Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential losses to the exchequer as a result of sales made on online market places by companies which trade only for a short period then are closed before VAT arrears can be recovered.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC do not have an estimate of the losses arising as a result of sales made on online marketplaces by companies which trade only for a short period then are closed before VAT arrears can be recovered.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reviewing the framework for Postponed VAT Accounting to ensure that PVA is not available to companies which have no trading history or security in UK.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Postponed VAT accounting provides significant support for businesses, helping to manage cash flow and facilitate imports. HMRC undertakes regular work to ensure compliance with the rules around postponed VAT accounting.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her (a) Israeli and (b) American counterparts on reinstating the United Nations-led aid delivery system in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations, the United States and Israel, to push for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, most recently in the Foreign Secretary's discussions at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking diplomatic steps to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian aid convoys through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations, the United States and Israel, to push for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, most recently in the Foreign Secretary's discussions at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her US counterparts on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations, the United States and Israel, to push for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, most recently in the Foreign Secretary's discussions at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the need for community eating disorder services to deliver treatment for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is currently producing new national guidance with sections on binge eating and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). NHS England has also developed training for primary care staff and others who come into contact with people with an eating disorder.
NHS England continues to work with eating disorder services and local commissioners to improve access to treatment for all children and young people with a suspected eating disorder, including those presenting with ARFID.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish a framework for community eating disorder services to deliver an Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder treatment pathway.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is currently producing new national guidance with sections on binge eating and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). NHS England has also developed training for primary care staff and others who come into contact with people with an eating disorder.
NHS England continues to work with eating disorder services and local commissioners to improve access to treatment for all children and young people with a suspected eating disorder, including those presenting with ARFID.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) early career and (b) small artists through the Creator Remuneration Working Group.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This government is committed to supporting UK artists, including emerging talent, to succeed and reach their full potential. We recognise that the success of our world-leading music industry relies on artists at every level receiving their fair share of the rewards, especially in the era of streaming.
That is why we convened the music industry through the Creator Remuneration Working Group over the past year to address concerns over low creator earnings. As part of this engagement, I met with representatives from across the music sector, including the Council of Music Makers, which advocates for musicians at every stage of their careers, as well as independent record labels, to discuss the challenges facing creators.
The outcome of the Working Group, published in August, is designed to deliver real benefits for UK creators, both through the principles created by the British Phonographic Industry, as well as individual commitments made by major labels. Together, these measures seek to support fair remuneration for the artists, songwriters, and session musicians that form the bedrock of the industry, as well as enhancing the growth of the overall UK music sector.
As part of this Government’s Industrial Strategy, our recently published Creative Industries Sector Plan introduced the new Music Growth Package of up to £30 million over three years from 2026; more than doubling funding for the grassroots music sector. This funding will support new artists with touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities and ensure they have the resources and guidance to grow their careers, reach wider audiences, and sustain long-term artistic success.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to reduce the waiting times for practical driving tests in Buckinghamshire since September 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.
On the 18 December last year, DVSA published measures to bring down car practical driving test waiting times across the country, including the recruitment of driving examiners (DEs). On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions.
Further information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month.
DVSA continues to run recruitment campaigns for new DEs and is in the final processes of the most recent campaign.
From recent recruitment in Buckinghamshire, DVSA had one new DE start in August, and has another booked onto an upcoming training course.
DVSA is in the planning stages for the next campaign, which will include driving test centres in the area, and this is due to launch shortly.
Asked by: Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the time taken to respond to the Hughes Report recommendations on women impacted by valproate and pelvic mesh.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments, including the Cabinet Office. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.