Apology Without Compensation as Prison Reforms Set Out

High-Level Summary

The Commons held Business and Trade questions on industrial energy costs, hospitality, EU trade and exports, followed by the weekly Business Statement. Ministers then made two statements: confirming no compensation scheme after the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report on women’s state pension age communication, and publishing the annual prison capacity statement alongside sentencing and probation reforms. The Health and Social Care Committee reported on outcomes in the first 1,000 days of life. The House then marked Holocaust Memorial Day in a wide‑ranging debate, before receiving a petition on methanol poisoning education and concluding with an adjournment debate on non‑league football and the National League’s ‘3UP’ promotion campaign.

Detailed Summary

Oral Questions: Business and Trade

Industrial energy costs and manufacturing: Chris McDonald announced that from April the discount on electricity network charges will rise “from 60% to 90% under the network charging compensation scheme, supporting around 550 electricity‑intensive businesses” and that from 2027 the British industrial competitiveness scheme will “cut electricity costs by around £35 to £40 per MWh for around 7,000 manufacturing businesses”. He said ceramics’ eligibility for the supercharger would be reviewed this year.

Hospitality: Chris Bryant said, “From April, every pub and live music venue will get 15% off its new business rates bill… Bills will then be frozen in real terms for a further two years”. Kate Dearden highlighted permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and confirmed a review of hotel valuations for business rates.

EU trade and exports: Chris Bryant said 46% of UK trade is with the EU and the Government aims for “as frictionless as possible” trade, including fine‑tuning the food and drink deal, negotiating on joining the single electricity market, improving business mobility and mutual recognition of professional qualifications. He added, “We need to make sure that we achieve what was promised… frictionless trade… when we secure our SPS deal” and to improve business mobility and recognition of professional qualifications. On exports, he cited UK exports of £929 billion in the 12 months to November 2025, “up 4% on the year before”, acknowledged visa and mobility barriers to be addressed with the Home Office, and described targeted UK Export Finance support for Ukraine and discussions regarding Syria.

Arms export licences: On Israel, Bryant said licences were suspended in September 2024 and “we have continued to refuse licence applications on the same basis”. He stressed it is not “business as usual” and that decisions are made case‑by‑case, with some licences suspended due to concerns about international humanitarian law.

Workers’ rights and labour market: Kate Dearden said the Employment Rights Act 2025 will deliver day‑one paternity leave, stronger sick pay, action on exploitative zero‑hours contracts and fire‑and‑rehire. She also confirmed a forthcoming consultation on single worker status to tackle bogus self‑employment.

Other updates: Ministers referenced industrial strategy investments, a meeting with Royal Mail next week about service performance, forthcoming steel strategy and tariff decisions after July, and that further action against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains under review. No divisions were held during questions.

Business of the House (Weekly Business Statement)

Leader of the House Alan Campbell announced business for 2–12 February, including: Second Reading of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill on Tuesday 3 February; police grant and local government finance reports on Wednesday 11 February; and that the House will rise for recess on Thursday 12 February and return on Monday 23 February. He also noted publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and a police reform White Paper described as “the largest reforms to policing since the police service was founded around 200 years ago”.

In exchanges, he attributed higher borrowing costs to the “Truss Budget, which crashed and trashed the economy”, said plans for police officer numbers would be set out in the 11 February funding debate, and undertook to raise various constituency issues with Departments. No motions were voted on.

Government response to PHSO report: Women’s State Pension Age Communication

The Secretary of State, Pat McFadden, confirmed an apology but no compensation scheme following the Ombudsman’s report. He said, “We accept that individual letters about changes to the state pension age could have been sent earlier… I am sorry those letters were not sent sooner”, but evidence suggested “an earlier letter would… have been unlikely to make a difference” for most women and “the vast majority of 1950s‑born women already knew that the state pension age was increasing” through wider public information. A flat‑rate scheme “would cost up to £10.3 billion” and could not target only those who suffered injustice.

