Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support (a) low and (b) middle-income households with the cost of living.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Living standards, as measured by Real Household Disposable Income per capita, are expected to increase by an annual average of 0.5% over this parliament (Q3 2024 – Q2 2029). This is in stark contrast to the previous parliament which was the worst for living standards growth since ONS records began in 1955.

The Government has set out a Plan for Change, outlining our ambitious yet achievable milestones, including raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom to ensure working people have more money in their pockets.

Specific actions already taken by the Government include: increasing to the National Living Wage from April 2025; extension of the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales in 2025-26; and introduction of a new Fair Repayment Rate from April 2025 to cap debt repayments made through Universal Credit.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has made clear the importance that all sides maintain a cessation of hostilities and work towards securing a lasting peace. This is the only way to restore security and stability for the people living on either side of the border. The UK continues to engage Israel and Lebanon to urge them to build on the progress made and implement fully the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the affordability of service charges for leaseholders; and if he will take steps to limit their rate of increase.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders.

The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building.

By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.

The government has no plans to cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders given this would prevent necessary funds being raised for legitimate purposes when necessary.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 includes measures designed to drive up the transparency of service charges to make them more easily challengeable if leaseholders consider them to be unreasonable. Once commenced, these will ensure all leaseholders receive minimum key financial and non-financial information on a regular basis, including introducing a standardised service charge demand form and an annual report.

The government is committed to acting quickly to implement the provisions of the Act. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on Thursday 21 November (HCWS244).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help (a) people seeking asylum and (b) refugees to (i) develop their skills and (ii) increase their employability.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The UK has a long history of providing protection to those that need it and supporting refugee integration and employment. This includes work across government to ensure that mainstream services meet the needs of refugees.

Refugees granted refugee status or humanitarian protection (as well as those
arriving under one of the UK’s resettlement schemes) have immediate access to the labour market, including employment support from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work coaches in the same way as other jobseekers. Unemployed refugees are eligible for full funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning.

In addition, through the Skilled Worker visa, the UK has labour mobility initiatives for refugees and displaced people to take up employment in the UK. We are currently reviewing labour mobility initiatives for refugees and displaced people to ensure we are learning from what works to increase employability and outcomes.

We continue to provide local authorities with a core tariff to support the integration of those who arrive through the UK’s Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy. We work across Government to ensure these services meet the needs of refugees and continue to keep our policies under review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of recent changes made to her Department's guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 10 February 2025, on community cohesion.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The British Nationality Act 1981 is clear that it is for the Home Secretary to determine the good character policy. There is no definition of good character in primary legislation, nor is there statutory guidance as to how this should be interpreted or defined. Changes to the good character policy are at the discretion of the Home Secretary.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is leading cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address the deep-seated issues. A new cross-government ministerial ‘Communities & Recovery Steering Group’ has been stood up to oversee this work and this group includes the Home Secretary.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of selective internal radiation therapy on the (a) survival outcomes and (b) quality of life for neuroendocrine tumour patients.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No assessment has been made on the potential impact of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) on survival outcomes and quality of life for neuroendocrine tumour patients. However, the Department recognises the need to offer suitable treatment, including SIRT, to the patients who need it the most.

Radiotherapy treatment for cancer is highly individualised and decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals. They consider all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options. While certain treatments may not be advised for some patients, these decisions are based on medical assessments and what is best for the individual's overall health and well-being.

Foster Care Fortnight

Travel-related restrictions and haemoglobin tests for blood donations

Viewpark and Bellshill Community Alcohol Partnership

Great British Beef Week 2025

Immigration application fees for young adults and children

Death of Pope Francis

Close season for hare shooting

The death of His Holiness Pope Francis

70th anniversary of First Comber Presbyterian Church Girls Brigade

Future of children’s palliative care

Life of Pope Francis

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Found: Alex Easton Ms Diane Abbott Mary Kelly Foy Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Alex Easton Ms Diane Abbott Mary Kelly Foy Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Alex Easton Ms Diane Abbott Mary Kelly Foy Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Ms Diane Abbott Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Ms Diane Abbott Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Blair McDougall Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Blair McDougall Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Blair McDougall Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Blair McDougall Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon

Found: Blair McDougall Martin Rhodes Alex Easton Sarah Champion Iqbal Mohamed Kirsteen Sullivan Mary Glindon