Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the rise in Employer's National Insurance Contributions on a) SMEs and b) hospitality businesses.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) changes. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the Exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.
The Government protected the smallest businesses from these changes by more than doubling the Employment Allowance, which allows eligible employers to reduce their employer NICs bill by up to £10,500 per year.
More broadly, the Government is backing hospitality businesses with a package to support high streets which means that all retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England will see their business rates either frozen in real terms, reduced, or cut to zero.
The Government is also helping employers, particularly SMEs, recruit the workers they need by expanding local apprenticeship services, and providing eligible SMEs with a £2,000 hiring payment when recruiting young apprentices.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the report entitled Water industry performance insights: joint regulator report, published on 29 October 2026.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The joint regulator report gives the public a clearer picture of water company performance and where improvement is needed. The upcoming Water Bill is designed to deliver real-world change by strengthening accountability and oversight so poor performance can be identified early and addressed decisively when water company standards fall short.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Environment Secretary commits to take further action against water bosses over pollution, 29 October 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of further improvement actions on Thames Water's performance.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The upcoming Water Bill is designed to deliver real-world change by strengthening accountability and oversight so poor performance can be identified early and addressed decisively when water company standards fall short.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of (a) the impact of the increase in employer's national insurance contributions and the rising National Living Wage on nursery fees, (b) the impact of the levels of insurance costs on nursery fees and (c) the impact of the levels of nursery fees on employment and the wider economy.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises that early years providers face a range of cost pressures and that the cost of childcare can influence parents’ employment decisions.
Providers set their own fees for privately purchased hours. Eligible working families can access 30 hours of government-funded childcare a week from nine months until school age to make childcare more affordable and support parents to enter work, increase their hours or remain in employment. Families using their full entitlement can save an average of £8,000 per eligible child each year. Eligible families can also receive support for childcare costs through Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare.
In the 2026/27 financial year, the government expects to spend over £9.5 billion in the early years entitlements, with national average funding rates increasing by 4.95% for 3 to 4-year-olds before the termly funding adjustment, 4.36% for 2-year-olds, and 4.28% for 9 months to 2-years-old compared to the 2025/26 financial year. These increases reflect forecast cost pressures on the sector, including the National Living Wage announced at Autumn Budget 2025, and wider workforce pressures felt by the sector since April 2025.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of trends in levels of public understanding of (a) climate risk, (b) biodiversity loss and (c) actions required to achieve net zero.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We regularly undertake research on public awareness, behaviours, and attitudes relating to the department’s policy areas.
This includes the DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker, a nationally representative triannual survey of adults in the UK. Long-term research projects such as this one allow us to identify trends over time, including changes in public concerns about climate change and public attitudes to the actions required to achieve net zero.
The latest Public Attitudes Tracker report is from the Summer 2026 wave of the survey and is published here: DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker Summer 2026. Insights from this survey and wider research commissioned by the department on a range of climate and energy issues informs ongoing policy development.
Other Government Departments undertake similar research including biodiversity loss.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of a nationally coordinated public information campaign on climate change and nature loss comparable in reach to historic public information broadcasts on public health, civil defence and emergency preparedness.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise the importance of providing clear and trusted information to the public on climate change and nature loss. Our cross-departmental, benefits-led communications strategy prioritises explaining the benefits of clean energy, through an approach that is clear, place-based and people-centred. We show how we are taking action to tackle the climate crisis across all possible stories.
On 13 July, the Government delivered its second annual statement to Parliament on the state of climate and nature, providing an honest appraisal of their condition in the UK and setting out actions being taken in response.
Our ‘Energising Britain’ public participation plan for climate and nature action, sets out how the Government will work to ensure people have the facts and understand the scale, pace of change and benefits of climate and nature action and the benefits to their local communities.
Our communications are informed by audience insight and evaluation from several sources, and we continue to explore a range of engagement approaches.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority communicated concerns relating to the Seventy Ninth Group to any regulated banks, building societies and payment service providers before the public announcement of the criminal investigation into that company.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The FCA will respond to the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame Oxfordshire, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has assessed the potential merits of putting trackers in farm equipment when manufactured to prevent theft.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 provides for security requirements with regards to the sale of specified equipment. The Government has consulted extensively on its implementation. A Call for Evidence ran from May to July 2023, seeking views from manufacturers, dealers, retailers, trade associations, tradespeople, forensic-marking companies and law-enforcement practitioners. We have used those responses to inform our approach to secondary legislation. We intend initially to introduce regulations requiring forensic marking and database registration for new All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and removable GPS units used for agricultural and commercial purposes.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures are in place to ensure students are informed of student loan repayment thresholds and contracts.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We understand that the student loan system we inherited is of significant concern to graduates. Prospective students have access to information about student loan repayment arrangements before applying, including through GOV.UK and Student Loans Company (SLC) guidance. This enables them to consider the costs of borrowing alongside the benefits of higher education.
The full terms and conditions are provided at the final stage of the application process. Students cannot submit their application without confirming that they have read and understood them. These make clear that loan conditions may change in line with the regulations governing student loans. Borrowers can find out about repayment thresholds and interest rates either on GOV.UK or in their statement.
In response to the Treasury Committee report on student loans, the government committed to improving information and guidance so it is clear, fair and accessible, including making clearer that loan terms are governed by legislation and may be amended by future governments. With SLC, we are improving guidance using customer insight, user research and government best practice.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if in reviewing Local Government Reorganisation in Oxfordshire she will consider a modification so that Dorchester, Warborough, Shillingford and Overy form part of Ridgeway rather than Greater Oxford.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Hon. Member to my statement of 29 October.