He emphasised support for lower‑income pensioners via pension credit and the triple lock, noting the state pension will rise “by up to £575 this year”, and said work with the Ombudsman on an action plan will now resume. In response to challenges, he reiterated there is “no change in our position on the triple lock” and argued that compensating only the poorest would duplicate pension credit and be impractical to assess. No division was held.

Prison Capacity: Annual Statement and Sentencing Reform

Prisons Minister Jake Richards said prisons remain under severe strain but, taking account of reforms, supply is now expected to keep pace with demand. In September 2024, the Government changed the automatic release point for certain sentences from 50% to 40% “to ease the intolerable pressure on the system”. The 10‑year strategy commits up to £7 billion for 14,000 additional places by 2031, with “around 2,900 additional prison places” delivered since July 2024 and about 5,000 under construction; the 14,000 target is retained despite risks.

He outlined Sentencing Act 2026 measures: a presumption to suspend short custodial sentences due to high reoffending, behaviour‑linked release, strengthened licence conditions, and faster deportation of foreign national offenders, expected to reduce demand by “around 7,500 places by 2028”. Probation will receive up to £700 million more by the end of the Parliament, with at least 1,300 trainee probation officers in 2025‑26 and staffing expected to reach “around 6,500” by September 2027; digital tools such as Justice Transcribe are being deployed. Annual capacity statements are now a statutory requirement.

The shadow pressed that new places were inherited and asserted that “prison works”. The Minister replied that prison “can work” and said the Government will keep “more prisoners behind bars than ever before by the end of the Parliament”; he noted similar short‑sentence reforms had previously been proposed by Conservatives. No votes were taken.

Health and Social Care Committee statement: First 1,000 days of life

Committee Chair Paulette Hamilton said the first 1,000 days are crucial, yet “our children have some of the poorest health outcomes in Europe”. Health visitor numbers “have fallen by 43%, leaving a shortfall of 5,000 posts” and caseloads can exceed 750 children. The Committee welcomed family hubs but urged access in every community and recruitment of at least 1,000 additional health visitors.

It highlighted declining vaccination uptake, noting deaths from measles and whooping cough in 2024, and called for a new strategy and reinstating the 95% coverage target; and it pressed for a shared outcomes framework to improve integration, due in April. As a Select Committee statement, there was no Government response.

Backbench Business: Holocaust Memorial Day debate

Opening the debate, Peter Prinsley reflected on this year’s theme of “Bridging Generations”, warning against complacency: “do not imagine that it can never happen again in our time”. He urged completion of the national memorial: “Let us get it done before the last eyewitnesses pass into the history books”, and asked how the UK will honour its promise “that we will never forget” amid fewer school commemorations. He condemned rising antisemitism since 7 October 2023 and said law‑abiding Jewish citizens in the UK should not be blamed for events abroad.

Bob Blackman cited Community Security Trust data of “1,521 antisemitic incidents… in the first half of 2025” and welcomed the Holocaust Memorial Act 2026 paving the way for a memorial beside Parliament. Members across the House stressed survivor testimony, remembrance, education and tackling contemporary hatred, with references to other genocides such as Srebrenica. The House resolved that it had considered Holocaust Memorial Day.

Petition: Education on methanol poisoning

Gareth Bacon presented a petition after fatalities abroad, including a constituent’s relative, calling for schools to teach the risks of bootleg alcohol. He said the family is campaigning for “increased awareness and education about the dangers of methanol poisoning abroad” and asked that children be taught these risks in PSHE or biology. The petition was formally recorded.

Adjournment Debate: Non‑league football and the National League ‘3UP’ campaign

Jonathan Brash argued that the National League should have three promotion places into League Two, aligning with higher tiers and supporting community clubs. “Non‑league clubs are often more than football clubs”, he said, adding, “Real fans want 3UP”, and urged Government to encourage engagement by the EFL.

Responding, the Minister said the Independent Football Regulator now oversees the top five tiers: “For the first time, we have a statutory body with the powers to ensure that clubs are run sustainably”. He emphasised that competition structures are for the EFL but hoped it “hears the strength of feeling” at its forthcoming meetings. He also highlighted grassroots facilities funding and pandemic support for clubs. No commitment was made to mandate promotion changes.