Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the UK will encourage allocation of resources for Ukraine local government support at the forthcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains steadfast in our support to Ukraine, having provided £21.8 billion in military and non-military assistance since the start of the full scale invasion. This includes support for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, including through our £5.3 billion of non-military support, covering fiscal, humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, reform, and economic and social recovery. We will continue to work with Ukraine and international partners, including via the Ukraine Donor Platform and the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, to help mobilise finance for a sustainable and locally led recovery, including by supporting stronger regional and local capacity and work on project preparation to help speed up the development of shovel ready infrastructure projects.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of how different low hours thresholds and different reference period lengths in respect of guaranteed hours provisions may impact workforce flexibility.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the zero hours contract measures and will publish further analysis in due course as we implement these measures.
The consultation includes specific questions on the potential effects of different hours threshold options to inform policy decisions.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Department has considered setting the definition of low hours for the purposes of the guaranteed hours provisions at 8 hours per week or below.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In its consultation, the government has expressed a preference for an hours threshold for the right to guaranteed hours of between 8 and 20 hours per week, on the basis that this is likely to offer the best balance of costs and benefits. The consultation provides space for respondents to choose an ‘other’ option and we welcome views outside this range.
We recognise that setting the threshold involves balancing improved income security for workers with maintaining flexibility for employers and workers. We are engaging fully with stakeholders and considering available evidence before finalising the threshold in regulations.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there are plans to deliver Pillar 9.5 of the UK-Ukraine 2025 Partnership Agreement.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Delivery of Pillar 9, paragraph 5 of the 100 Year Partnership Agreement is progressing. We want more local authorities to twin with Ukrainian counterparts to enable cooperation that delivers material benefits for people in the UK and Ukraine. Local authorities have already: hosted Ukrainian medical professionals in UK hospitals to facilitate exchanges of expertise, supported business exchanges, engaged on sustainable and resilient urban development/reconstruction, shared lessons learned for fostering local culture and attracting tourism, and donated lifesaving equipment (e.g. fire engines to Ukraine). The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office works closely with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and colleagues in local government to ensure that this engagement supports the broader goals of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership and to provide support when necessary. We are also encouraging other institutions including universities, and schools to twin with their Ukrainian counterparts to ensure that the benefits of the 100-Year Partnership are shared as widely as possible across the UK and Ukraine.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in respect of guaranteed hours provisions what assessment has been made of the potential impact of a 12 week reference period on employers whose staffing needs vary significantly over the year.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department has published a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the zero hours contract measures and will publish further analysis in due course.
The government has also now published its consultation. The government has stated a preference for a 12-week initial reference period, to provide timely access to guaranteed hours as well as sufficient time to establish a representative sample of working hours.
We recognise that some employers experience seasonal or fluctuating demand. The legislation includes flexibility to address these circumstances, such as using limited-term contracts for genuinely temporary work, depending on the needs of the business.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what evidence his Department has used to inform the proposed definition of low hours for the purposes of the guaranteed hours provisions; and whether an impact assessment will be published for the retail and hospitality sectors.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of extending the guaranteed hours provisions beyond zero‑hours contracts to include low‑hours contracts on affected people; and what steps he is taking to help ensure that measures intended to tackle exploitative zero‑hours arrangements protect genuinely flexible low‑hours work.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy published on 22 December 2025, if she will extend the strategy to include the welfare of marine mammals hunted in the Faroe Islands that also inhabit UK waters.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We remain committed to meeting our international obligations and continue to have concerns about the welfare and sustainability of these hunts.
In December 2025 we published the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy with devolved governments. This includes species hunted in the Faroe Islands and aims to improve the conservation status of cetaceans in UK waters.
UK ministers and officials consistently call for an end to cetacean hunts in the Faroe Islands. As Chair of the International Whaling Commission’s Conservation Committee and Intersessional Working Group on Welfare, the UK promotes stronger protection and improved welfare for small cetaceans.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications of Faroese cetacean hunting for (a) international marine conservation and (b) biodiversity agreements.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We remain committed to meeting our international obligations and continue to have concerns about the welfare and sustainability of these hunts.
In December 2025 we published the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy with devolved governments. This includes species hunted in the Faroe Islands and aims to improve the conservation status of cetaceans in UK waters.
UK ministers and officials consistently call for an end to cetacean hunts in the Faroe Islands. As Chair of the International Whaling Commission’s Conservation Committee and Intersessional Working Group on Welfare, the UK promotes stronger protection and improved welfare for small cetaceans.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with industry stakeholders on the potential impact of the expiry of the Plug-in Motorcycle Grant on future investment in the UK market.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My officials have been in contact with the industry since the decision to close the grant was shared with them in February 2025. The Government will continue to work with industry to monitor the development of the zero emission motorcycle market and the need for any further interventions on an ongoing basis