Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on the scheduling of the next UK-EU Summit; and when a date for that summit will be announced.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Ministers and officials have been in touch with key European Commission and Member State contacts, as well as business representative organisations, ahead of the next UK-EU Summit. As the Prime Minister announced to the House on 12 October, the Summit will take place on 20 November 2026 in Brussels.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that zoo conservation transfers are recognised and promoted as part of a future UK – EU SPS veterinary agreement.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK-EU SPS Agreement will reduce trade barriers and support the safe and efficient movement of goods and animals, including zoo animals and conservation transfers. It will cut certification and border-check costs and delays for zoos and aquariums. Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) controls are separate, and its rules will continue.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will assess the potential merits of increasing places available on the educational psychology funded training (EPFT) scheme.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Educational psychologists play a key role in supporting children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities. The department is committed to growing the workforce of educational psychologists so that children and young people can access the support they need sooner.

As set out in the Schools White Paper, the government is investing £26 million to train at least 200 educational psychologists per year from 2026/27, with further investment to train more over the following three years, subject to future spending reviews. This is in addition to the £31 million already invested since 2023.

The department is also investing around £1.8 billion for local area partnerships, including local authorities and integrated care boards, to develop a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer, which will provide access to support from key services, such as educational psychologists and trainees.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Solicitors Regulation Authority following the collapse of PM Property Lawyers; and what steps he is taking to ensure continuity of service for clients when a law firm ceases trading.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The legal profession in England and Wales, together with its regulators, operates independently of Government. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors and most law firms in England and Wales, with oversight from the Legal Services Board (LSB). The SRA has powers to protect clients' interests when a regulated law firm ceases trading, including by intervening to secure client files and money and appointing an intervention agent.

The SRA intervened in PM Law Ltd and associated firms (including PM Property Lawyers) on 4 February 2026 and appointed Gordons LLP as intervention agent. Gordons has contacted affected clients, prioritised urgent requests and helped them access their files. The SRA has published guidance for affected clients (https://www.sra.org.uk/news/news/pm-law-intervention/) to help them find alternative representation and progress their cases. It has also taken steps to return client money, while eligible clients may apply to its discretionary Compensation Fund.

Following the closure of PM Law Ltd and associated firms, I met the Chief Executive of the SRA on 12 February to seek assurances on the steps being taken to protect affected clients, including the return of client money. My officials and I continue to engage with both the SRA and LSB on the action being taken in response, including on the lessons learnt and steps being taken to strengthen consumer protection and maintain public confidence in legal services regulation.

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