Every parliamentary written question tabled by Gareth Thomas this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 207 · this parliament
What was the funding per student in English further education colleges in 2010, 2024 and 2025-26.
The table below uses the published 16 to 19 funding allocations to derive the average total programme funding per student in general further education (FE) colleges, for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years. The figures are not available for 2010 to 2011.Average funding per student in general FE colleges2024/25£6,7532025/26£7,419
What grant funding is available to help support the development of commercial and business skills in small and medium-sized enterprise.
The Department for Business and Trade does not provide centrally administered grant funding, specifically for the development of commercial and business skills for SMEs.Help to Grow: Management (HTG:M) is a UK-wide leadership and management programme for SME leaders. The programme is 90% government‑subsidised, with a participant contribution of £750.Responsibility for business skills funding is devolved to local government, with commercial and business skills courses delivered through Growth Hubs funded directly through Mayoral Combined Authorities and local councils.Businesses are encouraged to use the business.gov.uk website to identify relevant local support, including skills and business development funding in their area.
What information his Department holds on the proportion of UK businesses with dedicated budgets for training.
The DBT Longitudinal Small Business Survey[1] reports that 45 percent of SME employers offer training to their employees. The Department does not hold specific information on dedicated budgets for training. [1] Small Business Survey 2024: businesses with employees - GOV.UK
Communities and Local Government, what consideration he has given to giving the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman oversight of property management companies.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111611, how many employees are employed by her Department and its agencies.
Departments are required to publish quarterly, the latest of which was released on 16 December 2025. You are referred to Public sector employment - Office for National Statistics for the information you have requested which states that 11,720 people are employed across all the Law Officers Departments.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has for future independent oversight of UK Official Development Assistance spending.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 4 February in response to Question 109820.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2026 to Question 111615, for what reason does her Department not have the facility to offer payroll deductions for employees who wish to join a credit union.
The DCMS employee benefits package is directly shaped by employee demand. At present, joining a credit union is not included in our provision as we haven’t seen a significant appetite or interest. There is no requirement for DCMS to provide a facility for payroll deductions for employees who wish to join a credit union.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
The Department does not currently offer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no immediate plans to introduce this facility.
Innovation and Technology, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
At this time, the Department does not administer payroll deductions for Credit Unions, and there are no proposals to introduce such a service.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
This is a service that we do not current offer in DfT or our agencies. Staff can still make arrangements to contribute to a credit union via direct debit.
Whether the Commission has had discussions with the National Audit Office regarding employee payroll deductions to credit unions.
This is not a matter that the Commission has discussed with the National Audit Office.The NAO does not currently operate any payroll deduction arrangements for credit unions, nor does it have any active schemes or mechanisms in place that facilitate credit union deductions from employees’ salaries.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
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 salary advances. In addition, employees can access support for debt management or financial wellbeing through the Employee Assistance Programme.There are no plans to introduce payroll deductions for Credit Union purposes. The Department for Business and Trade is not able to advise on behalf of other agencies.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
I can confirm that the Ministry of Justice does not currently offer or promote credit union offerings through payroll deductions. However, the Department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not offer payroll deductions for credit unions. However, the department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package. The employee benefits package is provided to NIO staff by the Ministry of Justice and its contracted suppliers.
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 their families.
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, including on opposition parties and their supporters. The UK engaged across the political spectrum to advocate for peaceful and credible January 2026 elections, including for opposition candidates to be able to campaign freely and safely, and we continue to press for democratic rights and freedoms, including through our High Commission in Kampala.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Staff in my Department are employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which provides payroll services on our behalf. The MoJ does not currently operate a payroll‑deduction facility for credit union membership, however, staff who wish to join a credit union can already do so independently. My department continues to support staff financial wellbeing through the MoJ’s wider financial wellbeing offer, which provides access to information, tools, and advice.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
There are currently no plans to introduce a requirement for HM Treasury and its agencies to offer payroll deductions to enable staff to join a credit union.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
The AGO or its sponsored departments do not offer payroll deduction facility to employees to enable them to join a credit union.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
The Home Office introduced a new benefits platform in August 2025 which includes a wellbeing hub with financial education and support.At the current time the Home Office is not intending to introduce a payroll deduction service for accessing credit unions.
Whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.
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. MOD Civil Servants and Veterans without a pension can save with those same credit unions using Direct Debit.