Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Environment Agency's job vacancy, Strategy and Government Relations Advisor, reference 32597, closing date 4 January 2026, what is his policy on public bodies hiring advisors to engage with the Government.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, and does not form part of HM Civil Service. Non-Departmental Public Bodies are expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, including relevant Government departments, Parliamentarians across both Houses, Parliamentary Select Committees, and other key stakeholders pertinent to their work.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 92614, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, if he will publish the Government Property Agency letter of June 2025.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Communications between officials and third parties are not published as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. The release of individual names would also be a breach of data protection under the General Data Protection Regulations.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the VAT registration threshold on the UK’s obligations under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland as amended by the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
VAT policy, including the VAT registration threshold, applies on a UK-wide basis and operates in Northern Ireland in line with the UK’s international obligations under the Windsor Framework.
The VAT registration threshold is consistent with the operation of the Framework.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate collaboration between UK financial regulators and international regulatory authorities to maintain the City of London's competitiveness in fintech innovation.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to making the UK the best place for fintechs, to start, scale and list. The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published in July 2025, sets out our mission to shape a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable and internationally competitive, embracing innovation and leveraging the UK’s leadership in Fintech.
We are delivering this through strengthened partnerships with international financial centres around the world, supported by ongoing regulatory dialogues with many of our international partners such as the EU, US, China, India and the Gulf. We also continue to promote cooperation between UK financial regulators and their counterparts overseas. For instance, the UK has established the UK-US Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, which is exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration in financial services, with a particular focus on digital assets and capital markets.
In addition, the Office for Investment: Financial Services, launched last October, will guide and support international investors looking to establish or grow a presence in the UK’s financial services sector, with a focus on fintech and the other priority growth areas
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of consolidation trends in the fintech sector; and what steps they will take to support UK-based fintech firms in maintaining global competitiveness.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out in the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy (“the Strategy”), the UK aims to be the world’s most technologically advanced global financial centre, and to remain a leading jurisdiction for Fintech firms to start-up, scale and list.
The UK has a long history as a powerhouse of financial services innovation. The Strategy set out a comprehensive package of reforms to maintain the UK’s global leadership in fintech. The sector attracted $3.6 billion of investment in 2025 - second only to the US.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of global trends in stablecoin settlement, and the implications for UK fintech regulation and financial infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that cryptoassets, and tokenised payment and settlement instruments present both significant opportunities and risks for the UK and the rest of the world.
That is why the UK has worked closed with international partners through the Financial Stability Board to develop global standards for cryptoassets and stablecoin. It is also why the Government is creating a comprehensive UK regulatory regime for cryptoassets, including to regulate the issuance of stablecoin.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what representations did he receive from women with (a) endometriosis and (b) adenomyosis on provisions within the Employment Rights Bill to support employees with these conditions.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to improving women’s health and supporting employees through the Employment Rights Act (ERA). Officials have engaged with women’s health organisations, including endometriosis groups, informing voluntary Employer Action Plans on menopause from April 2026. We’re helping people with health conditions stay and thrive at work through programmes such as Keep Britain Working and greater access to flexible working. Statutory Sick Pay may also apply which, from April, becomes payable from day one of sickness absence. Beyond the ERA, endometriosis and adenomyosis may be considered disabilities, and if so, employers must offer reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential competitive implications of capping prescription fees while major veterinary corporate groups also own large online pharmacies.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific assessment of this issue. Competition issues in the veterinary services market are currently being examined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as part of its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA’s initial analysis of a potential cap on prescription fees can be found in its provisional decision report. It is expected to publish its final decision by March.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the regulated public appointment, Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) - Committee Members - 5 roles, with application deadline of 23 October 2024, who was the Advisory Assessment Independent Panel Member listed on gov.uk as "To be confirmed".
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Independent Panel Member for this public appointment was Dr Alison Walker-Fraser. Alison is a business consultant and Chair of Trustees at Anaphylaxis UK. She is an experienced IPM for non-executive recruitment campaigns.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resilience of critical national infrastructure that relies on software or data platforms supplied by Palantir.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The government works closely with critical national infrastructure operators, alongside our national technical authorities and industry partners, to ensure preparedness for the diverse range of threats and risks the UK faces.
The government does not generally comment on national security matters, including the resilience of individual suppliers into CNI.