages 1 and 2 and will explore a new level 3 qualification in data science and artificial intelligence. We are also setting out a new enrichment framework for every pupil, which will help them play, explore, create, and develop wider life skills. We will develop ‘V Levels’ as the pathway of vocational qualifications at level 3 for young people. These will be linked to occupational standards. This will be complemented by sharing best practice between 16-19 providers to ensure students develop the important applied knowledge and transferable skills for adulthood.
What plans she has to increases levels of emphasis on the development of essential life skills in schools and colleges.
A reformed national curriculum will provide pupils with a broad range of knowledge and skills that prepares them for adult life. The department will prepare young people for life and careers in a changing world, embedding vital applied knowledge skills in financial, media and digital literacy in the revised curriculum, improving climate and sustainability education. We will make citizenship compulsory in key stages 1 and 2 and will explore a new level 3 qualification in data science and artificial intelligence. We are also setting out a new enrichment framework for every pupil, which will help them play, explore, create, and develop wider life skills. We will develop ‘V Levels’ as the pathway of vocational qualifications at level 3 for young people. These will be linked to occupational standards. This will be complemented by sharing best practice between 16-19 providers to ensure students develop the important applied knowledge and transferable skills for adulthood.
What steps he is taking to reduce the number of patients waiting for longer than 12 hours in A&E.
The Government recognises that urgent and emergency care performance has fallen short in recent years. We are committed to restoring accident and emergency waiting times to the NHS Constitutional standard.Provisional NHS England data for November 2025 shows that 7.2% of patients in England waited over 12 hours from arrival, an improvement from 10.8% in November 2024. Please note that these figures are provisional and may be subject to revision with finalised data published the following month. Both provisional and finalised data can be accessed at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 sets out a fundamental shift in the approach to urgent and emergency care, aiming to reduce the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for admission or discharge to less than 10%. This is supported by nearly £450 million of capital investment to expand urgent and emergency care services across the country.
What steps his Department is taking to promote UK-manufactured hydrogen technologies in international markets.
As a frontier Industrial Strategy sector, the government has committed to targeted support to boost exports of hydrogen sector goods and services by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network, providing greater access to international supply chains and — as outlined in the Trade Strategy — by expanding clean energy sector agreements, like the UK-Germany Hydrogen Partnership.To support these opportunities, the UK’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029, alongside options to support overseas sales, including loan guarantees for foreign buyers, and working capital, insurance and bond support products to assist UK suppliers.
What steps he is taking to ensure adequate supporting services to enable swift discharges from hospital in winter 2025-26.
The Urgent and Emergency Care plan for 2025/26 identifies reducing delays in hospital discharge as a key priority. Hospitals are expected to eliminate discharge delays of more than 48 hours caused by in-hospital issues, to work with local authorities to tackle the longest delays, starting with those over 21 days, and to profile discharges by pathway to support local planning. Further information on the Urgent and Emergency Care plan for 2025/26 is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/urgent-and-emergency-care-plan-2025-26/In addition, the 2025/26 policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund requires the National Health Service and local authorities to jointly agree local goals for reducing discharge delays. This can include intermediate care and reablement support services which primarily focus on providing individuals with a short-term period of rehabilitation or reablement to maximise independence. These services can either follow a discharge from hospital, known as step-down, or provide an alternative to hospital or care home admission, known as step-up. Further information on the Better Care Fund policy framework is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-care-fund-policy-framework-2025-to-2026