Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to change rules for Cash ISAs.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to incentivising greater savings and investment. The Government recognises the important role that cash savings play in helping households build a financial buffer for a rainy day.

At Spring Statement, the Government announced that it is looking at options for reforms to Individual Savings Accounts that get the balance right between cash and equities to earn better returns for savers, boost the culture of retail investment, and support the growth mission.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether proposed changes to PIP will include people of pensionable age.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We have committed to introduce a new requirement that, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria, claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment. Our intention is that – subject to parliamentary approval – the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, only if they score fewer than 4 points in one category in their reassessment by a trained assessor or healthcare professional.

In keeping with existing policy, people over state pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to support male victims of sexual abuse.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse is an absolute priority for this Government. As you will be aware, this Government is faced with an incredibly challenging fiscal environment. Ensuring that the future service landscape meets the needs of different victim groups is important, whilst seeking to ensure we can support as many victims as possible within the current financial situation.

The views of organisations are being considered as we think innovatively about the best way to deliver services for all victims, and shape future service design, in the current fiscal environment. The Victims Minister held a men and boys roundtable on 27 November as part of this process to feed into design considerations of the future service for victims of sexual violence and officials continue to lead extensive market engagement as part of this process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on consumer protection laws.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act updates existing prohibitions on unfair trading in the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (2008) and introduces new consumer protections for subscription contracts.

The impact assessment for the DMCCA can be found here: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill - Impact Assessment Summary.docx. We will continue to monitor the impact of the measures on consumers.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate they have made of the number of UK residents with properties in the EU that are affected by post-Brexit restrictions; and what steps they are taking to (a) address and (b) remediate these.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There is no requirement for UK residents with properties in the EU to record these details with the UK Government.

The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the EU allows for travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling visa-free to the EU. Applications for visas to visit or stay for longer periods of time would be processed according to the rules of individual Member States.

The UK Government is using diplomatic channels to facilitate conversations with EU Member States about a range of issues affecting our citizens. We will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to update guidance on the ownership of XL Bullies.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The ban on XL Bullies is vital to protect the public and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the conditions. Up to date guidance for owners of XL Bullies is available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the definition of retail premises in clause 14 of the Crime and Policing Bill includes (a) travel ticket offices, (b) train stations and (c) commercial passenger trains.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we have introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. This applies only to shop workers.

The new offence is aimed specifically at shop workers due to the unacceptable, soaring levels of retail crime and assaults against retail workers in recent years.

Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.

Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 creates a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This includes those working in retail and other public-facing roles, including those working in the transport sector.

We will use the parliamentary process to scrutinise the provisions in the Bill and will consider carefully amendments tabled as well as evidence put forward in support of such amendments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the definition of retail workers in clause 14 of the Crime and Policing Bill includes staff selling tickets at (a) train station gate lines and (b) train station platforms.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we have introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. This applies only to shop workers.

The new offence is aimed specifically at shop workers due to the unacceptable, soaring levels of retail crime and assaults against retail workers in recent years.

Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.

Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 creates a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This includes those working in retail and other public-facing roles, including those working in the transport sector.

We will use the parliamentary process to scrutinise the provisions in the Bill and will consider carefully amendments tabled as well as evidence put forward in support of such amendments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the definition of retail workers in clause 14 of the Crime and Policing Bill includes transport revenue protection staff with the facility to sell tickets.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we have introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. This applies only to shop workers.

The new offence is aimed specifically at shop workers due to the unacceptable, soaring levels of retail crime and assaults against retail workers in recent years.

Those workers whose roles are not included within the definition are already covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.

Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 creates a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. This includes those working in retail and other public-facing roles, including those working in the transport sector.

We will use the parliamentary process to scrutinise the provisions in the Bill and will consider carefully amendments tabled as well as evidence put forward in support of such amendments.

UK Government recognition of the state of Palestine

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: Not moved_NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis

Found: Not moved_NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: _NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: _NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: _NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: _NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: _NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith

Found: COMMITTEE STAGE Thursday 15 May 2025 54 _NC40 Andrew Cooper Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham

Found: Rachel Gilmour Steve Witherden Sarah Russell Claire Hanna Euan Stainbank Neil Duncan-Jordan Connor Naismith