Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage businesses to recruit young people.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government is committed to backing young people, bringing down the number of those who are not learning or earning and incentivising the hiring of new talent. We are investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 through the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including unlocking up to 200,000 opportunities for employment. The Government is also committing to over £1bn to deliver training opportunities targeted at key industries, including £295m for 29 new Technical Excellence Colleges that will serve over 100,000 students and deepen employer partnerships.
Through the Youth Guarantee, we are encouraging:
- businesses to take on new talent through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway
- additional work experience and training opportunities
- a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant
- a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers
- a fully funded six-month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds
Employers are also not required to pay Employer National Insurance Contributions for employees under-21 and for apprentices under-25, on earnings up to £50,270.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government will publish the Mobile Market Review.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess major developments in the sector and their impact on investment in high-quality connectivity. The Call for Evidence, which closed on 5 May, sought views on whether the regulatory framework supports future investment, innovation and competition in mobile networks. We are considering the responses alongside our continued engagement with industry and other stakeholders, and we intend to provide an update on the Review’s findings and next steps later this year.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential (a) health benefits and (b) cost savings to the NHS of extending eligibility for the shingles vaccination to immunocompetent people who were aged 65 to 69 before 1 September 2023 and are not currently eligible until they reach the age of 70.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the expansion of the shingles vaccination programme down to adults aged 60 years old, in line with the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, adults turning 65 and 70 years old became eligible for vaccination from 1 September 2023. This phased roll-out was agreed as a means of maximising population benefit and cost-effectiveness, whilst taking account of National Health Service delivery capacity. There are no plans to change this approach to eligibility in advance of 1 September 2028, when the second phase of the expansion will begin, and adults will become eligible for shingles vaccination when they turn 60 and 65 years old.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has reviewed the decision not to include immunocompetent people who were aged 65 to 69 before 1 September 2023 in the catch-up arrangements for the shingles vaccination programme; and whether he plans to extend eligibility to that cohort before they reach the age of 70.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the expansion of the shingles vaccination programme down to adults aged 60 years old, in line with the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, adults turning 65 and 70 years old became eligible for vaccination from 1 September 2023. This phased roll-out was agreed as a means of maximising population benefit and cost-effectiveness, whilst taking account of National Health Service delivery capacity. There are no plans to change this approach to eligibility in advance of 1 September 2028, when the second phase of the expansion will begin, and adults will become eligible for shingles vaccination when they turn 60 and 65 years old.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the level of the administrative burden placed on receiving parents who are required to contact the Child Maintenance Service to pursue unpaid maintenance; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cases involving non-payment are progressed proactively without requiring repeated intervention by receiving parents.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department distinguishes between the time taken by the Child Maintenance Service to respond to complaints and the time taken to resolve the underlying maintenance issues; and if he will publish separate performance statistics for both measures.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on how many occasions in the last year have Ministers met with the Chief Public Health Nurse to discuss health inequalities in coastal communities, and when did these meetings occur.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 16 July in response to Question 18268.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is taking to tackle health inequalities in coastal communities.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 16 July in response to Question 18268.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Summer Bus Fare Offer for children in August 2026; and whether she plans to reintroduce the scheme during the summer holidays in 2027.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Summer Bus Fare Offer enabled children aged 5 to 15 to travel free on participating bus services across England throughout August 2026, helping families with the cost of getting around during the school holidays.
Industry has reported that over 14.5 million free child bus journeys were made in August as a result of the scheme and the department will be analysing the evidence to assess the effectiveness of the scheme in the coming months.
The scheme was designed as a targeted, time-limited measure and concluded at the end of August as planned. The Government will consider any further schemes through its wider approach to supporting affordable bus travel.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date the Illicit Finance Summit 2026 will be held.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government is committed to tackling illicit finance and corruption at home and internationally. To this end, the Foreign Secretary will host an Illicit Finance Summit. Further details will be announced in due course.