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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on setting a disposal date for Fort Blockhouse.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on setting a disposal date for Fort Blockhouse.
The Ministry of Defence, of which the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is part, has recently appointed and commissioned specialist advice on the future development potential of Fort Blockhouse 1 aligned with Gosport Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan.
As the Department’s clear intention is to move to war fighting readiness, I have directed that we examine non-core assets that could be disposed of to support our primary mission.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the disposal of Fort Blockhouse in Gosport.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the disposal of Fort Blockhouse in Gosport.
The Ministry of Defence, of which the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is part, has recently appointed and commissioned specialist advice on the future development potential of Fort Blockhouse 1 aligned with Gosport Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan.
As the Department’s clear intention is to move to war fighting readiness, I have directed that we examine non-core assets that could be disposed of to support our primary mission.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to 8028, whether she has made an assessment of the EU's recent guidance on the removal of the De Minimis; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of this policy on the zero-rating for printed products agreed in...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to 8028, whether she has made an assessment of the EU's recent guidance on the removal of the De Minimis; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of this policy on the zero-rating for printed products agreed in...
The Government have been following the development of the EU’s customs reforms closely, including the removal of the €150 customs duty relief for imports into the EU and related guidance. These changes do not impact the preferential rates of duty agreed in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The UK has engaged the European Commission on their reforms through forums including the UK-EU Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Co-operation and Rules of Origin. More broadly, the Government is working closely with the EU at all levels to support UK businesses’ trade in and with the EU.
I welcome the Minister for Veterans and People to his new role. He will be interested to know that my Gosport constituency has the highest proportion of veterans in the country. A lot of them are saying that Operation Valour has good intentions when it comes to improving visibility and triaging access to care services, but it does not invest in services like housing and healthcare. The new Conservative administration that has just taken over Gosport borough council has inherited a 541-strong waiting list for council houses, and the NHS waiting list for treatment has gone up by 17,000 across Hampshire, this year alone. What will stop Op Valour being more than just window-dressing? How will it invest in the services that our veterans rely on?
I welcome the Minister for Veterans and People to his new role. He will be interested to know that my Gosport constituency has the highest proportion of veterans in the country. A lot of them are saying that Operation Valour has good intentions when it comes to improving visibility and triaging access to care services, but it does not invest in services like housing and healthcare. The new Conservative administration that has just taken over Gosport borough council has inherited a 541-strong waiting list for council houses, and the NHS waiting list for treatment has gone up by 17,000 across Hampshire, this year alone. What will stop Op Valour being more than just window-dressing? How will it invest in the services that our veterans rely on?
I thank the hon. Member for her commitment to the veterans in her community, and for raising those important points. Operation Valour does not seek to usurp the wonderful third sector in this country; instead, we hope that Valour will empower that sector and share good experiences. She points out the shortage of council housing, which is a legacy of a past Conservative Government. I hope that her constituents, including the veterans, will benefit from the falling waiting list numbers.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Valuation Office Agency has made of the potential impact on small businesses of reclassifying flexible workspaces as single hereditaments for business rates purposes; and whether this assessment included the effect on eligibility for Small Business Rates Relief.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Valuation Office Agency has made of the potential impact on small businesses of reclassifying flexible workspaces as single hereditaments for business rates purposes; and whether this assessment included the effect on eligibility for Small Business Rates Relief.
HM Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives from the Flexible Space Association and the wider serviced office sector to understand the impact of business rates on the sector.
The Valuation Office (VO) is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. They are required to maintain accurate rating lists in England and to carry out valuations impartially and in line with relevant legislation and caselaw.
At this time, there is no sector-wide review of serviced office assessments underway. The VO is addressing properties where they have received legal advice, or where unit of assessment issues are brought to its attention.
Where the VO is required to determine the unit of assessment, it does so on a case-by-case basis, with all facts being considered. Reviewing a small number of cases will help clarify the application of legislation on serviced offices and the VO will continue to monitor legal developments and update its approach as needed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions Treasury ministers have had with the Flexible Space Association on the reclassification of flexible workspaces by the Valuation Office Agency.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions Treasury ministers have had with the Flexible Space Association on the reclassification of flexible workspaces by the Valuation Office Agency.
