Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) trade bodies and (c) businesses on the potential impact of class action lawsuits on levels of (a) inward investment and (b) economic growth.

Answered by Justin Madders

I engage regularly with both stakeholders and my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including how we can prioritise and encourage economic growth.

The department’s remit is limited to collective actions brought in relation to competition issues. In that context, class actions can improve access to justice where bringing a claim would otherwise be impractical or unaffordable.

A robust competition regime, including a route that enables consumers (including businesses) to seek redress through litigation, facilitates consumer protection and encourages investment and growth.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of class action lawsuits on levels of (a) inward investment and (b) economic growth.

Answered by Justin Madders

I engage regularly with both stakeholders and my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including how we can prioritise and encourage economic growth.

The department’s remit is limited to collective actions brought in relation to competition issues. In that context, class actions can improve access to justice where bringing a claim would otherwise be impractical or unaffordable.

A robust competition regime, including a route that enables consumers (including businesses) to seek redress through litigation, facilitates consumer protection and encourages investment and growth.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her press release entitled New UK-French action to go after smuggler gangs, published 28 February 2025, how many of the 12 planned specialist intelligence officers to be part of the judicial police unit, the Groupe d’Appui Operationnel, are in post.

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

Twelve.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the (a) joint working arrangements and (b) enforcement plans to help tackle people smuggling gangs that were agreed with France on 27 February 2025.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the oral statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on 14 July.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) her Department and (b) the UK legal system support attracting inward investment, in the context of the Civil Justice Council’s review of the litigation funding sector.

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

The Government welcomes the Civil Justice Council review of litigation funding, which will help inform the approach to potential reforms. We are carefully considering the recommendations made in the review and will outline next steps in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to introduce mandatory reporting on overseas funding used for third-party litigation.

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

The Government welcomes the Civil Justice Council review of litigation funding, which will help inform the approach to potential reforms. We are carefully considering the recommendations made in the review and will outline next steps in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many small boats crossing the English Channel have been towed by French authorities into UK waters in each month from January 2022 to June 2025.

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

None.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of the funding allocated to support (a) joint working arrangements and (b) enforcement plans agreed with French Government on 27 February 2025 to tackle people smuggling gangs has been used.

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

As part of the UK-FR Joint Leaders’ Declaration, published on 23 March 2023, the United Kingdom has agreed to contribute €209m to reduce instances of irregular migration to the UK in the Financial Year 2025-26.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of litigation funders (a) overriding and (b) challenging class representatives on claimant outcomes.

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

The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice. That is why we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all.

The Civil Justice Council published its comprehensive review of litigation funding in England and Wales on 2 June, which will help inform the Government approach to any potential reforms in this area. The Government welcomes this review and is carefully considering the recommendations in the final report. Our response will consider how best to strike the balance between supporting access to justice through third party litigation funding and increasing the transparency and fairness of such arrangements. We will outline next steps in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to increase transparency on the (a) ownership and (b) control of litigation funders.

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

The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice. That is why we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all.

The Civil Justice Council published its comprehensive review of litigation funding in England and Wales on 2 June, which will help inform the Government approach to any potential reforms in this area. The Government welcomes this review and is carefully considering the recommendations in the final report. Our response will consider how best to strike the balance between supporting access to justice through third party litigation funding and increasing the transparency and fairness of such arrangements. We will outline next steps in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of funder-led litigation on the civil justice system; and whether her Department plans to introduce safeguards.

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

The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice. That is why we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all.

The Civil Justice Council published its comprehensive review of litigation funding in England and Wales on 2 June, which will help inform the Government approach to any potential reforms in this area. The Government welcomes this review and is carefully considering the recommendations in the final report. Our response will consider how best to strike the balance between supporting access to justice through third party litigation funding and increasing the transparency and fairness of such arrangements. We will outline next steps in due course.

Conduct of Lord Mandelson

Found: West Cambridgeshire) Lauren Edwards (Labour; Rochester and Strood) Peter Lamb (Labour; Crawley) John Lamont

Found: Q24 John Lamont: Good morning, Leader of the House. It is very good to see you.

Found: Q168 John Lamont: The Devereux review criticised ONS’s budget and planning decisions.

Found: Alister Jack MP (until July 2024) Lord Cameron - PUSofS for Scotland (until July 2024) John Lamont