Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to ensure the protection of Greek communities in Northern Cyprus.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As a Guarantor Power and a friend to all Cypriots, the UK fully supports the UN-led Settlement process and stands ready to assist through all diplomatic channels. The best way to improve the lives of all Cypriots, including Greek communities living in the north of the island, is through a just and lasting settlement. I represented the UK at the next round of informal talks on 16 to 17 July 2025 and will continue to encourage the sides to maintain the recent momentum in the UN-led process.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made on the roll-out of Fracture Liaison Services.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need. Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will consider making provision for mandatory index-linked payments in pre-1997 defined benefit pension schemes.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Members of these pension schemes are understandably concerned at seeing inflation erode the value of their retirement income.

Most schemes do pay some pre-1997 indexation, because of scheme rules or as a discretionary benefit. Analysis published last year by the Pensions Regulator shows that as of March 2023, only 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes do not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits. This information can be found at: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#f3a5fe60511a445f91112bd7dd8a64ae

It would be unreasonable to retrospectively legislate to increase the cost to schemes for benefits already earned, as these costs could not have been taken into account in the funding assumptions used to set contribution rates at the time.

The Government’s pension reforms on the use of surpluses in defined benefit schemes will make it easier for individual schemes to make decisions that improve outcomes for both sponsoring employers and members, which could include discretionary benefit increases. These changes are being taken forward through the Pension Schemes Bill which had its second reading on Monday 7^th July.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has expressed that trustees should consider the situation of those members who would benefit from a discretionary increase and whether the scheme has a history of making such awards. TPR will be producing further guidance on surplus sharing once the legislation is in place.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to protect National Insurance numbers from repeated (a) misuse and (b) fraud.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A National Insurance Number (NINo) is a unique reference number used to administer the Benefits and National Insurance systems. It is not proof of identity and cannot be used on its own to access HMRC records or systems.

HMRC regularly urges customers to be alert to scams requesting personal information, including their NINo.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential merits of introducing real-time alerts for compromised National Insurance numbers.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department for Work and Pensions have processes in place to flag NINos and will monitor flagged NINos daily for inappropriate use.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce waste in the construction industry.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I refer the hon. Member to my response to Question 39563: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. We will consider the evidence for sector-specific interventions from right across the economy, including in reducing waste in the construction industry, as we develop our strategy.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support employment opportunities for people aged over 25.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

This Government is committed to supporting everyone to get into and on in work. In addition to delivering a Youth Guarantee, the Get Britain Working White Paper and Pathways to Work Green Paper set out ambitious reforms to employment support that will benefit people aged over 25: a new Jobs and Careers Service, with an enhanced focus on skills and careers; and targeted support to reduce health related economic inactivity. Specific DWP programmes and initiatives that support employment opportunities for people aged over 25 also include:

• Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), to provide short-term training and work experience linked to real job vacancies, enabling unemployed benefit claimants of all ages to gain sector-specific skills and transition into employment.
• DWP Train and Progress: a flexible training offer that allows claimants to undertake skills development while receiving benefits, tailored to local labour market needs.
• The Restart Programme, which offers up to 12 months intensive support for long-term unemployed individuals, including personalised coaching, skills training, and job matching services.
• The 50 Plus Choices Programme, to help older workers remain in or return to the workforce. This programme includes Mid-life MOTs, delivered in Jobcentres, which provide an opportunity to review health, finances, and skills and signpost to suitable support.

• The Flexible Support Fund: a non-recoverable, discretionary fund used to remove barriers that prevent customers from taking up or progressing in work. Common barriers include travel costs, upfront childcare costs, and one-off support (such as essential work wear, tools, and equipment). It can also be used to procure training or education that enables customers to move into sustained employment, increase their earnings whilst in work, or move closer to the labour market.

These measures form part of the Department’s broader strategy to reduce economic inactivity and boost workforce participation, ensuring that adults over 25 receive targeted and practical support to enter and progress in work.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr James Frith; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: meeting Members present: Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Chair); Mr Clive Betts; Samantha Dixon; Zöe Franklin; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: : Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Zöe Franklin; Mr James Frith; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: : Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Zöe Franklin; Mr James Frith; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Boxing APPG
Friday 18th July 2025

Found: Hon Suella Braverman KC MP Member, APPG on Boxing Ian Lavery MP Member, APPG on Boxing Dr Rupa Huq

Submit Evidence (by 4 Sep 2025)

Organisers and facilitators of major sporting and cultural events are invited to give evidence to a new inquiry from MPs examining the challenges faced by the industry and how the sector can tap into new opportunities for growth and collaboration.