Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether each Government department has appointed a Procurement Innovation Champion, as announced in the Autumn Budget; and if he will publish (a) the name of appointees, (b) each department's innovation priorities for public procurement, and (c) the metrics being used to assess the success of those appointments.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor set out that each Department should appoint a Procurement of Innovation Champion at Director General level to act as driving forces for behavioural change and to support the identification and adoption of innovation opportunities across the organisation.

His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are co-ordinating the appointment of Procurement Innovation Champions and will publish an update on this shortly.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to fast-track immigration and deportation cases in which offenders have prolonged proceedings through appeals lasting more than three years.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice is only able to collect data on the timeliness of appeals; it does not record or hold information related to an appellant’s previous convictions or offending, or how long the overall deportation process takes.

We have taken steps to speed up appeals brought by Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). The latest figures show that, in 2025/26, the average time taken from receipt to disposal was 36 weeks for Detained HM Prison appeals and 16 weeks for Detained Immigration Removal Centre appeals, compared with 43 weeks and 20 weeks respectively in 2023/24 (Source: DIA_dataset_2025-26_Q4.ods). Further, we will shortly commence the 24-week statutory timeframe for appeals from those in supported accommodation and non-detained FNOs liable to deportation, as legislated in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.

Since the July 2024 election, there have been 9,805 removals of FNOs, to end of March 2026. This is 36% up on the 7,185 returns from the previous 21 months from October 2022 to June 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average tribunal waiting time is for the deportation of foreign national child sex offenders whose criminal sentences have fully expired.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice is only able to collect data on the timeliness of appeals; it does not record or hold information related to an appellant’s previous convictions or offending, or how long the overall deportation process takes.

We have taken steps to speed up appeals brought by Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). The latest figures show that, in 2025/26, the average time taken from receipt to disposal was 36 weeks for Detained HM Prison appeals and 16 weeks for Detained Immigration Removal Centre appeals, compared with 43 weeks and 20 weeks respectively in 2023/24 (Source: DIA_dataset_2025-26_Q4.ods). Further, we will shortly commence the 24-week statutory timeframe for appeals from those in supported accommodation and non-detained FNOs liable to deportation, as legislated in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.

Since the July 2024 election, there have been 9,805 removals of FNOs, to end of March 2026. This is 36% up on the 7,185 returns from the previous 21 months from October 2022 to June 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Gambling Impact Assessments enable local authorities to disapply the aim to permit presumption by creating a rebuttable presumption against the granting of new gambling premises licences in areas designated as being saturated with existing gambling premises.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Once introduced, gambling impact assessments will enable licensing authorities to adopt a presumption to reject applications in areas covered by the policy. This will mean that the presumption in favour of granting a licence resulting from the “aim to permit” principle will no longer apply in areas covered by a gambling impact assessment. However, licensing authorities will still be required to consider all premises applications even where a gambling impact assessment is in force.

On the 11^th August, the Prime Minister announced that DCMS will consult on repealing the “aim to permit” from the Gambling Act 2005. The consultation will be published in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending business rates improvement relief to property owners as well as occupiers.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The responsibility for paying business rates falls on the occupier of the property. Property owners could be eligible for Improvement Relief if they meet the eligibility criteria, such as completing qualifying works, and occupying the property during and after the improvement works have taken place.

The Call for Evidence published at Budget sought further evidence on the role business rates and reliefs play in investment, including Improvement Relief and Empty Property Relief. Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process, and any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact on investment in retail properties of reducing the standard business rates multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure properties by a further 5p to 38p from April 2027.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government is continuing to review the wider business rates system to ensure it better supports high streets, local economies and small businesses.

Further decisions on wider business rates reforms will be set out in the normal way at the Budget.

Richard Pengelly

Found: the digital ID Chris Bryant MP To 6 Sep 2025 Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms Feryal Clark

Found: the digital ID Chris Bryant MP To 6 Sep 2025 Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms Feryal Clark