Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to prevent the planned obsolescence of (a) video games and (b) other consumer digital products.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is aware of concerns relating to the continued access to video games, including licensed, online-only video games, and we appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has responded to a recent petition on this issue.
There are no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), giving clear advice to consumers. Video game sellers must not omit or hide material information, or provide it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new visa requirements on travellers from Trinidad and Tobago; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an exemption for cultural workers from Trinidad and Tobago with confirmed professional work in the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago are now required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to the UK. The UK introduced a visitor visa requirement for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago on 12 March 2025 due to the number of nationals of Trinidad and Tobago travelling to the UK for reasons other than those permitted under the Immigration Rules for visitors. This included a significant increase in asylum claims made on arrival at the UK border. Full reasons for the introduction of the visa requirement and a summary of the impact were provided in the Explanatory Memorandum to the changes in the Immigration Rules.
We have no plans to introduce a visa exemption for cultural workers. The Creative Worker visa concession is available to individuals who do not require a visa to enter the UK as a visitor. Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago can apply for the Creative Worker route, but are required to obtain a visa before travelling.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that HMRC processes tax refunds within a (a) reasonable and (b) transparent timeframe.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC recognises that tax refunds are important for customers, and aims to process repayments as a priority.
HMRC’s correspondence service standard is to respond to 80% of priority post within 15 working days.
Monthly performance against this standard is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports
HMRC’s online services include a ‘Where’s my reply’ tool which provides estimated response times. The tool is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-expect-a-reply-from-hmrc
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the financial sustainability of the higher education funding model.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Higher education (HE) providers are independent from government and as such are responsible for making the financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.
To support providers in stabilising their finances, the Office for Students (OfS) continues to dedicate significant resources to ensuring the sector's financial sustainability. We have appointed Professor Edward Peck as OfS Chair, and he will play a key role in strengthening this commitment while also expanding opportunities in HE.
Additionally, we have made the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits by 3.1%, in line with inflation, from the 2025/26 academic year.
The government also provides funding through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) on an annual basis to support teaching and students. This includes funding to support teaching of expensive-to-deliver subjects such as science and engineering, access and participation of students from under-represented groups, and world-leading specialist providers. The total SPG for the 2025/26 financial year will be £1,348 million in recurrent (programme) grant and £84 million for capital to support teaching and learning.
We aim to publish our plans for HE reform soon as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the OfS to deliver the change that the country needs.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a tiered business rates system to support (a) emerging and (b) small businesses.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.
At Autumn Budget 2024, we took the first step with the announcement of permanently lower tax rates for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27.
Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and we have frozen the small business multiplier.
The Budget announcements reflect the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We want to go further to modernise the system, and so, we have published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform.
In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress she has made on the reform of business rates.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.
At Autumn Budget 2024, we took the first step with the announcement of permanently lower tax rates for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27.
Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and we have frozen the small business multiplier.
The Budget announcements reflect the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We want to go further to modernise the system, and so, we have published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform.
In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to support accountability for breaches of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have consistently called on all parties to comply with international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). We have been clear that we respect the independence of the international courts who are currently considering cases concerning international law in the OPTs. The UK participated in the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on Israel's obligations as an Occupying Power and as a member of the United Nations, putting forward strong support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the International Committee of the Red Cross. In relation to the conflict in Gaza, we have called for independent investigations into incidents where there are reports of breaches of international humanitarian law and accountability for those found responsible, including at the UN Security Council. In relation to the West Bank, we have a clear position that Israeli settlements in the OPTs are illegal under international law and have taken action to sanction violent settlers and individuals who incite violence against Palestinians.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of the solar panels to be installed on new homes that will be manufactured in the UK; and what steps his Department is taking to support the domestic manufacture of solar (a) panels and (b) batteries.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Though the UK will likely require solar panel imports in the short to medium term, several firms are involved in assembling panels and manufacturing innovative solar, such as thin film. The recently published Solar Roadmap sets out actions for maximising opportunities arising from commercialisation of innovative solar technologies and upscaling production of balance of system components.
As laid out in the recent Industrial Strategy's Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, Batteries is a frontier sector. We will invest £452m in support of Battery Innovation to compete in a challenging global marketplace and meet domestic demand across the supply chain.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the UN in relation to comments by the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council on 22 May 2025 on the (a) Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers and (b) interim guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment, published on 25 April 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There have been no discussions with the UN in relation to the Human Rights Council Special Procedures news release on 22 May 2025.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that the Israeli Government has transferred weapons to armed militias operating in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are concerned at reports of armed militias operating in Gaza. We have been clear from the beginning of this conflict that we need to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of all hostages and a pathway to a lasting peace. We believe that the Palestinian Authority's role in Gaza must be front and centre and are supporting the Palestinian Authority Security Forces with the goal that they will play a key role in the security of Gaza in the future.
One of our first acts in government was to review and suspend export licences that could be used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza. We have kept all licences under careful and continual review against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. This includes assessing the risk of diversion.