Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of whether the UK's tax treaty arbitration arrangements allow multinational companies to delay the collection of UK tax in transfer pricing and Diverted Profits Tax disputes; and whether the Government will review those arrangements to ensure that profits generated in the UK are taxed fairly in the UK and that UK tax revenues are protected.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
There is no special provision or allowance under the UK’s tax treaties for the suspension or deferral of tax payments by multinational companies.
For transfer pricing cases, HMRC may suspend collection of the disputed tax while a Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) case is ongoing. MAP may include mandatory binding arbitration where provided for under the relevant treaty, however, there is no additional or separate right to delay payment of UK tax in relation to arbitration. Postponement of tax during MAP is only available under the same conditions that apply to domestic administrative or judicial remedies. Interest will continue to accrue, where appropriate, on any underpaid tax ultimately found to be due.
DPT charges cannot be postponed on any grounds. The Diverted Profits Tax (DPT) was repealed by the Finance Act 2026 and replaced by the Unassessed Transfer Pricing Profits (UTPP) rules, as part of a wider package of reforms to simplify and modernise the legislation relating to transfer pricing, diverted profits tax and permanent establishments. Charges under the UTPP rules also cannot be postponed on any grounds, except to the extent that tax has already been paid on the same profits.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2026 to question 14817, what specific representations his Department made on behalf of the vending industry to the Department for Health and Social Care.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department regularly engages with the Department of Health and Social Care on a range of issues affecting business sectors. This has included consideration of the impacts of policy proposals on businesses and implementation considerations. However, it would not be appropriate to disclose further details of internal Government policy discussions, as doing so could prejudice the effective development of Government policy.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in each of the past three financial years, how much Housing Benefit has been paid to providers of Supported Accommodation.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Department's Benefit Expenditure and Caseload outturn and forecast tables can be found in the ‘Housing Benefits’ sheet here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2026.
Equivalent estimates are not available for earlier years due to historical data quality issues in the recording of supported accommodation cases.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Laotian counterpart on the protection of Christian converts and other religious minority communities in that country.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
The UK is committed to promoting and defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK has discussed freedom of religion or belief with the Lao authorities through bilateral dialogue, including at the UK-Laos Political Dialogue which took place in London in September 2025. We also work through the UN to promote and protect these rights, including raising country specific issues at the UN Human Rights Council. Laos' UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held in 2025, during which the UK raised concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and religion.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the thematic Value for Money Review of homelessness will include an analysis of value added by charitable and not-for-profit homelessness services which do not currently receive government funding.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Value for Money Review of homelessness will assess the underlying cost-effectiveness of cross government spend that helps to prevent and relieve all forms of homelessness, and will make actionable recommendations that improve efficiency, accountability, outcomes, and reduce financial pressures on councils. As part of the review, we will also seek views from external stakeholders via the Homelessness Expert Group which includes representatives from front-line services, local government, and the third sector.
For further details please see the published Terms of Reference available here.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer to question 11397, what representations his Department made to the Department for Health and Social Care on the vending machine industry and the proposed ban on the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade engaged with the Department of Health and Social Care during the development of proposals relating to the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. As is standard practice, Ministers and officials work closely with counterparts across Government to help inform policy development, including consideration of impacts.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the proposals to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Department of Health and Social Care regularly engages with other Government departments, including the Department for Business and Trade, on a range of policies. This includes policy on high-caffeine energy drinks and proposals relating to their sale to children.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Qatar on due process and freedom of religion or belief for members of the Bahá’í community.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a strong advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all, and we continue to engage with the Government of Qatar on issues around human rights and the importance of due process, including for members of religious minority groups. We also remain in contact with members of the Bahá'í community both in the UK and in Qatar to understand their concerns.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Hughes Report, what estimate he has made of the timescale for the relevant department to reach conclusions and decisions on the report's recommendations.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.
We are still in the process of considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those that have been affected. This work takes time and we will respond once this work is complete.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the Nigerian authorities to (a) investigate and (b) prosecute those responsible for violence against (i) Christian women and girls and (b) members of other religious minority communities.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since my statement to the House on 27 November 2025 (HWCS1105), we have continued to raise the importance of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) with the Nigerian authorities on a regular basis, as well as the security situation for women and girls at risk of violence and abduction.
The Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, visited Nigeria in May, where he met with Nigerian Government figures including the National Security Advisor and Minister of Information to discuss promoting interreligious dialogue and tackling the causes of insecurity.
In April, the Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman, attended the opening of the Nigeria Peace Summit, bringing together senior Muslim and Christian leaders to support Nigerian-led approaches to reducing intercommunal violence.