Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of training provider capacity for the Fishmonger Apprenticeship Standard in meeting employer demand.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department actively monitors all registered apprenticeship training providers through compliance checks, performance reviews, and inspections to ensure quality standards are met. Where providers fail to meet these requirements, we take appropriate action, which can include applying conditions such as restricting delivery and even termination of agreements and removal from the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR).
There are currently 4 registered training providers offering the Fishmonger Level 2 apprenticeship standard.
The Department manages entry to the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register to ensure that new providers meet a gap in apprenticeship training provision or meet our strategic priorities in areas where we want to grow apprenticeships.
Where an employer has provided evidence of a gap in the current apprenticeship training provision through the employer-led gap in provision policy, new training providers may enter the market.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to update Parliament on future expansions of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, including whether refined petroleum products are under consideration for inclusion.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
For the introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in January 2027, the UK has focused on the sectors most at risk of carbon leakage within scope of the UK ETS, and where it is technically feasible to include products in scope.
As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the CBAM in future.
The sectoral scope of the CBAM will be kept under review beyond 2027 as new evidence comes to light to reflect methodological and technological advances.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative assessment of Vehicle Excise Duty rates for motorcycles with cars; and whether she has plans to review the Vehicle Excise Duty framework for motorcycles.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), sometimes known as 'road tax' or 'car tax', is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.
VED for motorcycles is currently based on engine size. There are four engine size ranges, with the lowest rate applying to zero emission motorcycles and the smallest engines sized 150cc or less (currently £26, and increasing to £27 from 1 April 2026 in line with RPI).The highest rate applies to engines sized 600cc and above (currently £121, and increasing to £125 from 1 April 2026 in line with RPI).
The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of digital connectivity for businesses operating in ports, docks and coastal industrial zones.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Network coverage data published by Ofcom does not include specific datasets for ports, docks or coastal industrial zones.
The Government recognises that high quality digital connectivity is essential for businesses in the UK, including those operating in ports, docks and coastal industrial zones. This is why our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030, and we have a target to deliver nationwide (99%) gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.
Through Project Gigabit, we are delivering fast, reliable broadband to UK premises not included in suppliers' commercial plans.
We are also investing in projects across the UK through the 5G Innovation Regions Programme, which aims to increase investment in 5G networks and encourage the adoption of advanced connectivity services in key sectors, including ports and industrial zones.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of levels of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on patient health outcomes.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has made no formal assessment of the potential impact of levels of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) on health outcomes. However, the Department engages routinely with a range of representatives including local and regional pharmacy leads and patient charities to ensure that management strategies are improving access to PERT.
The Department is aware of ongoing intermittent supply issues with PERT, including Creon capsules. Supplies of Creon and other licensed alternatives have improved in the past year, and specialist importers have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market. We continue to work closely with the manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to medicines.
We have widely disseminated comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals about these supply issues, which provide advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. This includes serious shortage protocols to limit prescriptions to one month’s supply to ensure equitable distribution of available supplies and that Creon remains available for those patients who need it. The Department has issued additional management advice to healthcare professionals which directs clinicians to consider the unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable and includes actions for integrated care boards to have local mitigation plans in place and implemented to ensure that no patient is left without PERT.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the legal strength and enforceability of the TA6 seller’s property information form in residential property transactions.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The TA6 Property Information Form is designed and provided by the Law Society. The form itself is not prescribed in legislation, nor subject to regulatory oversight.
There are wider requirements, under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 for example, that any property information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision is not hidden or omitted.
Statements made in the TA6 in a conveyancing transaction can be caught by this legislation. Where inaccurate or misleading information is communicated by the seller to the buyer then the buyer may, depending on the circumstances, seek redress through the courts.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Evri and other delivery companies on the potential impact of unreliable parcel delivery on small businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The proper functioning of postal services is vital for small businesses. Delivery companies must provide a good service to their customers and reduce the number of lost, delayed or improperly delivered parcels. However, Evri and other delivery companies are independent businesses, the government has no role in their operational decisions.
Ofcom is the independent regulator of postal services. Ofcom publishes an annual report summarising its monitoring programme on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/postal-services/information-for-the-postal-industry/monitoring_reports.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance is currently issued to NHS trusts on post operative assessment following lower limb surgery, and whether this includes consideration of referral to podiatry or orthotics services.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is recommended that all patients receiving surgery, including lower limb surgery, benefit from a structured perioperative care programme, which includes postoperative assessment as a key component. Our Elective Reform Plan commits to enhancing perioperative care, to reduce cancellations, shorten patients’ length of hospital stay, and minimise postoperative complications.
The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, part of NHS England, works with stakeholders to develop standardised best practice pathways for routine surgical procedures. GIRFT, along with a cross-specialty, multidisciplinary working group, has developed guidance on early screening, triaging, risk assessment, and health optimisation in perioperative pathways. This is available on the NHS England website along with further guidance for trusts on perioperative care covering clinical and operational improvement guide.
GIRFT has also produced best practice pathways for primary knee and hip replacements. Guidance is offered on best practice from patient presentation through to post-discharge care and follow-up. Podiatry and orthotics referrals are not currently included in the pathways provided. However, GIRFT regularly engages with trusts to help gain insight and understanding into care delivery across England.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, available on their website, include Perioperative Care in Adults guideline, reference code NG180, and orthopaedic standards including joint replacement (primary): hip, knee and shoulder guideline, reference code NG157.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the frequency of the cancellation of services on the Barton Line; and what steps are being taken to address this.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise that recent performance on the Barton Line has been below what passengers rightly expect. The Department is aware that East Midlands Railway (EMR) is working to improve train performance on this route. To achieve this, EMR:
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of alterations to indefinite leave to remain rules on NHS staffing levels.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There have been no recent alterations to indefinite leave to remain rules. However, the Government has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the current settlement rules in favour of an “earned settlement” model, that considers factors such as contribution, integration, and conduct. The consultation, which runs until February 2026, seeks views on how these reforms should apply to different groups, including health and care workers. The consultation is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement