There have been no changes to duty free allowances between the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.

Duty free allowances do not apply for travellers from the EU arriving in Northern Ireland. The enforcement controls required at the border to facilitate such allowances would run counter to the shared ambitions of the UK and the EU set out in the Windsor Framework and the principle of the frictionless movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Travellers from the Netherlands to Northern Ireland are not treated differently to travellers arriving in Northern Ireland from any other member state.

Travellers can bring in for their personal use an unlimited quantity of goods from any EU member state into Northern Ireland without paying UK duties and taxes on arrival.

There are no duty free allowances between any member state of the EU and Northern Ireland. Travellers can bring in for their personal use an unlimited quantity of goods from any EU member state into Northern Ireland without paying UK duties and taxes on arrival.

For goods brought into Great Britain from a member state of the EU by a traveller for their personal use, duty free allowances apply.

On 6 July 2026, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, and Poland reiterated our shared commitment to strengthening defence financing through the establishment of a Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM). As part of this commitment, the Defence Investment Plan includes £400 million towards the UK's contribution to the MDM.

This independent international financial institution will address our collective challenges in defence procurement by aggregating demand through procurement to achieve better value for money. It will lend to members for joint procurement, stockpiling on members' behalf, and supply chain finance to improve capability, interoperability, and value for money.

We continue to work with close allies to move quickly to formal Treaty negotiations, respecting individual members' ratification processes, while maintaining the shared ambition of setting up the MDM by 2027.

The Joint Commando Craft programme will provide the Commando Force with a high-speed insertion craft capable of deploying personnel, uncrewed systems, vehicles and specialist payloads across challenging littoral environments. The programme is being developed in collaboration with Norway to enhance interoperability, support operations in the High North and improve the effectiveness of UK and Norwegian Commando forces.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to Question 16531 published on 15 July 2026.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-07/16531

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to Question 16531 published on 15 July 2026.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-07/16531

British and Dutch forces are set to be equipped with new amphibious transport ships under a new maritime partnership. Based on a Dutch design, the ships will be built in UK shipyards alongside Dutch industry as part of a £2.4 billion deal, which is expected to support hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs. The new ships will form the backbone of a strengthened UK-Netherlands amphibious force, with each nation operating four vessels.

DWP Youth Hubs are focused on addressing the barriers those aged 16-24 may face in moving into work, training or learning. We are expanding our Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain. Youth Hubs will bring together partners from health, skills and the voluntary sector, working closely with Mayors and local authorities to deliver joined-up community-based support.

There are currently no plans to establish a Youth Hub in the South Shropshire area. The nearest Youth Hub is located in the Shrewsbury constituency and is based at the Shrewsbury Town Football Club Foundation. The policy aims to ensure young people can access a Youth Hub within an hour. Where this is not possible, support remains available through their local Jobcentre.

We encourage those interested in setting up a Youth Hub to contact their local Jobcentre Service Leader.

The Department for Transport has not made assessments of the effectiveness of average speed camera systems in reducing collisions in France, Germany or the Netherlands, and has not made recent assessments specifically of the impact of average speed camera installations on casualty numbers, speeding violations or fatal road traffic collisions in urban areas.

The deployment and operation of speed camera systems are matters for local police forces and traffic authorities, which are responsible for decisions on where cameras are installed.

The Department provides guidance on the use of speed and red-light cameras and has committed to updating this guidance as part of the Road Safety Strategy, with evidence gathering and assessment forming part of that work. The Department does not maintain a central record of average speed camera systems installed in England or of local authorities that may have received funding support for such installations.

After the last Government tied up HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, never planning to send them to sea again, this Labour Government are bringing back amphibious ships. We are working with the Netherlands to develop a joint capability, and our ambition—[Interruption.]

I was pleased to see co-operation with the Netherlands on a new amphibious fleet in the defence investment plan. I spent two years of my career working alongside the Dutch marines, and the Royal Marines have a long history of co-operation with them—mostly not fighting each other—but since our amphibious ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are out of service, when can we expect amphibious ships to be operational in this new Anglo-Dutch fleet?

I was pleased to see co-operation with the Netherlands on a new amphibious fleet in the defence investment plan. I spent two years of my career working alongside the Dutch marines, and the Royal Marines have a long history of co-operation with them—mostly not fighting each other—but since our amphibious ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are out of service, when can we expect amphibious ships to be operational in this new Anglo-Dutch fleet?

There are 46 key stage 4 (KS4) Technical Awards, which pupils can take alongside GCSEs. These qualifications cover broad sector areas such as health and social care, building and construction, and support the development of knowledge and practical skills. In 2024/25, 45% of students in state-funded schools took at least one Technical Award.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review emphasised maintaining stability to allow these qualifications to embed fully in the system and did not recommend introducing structured vocational pathways at ages 11 to 14, and we have no current plans to pilot such models. For pupils in KS4, we will review the current suite of Technical Awards from 2027 with a focus on their impact and progression to post-16 pathways.

This is because the Review concluded that in comparison to other jurisdictions, we have a reasonably broad and balanced curriculum to age 16, which offers all children an entitlement to a core set of knowledge. The department is maintaining the existing architecture of key stages, national assessments and qualifications, which international comparisons suggest have had a positive impact on attainment. New measures at key stage 3, including better sequenced content, a year 8 statutory reading test and improved use of diagnostic assessment, are designed to support engagement and progress without narrowing the curriculum prematurely. To prepare learners for a changing world, we are developing an oracy framework and embedding financial, media and digital literacy and climate and sustainability education into the relevant subjects.

The Review concluded that structured vocational pathways are most effective post‑16. The department is therefore reforming the 16 to 19 system through A levels, T Levels and new V Levels, alongside redesigned Level 2 pathways, ensuring clear, high quality routes into technical fields and helping address skills shortages, including in construction and the wider technical trades.

The Government condemns the despicable attacks claimed by Harakat Ashab al Yamin al Islamia, and - while we do not routinely disclose operational details - we continue to work with other governments, including in Belgium and the Netherlands, to exchange information and tackle shared security threats. During the Foreign Secretary's talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Berendsen on 25 March, she conveyed the UK's solidarity with the Jewish community in the Netherlands, following the attacks they have suffered.

The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.

Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.

The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.

Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.

The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.

Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.

Last week the Chancellor announced that the UK is exploring a new defence mechanism for financing driving joint demand by 2027 with the Netherlands and Finland and other EU and NATO partners.

This is still in development with partners and will follow best international practice and relevant HM Government Guidance, including Managing Public Money.