HM Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives from the Flexible Space Association and the wider serviced office sector to understand the impact of business rates on the sector.
The Valuation Office (VO) is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. They are required to maintain accurate rating lists in England and to carry out valuations impartially and in line with relevant legislation and caselaw.
At this time, there is no sector-wide review of serviced office assessments underway. The VO is addressing properties where they have received legal advice, or where unit of assessment issues are brought to its attention.
Where the VO is required to determine the unit of assessment, it does so on a case-by-case basis, with all facts being considered. Reviewing a small number of cases will help clarify the application of legislation on serviced offices and the VO will continue to monitor legal developments and update its approach as needed.
Main estimates 2026-27. Second estimates day (part one). Motion that, for the year ending with 31 March 2027, for expenditure by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: (1) further resources, not exceeding £3,862,598,000, be authorised for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1855 of Session 2024–26, (2) further resources, not exceeding £618,275,000, be authorised for use for capital purposes as so set out, and (3) a further sum, not exceeding £3,572,620,000, be granted to His Majesty to be issued by the Treasury out of the Consolidated Fund and applied for expenditure on the use of resources authorised by Parliament. Question deferred. Resolved.
Main estimates 2026-27. Second estimates day (part one). Motion that, for the year ending with 31 March 2027, for expenditure by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: (1) further resources, not exceeding £3,862,598,000, be authorised for use for current purposes as set out in HC 1855 of Session 2024–26,...
I cannot help thinking that, with youth hubs, the Government are trying to fix a problem of their own creation. The amount of young unemployed people in my constituency has gone up 23% since the Government took office in July 2024. Can I just let that figure sink in? Twenty-three per cent. The Secretary of State should be ashamed of what he has done to young people in the Gosport constituency. How has he done that? He has done it by ensuring that all the businesses that give young people the first foot on the employment ladder—hospitality, childcare or hair and beauty—have been poleaxed by the actions of this Government. Only this morning we heard—[Interruption.] Thank you, Mr Speaker. We heard the Prime Minister-in-waiting talking about the importance of creating growth. When will they realise that only businesses create growth, so get out of their way and let them do it?
I cannot help thinking that, with youth hubs, the Government are trying to fix a problem of their own creation. The amount of young unemployed people in my constituency has gone up 23% since the Government took office in July 2024. Can I just let that figure sink in? Twenty-three per cent. The Secretary of State should be ashamed of what he has done to young people in the Gosport constituency. How has he done that? He has done it by ensuring that all the businesses that give young people the first foot on the employment ladder—hospitality, childcare or hair and beauty—have been poleaxed by the actions of this Government. Only this morning we heard—[Interruption.] Thank you, Mr Speaker. We heard the Prime Minister-in-waiting talking about the importance of creating growth. When will they realise that only businesses create growth, so get out of their way and let them do it?
As Alan Milburn pointed out in his recent report, the UK’s NEET crisis is much more long-term and deep-seated than any decisions taken in the last few years. There are 400,000 more people in work than last year. The number of young people in employment is up by 74,000 since the election. It only went up by 1,000 during the Conservative party’s 14 years in power. From tomorrow, we will open a process of hiring incentives of £3,000 for any business that wants to take on a young person who has been out of work for six months or more. Shame is not the emotion I feel; it is passion for opening up work and opportunity to more young people, and that is what we are doing.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Capita’s administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Capita’s administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of backlogs in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of backlogs in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what powers he has to improve Capita’s administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what powers he has to improve Capita’s administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Capita has hit its target to restore service levels for the most urgent Civil Service Pension Scheme cases.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Capita has hit its target to restore service levels for the most urgent Civil Service Pension Scheme cases.
The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and Gov.uk.
Capita is under a firm mandate to restore full service delivery to standard contractual levels by the end of June 2026. We are actively exploring the use of all available commercial and contractual levers and continue to withhold milestone payments for missed transition deliverables. All options remain on the table if they fail to meet the June deadline.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times the Soft Power Council has met.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times the Soft Power Council has met.
The Soft Power Council was convened in January 2025 and has met four times.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of Soft Power Council meetings have had an FCDO Minister in attendance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of Soft Power Council meetings have had an FCDO Minister in attendance.
