Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether the regulations to be made under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 will include provisions to prevent the sale of unsafe batteries, chargers and conversion kits through online marketplaces.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

Under existing UK legislation, businesses must only place safe batteries, chargers and conversion kits on the market, including where sold online. Despite this we recognise that too many unsafe products remain available to consumers online.

My department has recently consulted on reforms to the product safety legislative framework, including risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes; proposals for clear duties on online marketplaces to take proactive steps to identify, prevent and remove unsafe products from their marketplaces; and considerations for additional requirements in relation to high-risk products. We are considering feedback and will set out our response in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government intends to issue guidance under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 requiring enhanced due diligence for Hong Kong-linked transactions.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), regulated firms and businesses must establish policies, controls and procedures to mitigate the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, considering relevant risk factors relating to customers, transactions and the countries and geographical areas in which they operate. Regulated firms and businesses take a risk-based approach to these obligations, and must apply enhanced due diligence (EDD) measures when a customer or transaction is identified as high risk.

The MLRs require EDD in certain high risk circumstances, including for business relationships or transactions with countries identified as high risk countries subject to a call to action by the Financial Action Task Force. Hong Kong is not currently on that list.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will establish a secure online reporting portal for transnational repression to provide victims and potential victims with a safe means of reporting incidents directly to the UK authorities.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government, in consultation with Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing trained professionals to assess reports and refer potential cases of transnational repression (TNR) and foreign interference to specialist teams where appropriate.

Since July 2024, over 55,000 officers and staff from police forces across the UK and Northern Ireland have completed Foreign Interference training modules, and over 23,000 have completed an online module on powers available under the National Security Act 2023. This training supports officers and staff to identify indicators of foreign interference and state-directed activity and understand the actions that can be taken when such activity is identified. The content is kept under regular review, including updates following the introduction of new offences under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have received training on identifying and responding to transnational repression; and if she will provide a breakdown of the number of officers trained by each police force.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Government, in consultation with Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing trained professionals to assess reports and refer potential cases of transnational repression (TNR) and foreign interference to specialist teams where appropriate.

Since July 2024, over 55,000 officers and staff from police forces across the UK and Northern Ireland have completed Foreign Interference training modules, and over 23,000 have completed an online module on powers available under the National Security Act 2023. This training supports officers and staff to identify indicators of foreign interference and state-directed activity and understand the actions that can be taken when such activity is identified. The content is kept under regular review, including updates following the introduction of new offences under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has undertaken research on the potential impact of a 20p discount on business rates for hospitality businesses on the entire high street.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government has introduced permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These provide nearly £1 billion per year of support to the RHL sector and benefit over 750,000 properties. High street businesses also continue to benefit from the Government's £4.3 billion support package announced at Budget 2025 to protect ratepayers seeing large overnight increases in bills due to the 2026 revaluation.

The Government is continuing to review the wider business rates system to ensure it better supports high streets, local economies and small businesses, and further decisions on business rates reform will be set out in the normal way at the Budget.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has commissioned on the impact a lower rate of VAT for hospitality would have on (a) visitor numbers, (b) visitor spend and (c) length of stay of visitors.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK. The potential impacts of changes on this sector are carefully considered as part of policy development.

Where changes are made, relevant impact notes and assessments are published at fiscal events and otherwise as necessary, in line with the Government’s usual practice. The Treasury also engages regularly with the hospitality sector to understand the challenges they face.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.   Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.  

HMRC estimates that the cost of changing the 20 per cent Standard Rate of VAT on all accommodation and food and beverage services to the Reduced Rate of 5 per cent would be around £17 billion in 2026-27, rising to £19.5 billion in 2030-31.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cumulative tax burden on the hospitality sector, including VAT.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK. The potential impacts of changes on this sector are carefully considered as part of policy development.

Where changes are made, relevant impact notes and assessments are published at fiscal events and otherwise as necessary, in line with the Government’s usual practice. The Treasury also engages regularly with the hospitality sector to understand the challenges they face.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26.   Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.  

HMRC estimates that the cost of changing the 20 per cent Standard Rate of VAT on all accommodation and food and beverage services to the Reduced Rate of 5 per cent would be around £17 billion in 2026-27, rising to £19.5 billion in 2030-31.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the exemption from producer fees under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to social enterprises whose business models reduce negative environmental impacts; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of such an extension.

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

Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging makes producers responsible for costs of managing household packaging when it becomes waste. Obligations are therefore determined by turnover and packaging tonnage, rather than an organisation’s business model or use of profits.

Registered charities are exempt from disposal fees. The Government has no plans to extend this exemption to social enterprises. Businesses with turnover below £2 million and placing less than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market are exempt from disposal fee and recycling obligations.

Defra continues to engage with social enterprises, and their feedback informs its review of the impacts of the scheme.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department's review of the wider impacts of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme includes engagement with the social enterprise sector to assess the impact of producer fees on their operating models, including their ability to continue making charitable donations.

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

Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging makes producers responsible for costs of managing household packaging when it becomes waste. Obligations are therefore determined by turnover and packaging tonnage, rather than an organisation’s business model or use of profits.

Registered charities are exempt from disposal fees. The Government has no plans to extend this exemption to social enterprises. Businesses with turnover below £2 million and placing less than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market are exempt from disposal fee and recycling obligations.

Defra continues to engage with social enterprises, and their feedback informs its review of the impacts of the scheme.