Gareth Thomas MP: written questions
229 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Asylum: DatabasesHome OfficeTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to apply for UK membership of Eurodac.
Answer: The UK-EU Summit on 19 May set out a framework for future cooperation on migration issues. We are working closely with EU partners to deliver new capability as it is crucial part of our response to Illegal Migration. We will not provide a running commenta...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMutual SocietiesTreasuryTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98346More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will discuss support for new mutual banks with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Business and Trade.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting the growth of mutual financial services in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the mutual and co-operative sector. HM Treasury works closely with departments across government, including the D...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMcClure Solicitors: Discretionary TrustsScotland OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92513, if he will confirm who the relevant authorities are.
Answer: The Secretary of State is aware that the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Ombudsman have been responding to the implications for clients in England and Wales of the firm’s closure. It would not be appropriate for him to comment any further an...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordErasmus+ ProgrammeDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether British students will be able to take part in the Erasmus+ exchange programme by January 2027.
Answer: As set out at the UK-EU Summit in May, the UK agreed to work towards association to the Erasmus+ programme on mutually agreed financial terms.Negotiations are ongoing, and the timelines for any association are subject to ongoing discussion. We are open to...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal SavingsTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97085More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to increase levels of household savings.
Answer: Everyone should have access to affordable and appropriate products for their financial wellbeing. The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring individuals and households have greater financial security.This is why the ...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCreditTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97084More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to improve access to affordable credit.
Answer: The Government recognises that affordable and responsible credit can help households manage unexpected costs and cash flow.In November, we published the Financial Inclusion Strategy, developed with consumer groups and industry. The Strategy includes a pil...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: LoansTreasuryTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96603More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what further steps she will take to make the cost of business loans more transparent.
Answer: The Government receives representations from a range of stakeholders about matters across financial services and the economy. Disputes are a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service rather than the Government. I would refer my honourable friend to the a...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: LoansTreasuryTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96602More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has received representations on the cost of lending required by (a) Maxcap business loans, (b) Capify business loans and (c) Funding Circle’s Flexipay product.
Answer: The Government receives representations from a range of stakeholders about matters across financial services and the economy. Disputes are a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service rather than the Government. I would refer my honourable friend to the a...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: LoansTreasuryTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96601More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of of small business finance applications rejected by (a) high street banks and (b) all banks in (i) total and (ii) just for non asset backed lending applications in the most
Answer: The Government, and specifically the Treasury, is responsible for the legislative framework for financial services, and does not collect significant volumes of market data. External bodies including the British Business Bank, Bank of England, UK Finance, ...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor InsuranceTreasuryTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96600More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will bring forward plans to make car insurance more affordable in general and particularly for those living in areas of deprivation.
Answer: Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment on the likelihood of a claim being made and the cost of those claims. The government does not generally intervene in these pricing decisions by in...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: Small BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what further steps he will take to help small businesses take advantage of the UK's trade deals.
Answer: Our department is helping businesses take advantage of trade deals through engagement, guidance, and practical support. Events to promote understanding of FTAs have been held in all parts of the UK this year, including during International Trade Week.Guid...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Trade with EU: Economic SituationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 93633, if he will publish that assessment.
Answer: To protect negotiation-sensitive information the Department for Business and Trade will not be publishing a full assessment of the potential economic impact of mutual recognition agreements on conformity assessment between the UK and EU. This Government r...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDisadvantagedMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the findings of Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, whether he will take steps to encourage private sector growth in the most deprived neighbourhoods in E
Answer: Strong neighbourhoods and communities are vital to drive growth. The Pride in Place strategy sets out how we will deliver up to £5 billion funding and support over ten years to 339 neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of double deprivation. Neig...
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVideo Games: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on improving access to finance for the video games industry.
Answer: The Government is committed to making the UK the best place in the world to produce video games. We recognise the high growth potential of the sector, and are committed to improving its access to finance. This is why, as part of the Creative Industries Se...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCustoms: EU CountriesTreasuryTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94145More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to EU customs arrangements on UK businesses.
Answer: On 17 May 2023, the European Commission proposed a revision of the Union Customs Code. The proposal is still subject to EU internal procedures; therefore, we cannot comment on the final proposal. However, we are following these suggested reforms closely, ...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: EU CountriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94144More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1st December to question 93634 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).Improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU would benefit individuals...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: LoansTreasuryTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93636More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints the a) Financial Ombudsman Service, b) Financial Conduct Authority and c) Prudential Regulation Authority received about i) the cost of loans to SMEs, ii) debt recovery behaviour by those offerin
Answer: I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October. Complaints are the remit of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which publishes regular data on complaint trends. In its latest quarterly report, it noted...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Business Bank: ComplaintsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many complaints the British Business Bank received about a) the cost of loans to SMEs, b) debt recovery behaviour by people offering to lend to SMEs and c) fees charged by lenders when lending to S
Answer: Where the British Business Bank receives complaints about lenders' actions on debt recovery, cost of lending and fees charged by lenders, these are referred to the relevant lender. While all complaints are logged, the current system does not include a spe...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: EU CountriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating improved business travel mobility arrangements with the European Union.
Answer: Improved business travel mobility arrangements with the EU would benefit individuals and businesses in both the UK and EU, likely increasing trade between us and the EU and increasing our GDP over time. The UK government is committed to supporting UK busi...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Trade with EUDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of UK and EU conformity assessment alignment on the economy.
Answer: We are aware that UK and EU stakeholders have highlighted that conformity assessment barriers negatively impact their ability to trade since the UK left the EU. Ahead of the UK-EU summit in May 2025 we explored a number of proposals with our EU partners o...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordProfessions: QualificationsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93339More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of the mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the UK and European Union.
Answer: DBT is continually assessing benefits of opportunities to improve recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Improvements would reduce market access barriers, address skills gaps, and promote growth.The UK Government is committed to improving...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChemicals: UK Trade with EUTreasuryTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93338More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will meet with representatives of the UK chemical industry to discuss an estimate of the potential cost of being out of the Single Market.
Answer: Government Ministers regularly meet with businesses and business representation organisations from a range of sectors, including the chemical sector. They remain open to further engagement with the sector including on ways to bolster growth, trade and inv...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordIwoca: LoansTreasuryTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93337More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the cost of business loans offered by IWOCA.
Answer: I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October, and more recently in relation to the rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK. Interest rates, including those offered by in...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordIwoca: ComplaintsTreasuryTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93336More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints her Department has received on the cost of loans offered by IWOCA to small and medium sized businesses.
Answer: I refer my honourable friend to the answers I provided on the topic of SME lending on 23 October, and more recently in relation to the rate of short-term lending to small and medium sized businesses in the UK. Interest rates, including those offered by in...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMcClure Solicitors: Discretionary TrustsScotland OfficeTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether Police Scotland has had discussions with his Department on its investigation into McClures Solicitors asset protection trusts.
Answer: Police Scotland has not had discussions with the Scotland Office regarding its investigation into McClures Solicitors' asset protection trusts. It would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State or Scotland Office officials to discuss this matter with...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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