I refer the Hon Member to the minutes of each meeting which are publicly available at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-soft-power-council-membership-and-terms-of-reference
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of Soft Power Council sessions have had a CMS Minister in attendance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of Soft Power Council sessions have had a CMS Minister in attendance.
The Soft Power Council has met four times. All Soft Power Council meetings have been co-chaired by a DCMS Minister. The Secretary of State has co-chaired the meeting twice, and I have co-chaired the meeting once, as did the previous DCMS Minister of State.
The Secretary of State will know that the music and dance scheme supports so many talented young performers from lower-income backgrounds to access an arts education. She will also know that such specialist schools and conservatoires are now subject to VAT, because of changes brought in by her Government. In many cases, the bursaries do not even begin to cover the extreme costs, which are made up by family members, parents and everybody clubbing together to try to find the money. The VAT is still there, and it still makes a difference to whether they can afford it. What assessment has the Department made of the number of families paying VAT on the remaining fees, and how many talented young artists are now unable to attend as a result? I think I heard her right in saying that the bursaries will continue in the 2026-27 academic year, but could she please confirm that?
The Secretary of State will know that the music and dance scheme supports so many talented young performers from lower-income backgrounds to access an arts education. She will also know that such specialist schools and conservatoires are now subject to VAT, because of changes brought in by her Government. In many cases, the bursaries do not even begin to cover the extreme costs, which are made up by family members, parents and everybody clubbing together to try to find the money. The VAT is still there, and it still makes a difference to whether they can afford it. What assessment has the Department made of the number of families paying VAT on the remaining fees, and how many talented young artists are now unable to attend as a result? I think I heard her right in saying that the bursaries will continue in the 2026-27 academic year, but could she please confirm that?
I am very happy to confirm that the bursaries will continue in the 2026-27 academic year, and we have been able to increase the amount of funding available, which is a recognition of the cost pressures that families face. I very much agree with the hon. Member that bursaries are absolutely essential, which is why we have protected them even in these difficult financial circumstances. However, she will recognise the difficult circumstances we inherited from the previous Government. We have done our best to protect such things, and in the case of music and dance, we have been able to uplift the funding available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Adult Skills Fund cap on the ability of further education colleges to reduce the number of 18 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Adult Skills Fund cap on the ability of further education colleges to reduce the number of 18 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training.
We are committed to investing in education and skills training for adults. We have invested over £1.4 billion in the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) this academic year and will be investing the same amount next academic year.
The move of adult skills to the DWP provides an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the ASF and progression into the labour market and will help ensure that the skills and employment systems are more fully aligned.
With over one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. We are investing an additional £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy.
This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including through expanded network of Youth Hubs, earlier intensive support in Jobs Centres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds. It also includes investment to support the growth of Sector Based Work Academies which can be partially funded by the Adult Skills Fund.
We also recognise the crisis of participation that Alan Milburn has so clearly laid out in his interim report. We will use this interim report to continue to build our reforms and look forward to final recommendations in the Autumn.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the real value of Infected Blood compensation payments that have not yet been paid compared to compensation payments that have already been paid.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the real value of Infected Blood compensation payments that have not yet been paid compared to compensation payments that have already been paid.
The Government has established a tariff-based compensation scheme, in line with the Inquiry’s recommendations. A tariff-based scheme ensures that applicants have certainty about the total amount of compensation they will receive from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), regardless of when their application is processed. Consistently uprating compensation packages annually would not be consistent with this approach.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of publishers' ability to secure preferential rates of duty for goods sold through Import One Stop Shop. .
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of publishers' ability to secure preferential rates of duty for goods sold through Import One Stop Shop. .
The Import One Stop Shop is an EU VAT reporting and collection scheme for goods that are not subject to duty. It deals solely with the collection of VAT.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2026 to Question 4081 on Navy: Portsmouth, how many units within HMS Sultan and HMS Temeraire have a UIN for accounting purposes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2026 to Question 4081 on Navy: Portsmouth, how many units within HMS Sultan and HMS Temeraire have a UIN for accounting purposes.
I hope the hon. Member will understand that for reasons of operational security, it would not be appropriate to disclose the information requested.