Written questions by Pinkerton.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mutual recognition of professional qualifications with the EU on employment levels in regulated professions.

We remain committed to improving the recognition of professional qualifications with the EU. Highly skilled professionals from the EU make a valuable contribution to the UK’s regulated sectors and vice versa. We continually assess the benefits that mutual recognition would bring, including the impact on employment levels in regulated professions in the UK and the opportunities for UK businesses in the EU. Improvements would reduce market access barriers, address skills gaps, increase service exports and promote growth across regulated professions.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential economic merits of mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and the EU.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 93339 on 27 November 2025: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the economic contribution of (a) touring musicians and (b) cultural professionals to the UK economy.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises that touring musicians and cultural professionals are essential to the United Kingdom’s economic vitality. The Department assesses the economic contribution of these sectors through the DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates, which provide accredited official statistics on Gross Value Added (GVA), employment, and trade, which are available at national and regional levels. These data can be found on the DCMS website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dcms-sectors-economic-estimate. The Government remains committed to supporting these professionals both at home and abroad. We continue to engage with the sector to address barriers to international touring and to ensure a sustainable environment for domestic performance, maintaining the UK’s position as a world-leading hub for the arts.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of a UK–EU youth mobility scheme on labour supply in sectors reliant on temporary or seasonal workers.

Under a Youth Experience Scheme, young Brits and EU citizens will be given the opportunity to travel and work abroad, providing a highly valuable form of cultural exchange. My Department is committed towards the inclusion of as many sectors as possible to provide the widest possible set of opportunities for our young people. The exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation, and I therefore cannot comment on potential impact, but it is in the UK and EU’s interests to stand up the scheme quickly so that young UK and EU nationals can take up these opportunities as soon as possible.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of regulatory alignment measures with the European Union on economic growth.

We have made a choice to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so in our national interest. For example, to unlock the SPS and carbon pricing agreements, which will add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040. Where we agree to dynamically align, we will have decision-shaping rights, as well technical adaptations and phasing in to make this deal work for the UK. The details of these are subject to negotiation.

What assessment his Department has made of the role a youth mobility scheme could play in supporting UK–EU trade in services.

We have not made such a precise assessment but since we are still working towards concluding negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme by the next EU-UK summit, I cannot provide a running commentary on ongoing negotiations. We will update the House in the usual way as soon as possible.

What estimate her Department has made of the level of impact of disruption to entry and exit systems at UK borders during the Christmas period on the economy.

The Entry / Exit System (EES) is an EU system; we are working with the French authorities and UK operators at St Pancras, Folkestone, and Port of Dover to minimise disruption.There has been no disruption at the UK border related to EES. The system is being introduced through a phased implementation, and no meaningful assessment can be made at this stage of the rollout.

What modelling her Department has done of the potential impact of deeper UK–EU regulatory cooperation on services trade and employment.

The Government is committed to providing appropriate analysis of any agreement made with the EU, but we will not be able to provide a full assessment of the impacts whilst detailed negotiations are ongoing. We have made a choice to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so in our national interest. For example, to unlock the SPS and carbon pricing agreements, which will add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040. The carbon pricing deal also avoids the risk of taxes on £7bn worth of UK exports to the EU. Where we agree to dynamically align, we will have decision-shaping rights, as well technical adaptations and phasing in to make this deal work for the UK. The details of these are subject to negotiation.

What estimate her Department has made of the cost to (a) businesses and (b) travellers arising from delays associated with the entry and exit system into the European Union.

The Entry / Exit System (EES) is an EU system; we are working with the French authorities and UK operators at St Pancras, Folkestone, and Port of Dover to minimise disruption.There has been no disruption at the UK border related to EES. The system is being introduced through a phased implementation, and no meaningful assessment can be made at this stage of the rollout.

What modelling his Department conducted on the potential economic benefits of accessing the European Union's SAFE programme.

The Ministry of Defence, working with officials across His Majesty's Government, thoroughly assessed the possible economic benefit from participation in the SAFE initiative across a range of market outcomes. This Government has been clear that we will only enter into agreements that serve the national interest and provide value for money for the taxpayer. In this case, the negotiations did not yield an agreement that met this standard. We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation with the EU on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this Government’s NATO First defence policy.

What modelling her Department has done on the potential impact of a UK–EU youth mobility scheme on (a) employment levels, (b) productivity, and (c) economic growth.

The Government has agreed that it will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU, which will be good for the economy, good for growth and good for business.The impact of a youth experience scheme will be appropriately analysed and will depend on the parameters that are ultimately agreed. We will not provide an assessment of the impacts while negotiations are ongoing.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to youth activities for young people in Surrey Heath constituency.

This Government recently published ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’, a 10 year plan to ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. This is backed by over £500 million of new money over the next 3 years from DCMS. We will be designing the funding and programmes in more detail over the next few months and will share more information in due course. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of youth services in their area. We will explore reviewing this duty as part of a wider review of local statutory duties.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting times for a decision on Access to Work claims in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Department is committed to reducing the Access to Work waiting times. We have increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% and we have continued to streamline delivery practices. To protect employment opportunities, case managers prioritise Access to Work applications where the customer is due to start a job within four weeks, or cases that are up for renewal. In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. We are considering all aspects of the scheme as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.

Whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of UK accession to the Lugano Convention for businesses and legal professionals.

The UK applied to re-join the 2007 Lugano Convention in April 2020. This application remains pending as the European Commission stated in a Note Verbale in June 2021 that it was not in a position to consent to UK accession.The UK Government remains committed to close and effective collaboration with EU and EFTA countries in the area of private international law.  As evidence of this, the UK ratified the 2019 Hague Convention in 2024, to which the EU is also a Party. This now provides recognition and enforcement rules in civil and commercial matters between the UK and the EU and its Member States.Hague 2019 rules provide greater certainty for businesses, reduce transactional and cross-border litigation costs, and support international trade and investments. Being part of this multilateral framework also encourages businesses to choose the UK’s world-beating courts and legal services for their international litigation, by providing greater predictability as to whether a UK judgment can be recognised and enforced abroad.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of PAS 9980 on building safety in residential buildings.

The Government has sponsored the British Standards Institution (BSI), who developed and are responsible for the PAS 9980 guidance, to review it to ensure it captures best practice, meets the needs of the market and identify whether any revisions are required. BSI has established a steering group with wide stakeholder representation and conducted a public consultation as part of the review. They expect to publish updated guidance in Summer 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives of the European Union on the use of disinformation by states to interfere in (a) political processes and (b) public discourse.

In her speech on 9 December 2025 marking the centenary of the Locarno Treaty, the Foreign Secretary spoke at length about the rising threat from information warfare, designed to create division and undermine democracy in societies like ours. We are working closely with European and other allies, including through the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnerships, to share information and coordinate our responses to information threats.Ministers and officials are engaged in regular conversations on tackling hybrid threats with the EU and member states, including information warfare, and I was pleased to take part in consultations with EU counterparts on these issues on 15 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what consultation he has undertaken with relevant stakeholders on developing PAS 9980.

The Government has sponsored the British Standards Institution (BSI), who developed and are responsible for the PAS 9980 guidance, to review it to ensure it captures best practice, meets the needs of the market and identify whether any revisions are required. BSI has established a steering group with wide stakeholder representation and conducted a public consultation as part of the review. They expect to publish updated guidance in Summer 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to support remediation in cases where leaseholders fall outside the scope of the Building Safety Act 2022.

Government is not currently considering expanding the leaseholder protections further but is committed to reviewing how to better protect leaseholders from costs. There is a range of support in place for those leaseholders whose lease does not qualify for protection under Part 5 of the Building Safety Act 2022. All leaseholders in buildings above 11 metres or five storeys are protected from paying towards the remediation of all fire related and structural defects where the developer has signed the developer remediation contract or where the freeholder is, or was associated with, the developer. More information on the developer remediation contract can be found on gov.uk here. Where a responsible developer cannot be identified, traced, or held responsible, funding is available for fire safety related cladding remediation on buildings over 11 metres through the Cladding Safety Scheme. Guidance on the Cladding Safety Scheme can be found on gov.uk here. The leaseholder protections do not apply to collectively owned buildings because there is no ‘separate’ freeholder to bear the costs, which would be borne by the leaseholders themselves – so the protections would not have their intended effect. Leaseholders and freeholders of residential buildings of all heights can use rights to redress introduced by the Building Safety Act. The Act extended the limitation period for Defective Premises Act claims to 30 years, providing more time to seek redress for poor workmanship. It also introduced new rights to bring civil claims where defective products have made a home unfit for habitation.

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of employment support for people with learning disabilities in Surrey Heath constituency.

For people who need specialist intensive support, DWP have agreed to fund Surrey County Council up to £9.8m to deliver the national Connect to Work programme across Surrey to around 2500 people to March 2030. This voluntary Supported Employment programme is for disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to employment, including those with learning disabilities and autistic adults, helping them to find sustained work. People interested in taking part in Connect to Work in Surrey can do so via this website: Connect to Work - Surrey County Council. We also have support for individuals available via our Jobcentres. This includes our Pathways to Work Advisors, who are helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles which may stop them from moving towards or into work, and for those who are ready to access employment, wider skills support, and our employment programmes. There is also support available through our Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs). DEAs provide Jobcentre Plus work coaches with specialist support on how to tailor their support to help customers with long-term health conditions and disabilities move closer or into the labour market. Additionally, they can also offer direct support (1-2-1) to customers on top of what they receive from their work coach. They also work with the local community to advocate for customers, collaborate with local partners (GPs, NHS, third sector organisations), facilitate support that meets local needs and promote other initiatives such as Disability Confident, Workwell, Connect to Work and Access to Work. Access to Work provides grant funding to support Workplace Adjustments that go beyond an employer's duty to provide reasonable adjustments as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. The grant provides personalised support and workplace assessments, travel to work, support workers, and specialist aids and equipment. In March 2025, we published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, to consult on the future of Access to Work. We are considering responses to the consultation and will set out our plans in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of improving market access for UK legal services in the European Union through the 2026 review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

We recognise the merits of improving market access across the board, which is why we remain committed to improving market access for UK service providers, including legal services. The EU is the most economically significant destination for UK legal services exports, at £3.3bn in 2024.We continue to explore opportunities to reduce market access barriers, address skills gaps, and promote growth for the legal sector with our European partners, including through the Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade, the dedicated dialogues on recognition of professional qualifications and business mobility and future UK-EU summits.