Gareth Thomas MP: written questions
212 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Credit UnionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Department does not currently offer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no immediate plans to introduce this facility.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: Credit UnionsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The department’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans and budgeting advice. We have no current plans to introduce payroll deductions for Credit Union members...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Credit UnionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) already offers Serving Personnel, and Veterans in receipt of a pension, the opportunity to save with our three credit unions (https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/) via payroll deduction administered by Defence Business Services...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: Credit UnionsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: DCMS does not have, nor will have, the facility to offer payroll deductions for employees who wish to join a credit union.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChurch Commissioners: Credit UnionsChurch CommissionersTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111614More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church will offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The National Church Institutions, in partnership with the Churches Mutual Credit Union, provide a facility for those on the central Church of England payroll to save or repay loans via payroll deduction. Currently, approximately 400 clergy and National Ch...
Answered 19 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Credit UnionsCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111613More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Cabinet Office and its agencies do not offer payroll deductions to staff in order to join a credit union.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Business and Trade: Credit UnionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade offer a variety of financial support to employees. This includes season ticket loans, bicycle advances, rental deposits, house purchase advances (for those relocating and meeting departmental eligibility criteria) and...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAttorney General's Office: Credit UnionsAttorney GeneralTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111611More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: The AGO or its sponsored departments do not offer payroll deduction facility to employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUganda: Political PartiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of allegations of harassment by the Government of Uganda against leaders of the opposition and the
Answer: The UK works with the Government of Uganda on a range of important issues, including trade, development, regional security and refugee response. We also regularly raise concerns about infringements of human rights and restrictions on political activity, i...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUganda: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of human rights abuses in Uganda.
Answer: The UK works with the Government of Uganda on a range of important issues, including trade, development, regional security and refugee response. We also regularly raise concerns about infringements of human rights and restrictions on political activity, i...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: Credit UnionsTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109508More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will ask the Chief Executive of HMRC to meet with the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence to discuss the potential merits of payr
Answer: HMRC’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce, aligned to the Civil Service Financial Strategy, includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans, as well as debt/budgeting advice and support through its Emplo...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: Credit UnionsTreasuryTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109507More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy for HMRC to offer payroll deduction to its employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Answer: HMRC’s financial wellbeing offer for its workforce, aligned to the Civil Service Financial Strategy, includes access to a variety of advances including rental deposits and season ticket loans, as well as debt/budgeting advice and support through its Emplo...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFlats: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with UK Finance on mortgage lenders' assessments of EWS1 forms issued by Tri Fire.
Answer: Officials in my department have regular engagement with financial sector stakeholders. A product of this is the lenders’ statement on cladding which has signatories from ten major banks and building societies. These lenders have committed to consider mort...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFlats: Fire PreventionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of assistance available to people with EWS1 forms deemed to be invalid and unacceptable by mortgage lenders.
Answer: Officials in my department have regular engagement with financial sector stakeholders. A product of this is the lenders’ statement on cladding which has signatories from ten major banks and building societies. These lenders have committed to consider mort...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Health Centres: Greater LondonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2026 to Question 107667, what information his Department holds on which ICB senior staff and Board members will be involved in the commissioning of neighbourhoo
Answer: The selection of senior staff and board members involved in the commissioning of neighbourhood health centres will be determined by each integrated care board. As the North West and North Central London Integrated Care Boards are merging to form the West ...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPrivate Sector: Economic GrowthTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109051More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will hold discussions with the Secretaries of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Business and Trade on the conclusions of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods on how to achi
Answer: We acknowledge the work of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods and its recommendations for how to invest in deprived communities. The Pride in Place Programme, announced in September, demonstrates this Government’s firm commitment to backing neig...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Health Centres: Greater LondonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2026 to Question 107667 on Neighbourhood Health Centres and Urgent Treatment Centres: Greater London, which (a) health authorities and (b) related public bodies
Answer: There will be a Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community. The Government has announced its commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres, with 120 delivered by 2030, through a mix of public private partnership and public capital. Integrated...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Health Centres: Greater LondonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of neighbourhood health centres that will be in North West London ICB by (a) 2030 and (b) 2035.
Answer: There will be a Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community. The Government has announced its commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres, with 120 delivered by 2030, through a mix of public private partnership and public capital. Integrated...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSports: Older PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she will have with broadcasters on commissioning programmes that encourage those aged over 60 to participate in sporting activity.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, including older people, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities to stay fit and healthy.We understand sport helps encourage people to be active and sup...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: Credit UnionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he will estimate how many local Council offer their employees the opportunity to join a credit union by offering a payroll deduction service.
Answer: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces, including setting their own terms and conditions and employment packages.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Credit UnionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will estimate how many NHS employers offer their employees the opportunity to join a credit union by offering a payroll deduction service.
Answer: The Department does not hold this information. Local employers across the National Health Service are best placed to understand their staff’s needs and circumstances. NHS staff have access to a range of support for financial wellbeing, including credit un...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEducational Institutions: Credit UnionsDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will make an estimate of how many education employers offer their employees the opportunity to join a credit union via payroll deduction.
Answer: The department does not hold this information.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSomalilandForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she will recognise Somaliland as an independent nation.
Answer: It is the UK's long-standing position that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for authorities in Mogadishu and Hargeisa to decide through a consultative process and dialogue, in line with the principles of the UN charter.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCredit Unions: Help to Save SchemeTreasuryTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108156More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with National Savings and Investments on the provision of Help to Save services by credit unions.
Answer: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not undertaken any recent engagement with National Savings and Investments on this issue. HMRC Officials are continuing to take forward work on Help to Save reform, including engagement with a range of financial institu...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Health Centres and Urgent Treatment Centres: Greater LondonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the criteria being used to determine where new a) neighbourhood care centres and b) urgent treatment centres are being located in London.
Answer: At the Autumn Budget, we announced our commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme. This will deliver NHCs through a mixture of refurbishments to expand and improve sites over the next thre...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →