Topical Questions 2025-12-04

2025-12-04

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Kenneth Stevenson Lab
Airdrie and Shotts
Context
Passengers are experiencing long waits due to the EU entry-exit system becoming fully operational, causing short-term pain for constituents in Airdrie and Shotts.
While passengers are experiencing short-term pain of long waits as the EU entry-exit system becomes fully operational, can the Minister confirm his Department is working to ensure that the agreement obtained by this Labour Government to allow British access to e-gates will, in the long term, cut queues and improve the travelling experience for my constituents in Airdrie and Shotts and other Members’ constituents?
British passport holders will be able to use e-gates across Europe, allowing for more time to be spent on holiday and less time spent held up in queues. This is a positive step forward in expanding our access across the EU. The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office is working with individual member states to make this happen as soon as possible.
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Q2 Direct Answer
Alex Burghart Con
Brentwood and Ongar
Context
A previous letter to the Chancellor regarding Chinese acquisition of Thames Water and concerns over national security.
A few weeks ago I wrote to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster about Chinese ownership of critical national infrastructure, including the possible acquisition of Thames Water. I have not had a reply, but since then The Telegraph has been briefed by the Government that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster would block such an acquisition. Can he confirm to the House that he will use his powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to launch an investigation before any Chinese acquisition of Thames Water is allowed to proceed?
The House will know that because of the quasi-judicial powers I have under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, I cannot comment on individual transactions. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are always willing to use those powers to protect the national interests and national security of this country.
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Q3 Direct Answer
Alex Burghart Con
Brentwood and Ongar
Context
Concerns over national security due to current Chinese ownership of electricity distribution networks, gas distribution network for about 5 million people, and water supply for another 3 million.
Well, someone was briefing in the right hon. Gentleman’s name. I thank him for his answer, but on the same theme, the electricity distribution network for London and much of the south-east, as well as the gas distribution network for about 5 million people in our country and the water supply for about another 3 million, are currently under Chinese ownership. That includes the power supply for the Palace of Westminster, Whitehall and many security capabilities. Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster tell us whether he has reviewed the national security implications of these legacy acquisitions? If not, will he commit to doing so?
I can reassure the hon. Member and the House that we constantly keep critical national infrastructure risks under review and will take interventions as required to protect the national interest and national security of the United Kingdom.
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Q4 Direct Answer
Joe Powell Lab
Kensington and Bayswater
Context
The Prime Minister's acknowledgment that Brexit has hurt the economy and eroded trust in politics.
T3. The Prime Minister was clear this week that the wild promises of Brexit have hurt our economy, eroded trust in politics and that there is no credible economic future for Britain without a closer relationship with the European Union. I completely agree. Can the Minister set out when he expects a youth experience scheme to be agreed and confirm that we will seek to rejoin Erasmus on terms that ensure that young people from all backgrounds can access opportunities across the European Union?
As I said in response to an earlier question, we are in the process of negotiating the EU youth experience scheme, which came out of the agreement secured earlier in the year. We are also seeking associate membership in Erasmus. Those are just two examples of how we will try to take on a much closer relationship with the EU that will have benefits for young people, the economy and cultural exchange.
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Q5 Direct Answer
Sarah Bool Con
South Northamptonshire
Context
Concerns over the financial contributions to be made to the EU in light of previous agreements with Switzerland.
T2. First, I want to echo the concerns of the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael): the Paymaster General really must meet with the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee to discuss the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement—meeting with the Chair in private is not enough. When it comes to Europe and negotiating deals, the devil is always in the detail. Looking at the fisheries negotiation, we can see that the Government struggle with this area. Given that Switzerland will be paying €375 million a year, and it seems as though we will have to pay for the privilege of being a rule taker once more, can the Minister clarify exactly what he considers to be an appropriate financial contribution to be paid to the EU?
We will always negotiate in Britain’s interest and ensure value for money for the taxpayer and benefit for the UK economy. I can confirm that not only has the Paymaster General agreed to meet with the Chair of the EFRA Committee, but the relevant Minister from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be appearing to give evidence in the normal way.
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Q6 Direct Answer
Sean Woodcock Lab
Banbury
Context
The need to support local businesses through public procurement.
T7. What steps is the Minister taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Banbury with public procurement?
Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our economy, and we are looking at reforming procurement rules to do everything we can to make sure that the £400 billion a year we spend on this does everything possible to help small businesses. We consulted in the summer, including on late payments and reforming social value, and we are going to bring forward a package of reforms shortly on this.
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Q7 Direct Answer
Alistair Carmichael LD
Orkney and Shetland
Context
Concerns over the lack of information sharing between government and cable companies.
T4. May I take the Security Minister back to the subject of the security of undersea cables? He may know that in Shetland we have had two catastrophic breakages this year as a result of fishing boats breaking the cables. It has now become clear that there is no basic sharing of information between the Government and cable companies, and the cable company in that case had to submit a freedom of information request to get VMS—vessel monitoring system—data. Surely we can do better than that.
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. I will look carefully at what he has said and will be happy to meet to discuss it further.
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Q8 Partial Answer
Rachel Taylor Lab
North Warwickshire and Bedworth
Context
The question pertains to securing a professional driver exemption from the 90/180-day Schengen travel restrictions for UK drivers of heavy goods vehicles and coaches. This is an issue affecting transport operators in North Warwickshire and Bedworth.
To support transport operators in North Warwickshire and Bedworth, what discussions has the Minister had with EU counterparts on securing a professional driver exemption from the 90/180-day Schengen travel restrictions for UK drivers of heavy goods vehicles and coaches?
I recognise the importance of this issue to my hon. Friend’s constituents. Amendments to Schengen rules are predominantly a matter for member states, but the Minister for the Cabinet Office has regular discussions with his counterparts in the EU, and I will ensure that he is aware of those concerns.
Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide specific details about the exemption process or progress made.
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Q9 Direct Answer
Callum Anderson Lab
Buckingham and Bletchley
Context
The question is about attracting socially minded investors to support local growth in the town of Buckingham through initiatives like the Office for the Impact Economy.
Through the town deal and the Bletchley investment taskforce, our town is already working hard to attract private investment. We see an opportunity to go even further by bringing in socially minded investors to back local growth. What further steps is the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister taking through the Office for the Impact Economy to connect social investors with our town so that we can realise our full potential?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing so much investment in his constituency. The Office for the Impact Economy will be working with philanthropists and social investors, as well as corporate givers and others, to support programmes led by the Government, such as Pride in Place and other public investments, to deliver a better bang for our buck and the renewal of communities across the country, including in Bletchley. I look forward to working with my hon. Friend to deliver on that promise of change.
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Q10 Partial Answer
Joe Robertson Con
Isle of Wight East
Context
The question concerns the request made by a Labour party staff member for Lord Alli’s pass to No. 10 Downing Street and seeks clarity on who in the Labour Party signed off on this.
Tomorrow will mark a year to the day since the Government launched the plan for change, to great fanfare, with its milestones, its mission boards, and its dashboards that never materialised. We have now found out that the five mission boards have been deleted from the latest list of Cabinet Committees. Has there been any change at all from the plan for change?
I welcome the introduction of the plan for change to the debate today, and the hon. Gentleman will be as excited as I am about the promise of change being delivered: five interest rate cuts; mortgage rates coming down; wages growing faster than the cost of living; NHS waiting lists down not by 2 million, 3 million or 4 million, but by 5 million appointments; a better start in life for young people across the country—
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The answer did not provide specific changes made to the plan.
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