National Care Service Plans Lead Day Of Scrutiny and Debate

High-Level Summary

The day began with departmental questions on employment, science, consumer protection, economic growth, infrastructure and public services, followed by an urgent question on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). The Government set out plans to prepare a national care service including free personal care, while leaving significant questions about scope, funding and implementation for further work. The Highways (Financing) Bill received Second Reading after the House rejected a reasoned amendment by 76 votes to 231; it was committed to a Public Bill Committee. The sitting ended with an adjournment debate on Jagtar Singh Johal, during which the Government confirmed continuing consular assistance and engagement with India while noting that eight cases remained outstanding.

Detailed Summary

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade questions

Questions covered jobs for young people, science and research, online product safety, economic growth, late payments, rogue traders, data centres, advanced manufacturing, Royal Mail, post-office provision, artificial intelligence, place-based investment and hospitality. Jonathan Reynolds said that creating good jobs was central to his Department’s work and undertook to examine restrictions on work by children below school-leaving age and write to Aphra Brandreth: “I promise that I will go away and look at this issue, and write to the hon. Lady with further information.” Joe Robertson called for lower national insurance contributions for employing under-25s; Reynolds replied that employers did not pay national insurance for under-21s or apprentices under 25, and referred to the forthcoming Milburn review. Opposition and Liberal Democrat speakers also raised youth unemployment, employment costs, taxation and the effect of regulation on entry-level jobs.

On science, Reynolds said that Jodrell Bank had a secure future while the primary radio astronomy project moved from the e-MERLIN network to the Square Kilometre Array observatory in March 2028, and said that long-term sustainability options were being explored. Chris McDonald cited planned research and development expenditure of £86 billion between 2026-27 and 2029-30, including £38.6 billion for UK Research and Innovation, and said that Science and Technology Facilities Council funding would rise to £842 million by 2029-30. Ministers proposed duties for online marketplaces to identify, prevent and remove unsafe goods, supported by civil monetary penalties, and said that Royal Mail’s reliability—particularly for vulnerable users—needed to improve. Ministers also made or offered follow-up commitments on issues including Grangemouth, Bletchley’s investment taskforce, the York post office and artificial-intelligence security. Reynolds said he would write to Freddie Van Mierlo about concerns regarding the Diamond Light Source and ISIS facilities; no assurance that those facilities would remain open through 2028 was given in the transcript. “The Government have been clear that Ofcom should carefully consider the role of bulk mail and whether additional regulatory measures are needed to secure high standards of reliability for all postal customers.”

Urgent question: Sustainable Farming Incentive

Stephen Morgan set out changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26), including one agreement per farm business, a £100,000 annual limit, a streamlined set of actions and two application windows. He said that the second window was open to farmers and land managers with at least three hectares, and closed at 3.48 pm on 22 September 2026. Across both windows, £310 million had been allocated to nearly 19,000 new agreements, including £253 million for 12,200 agreements through the second window. The Government planned to offer SFI27, open it as early as possible and remove the first-come, first-served process: “As part of that, we will scrap the first come, first served application process.”

Robbie Moore and other Members criticised the short application period, the level of funding, technical problems and the effect on farmers with expiring agreements. Moore asked where the £210 million difference between the value of expiring agreements and the SFI26 allocation had gone, and sought a timetable, forward plan and budget for SFI27. Morgan did not provide a direct answer on that difference or announce a SFI27 budget. He said that the Government were reviewing applications and technical reports, had begun workshops and were working with farmers and representative organisations, including the National Farmers’ Union. In response to concerns from Ellie Chowns, he said: “Of course I am sorry if people applied for this scheme and were unsuccessful, and I understand people’s frustrations.” The Minister later said that more information about future rounds would be published in due course and that SFI27 should open as early as possible in the new year. A point of order disputing whether first-come, first-served arrangements had first been introduced under the previous Government was not pursued after the Deputy Speaker ended the exchange.

Business of the House

Alan Campbell announced business for the weeks beginning 19 and 26 October, including Committee stages of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, proceedings on the Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill, an Opposition day, a Black History Month debate, the Budget statement on 28 October, and debates on Royal Mail performance and the emerging risks of advanced artificial intelligence. He also responded to questions on the fifth anniversary of Sir David Amess’s murder, flooding in Herefordshire, British national overseas applications by Hongkongers, minority rights abroad, safeguarding in nurseries, restoration and renewal, pelvic mesh, leasehold reform, local government and rural services.

Campbell said that the Prime Minister had acknowledged that he had misspoken, apologised and corrected the record in relation to an earlier statement. On Manchester City, he said that the initial judgment was serious and that an independent process should be allowed to run its course. On flooding in Ewyas Harold, he undertook to ensure that the Chancellor heard Jesse Norman’s representations and offered to arrange a meeting with the Floods Minister. On restoration and renewal, he said: “I have committed to bringing forward a motion on the subject.” He also said that he wanted consensus and value-for-money safeguards before proceeding. Campbell offered or agreed to help arrange ministerial meetings on matters including pelvic mesh, MLD screening, retirement housing and local infrastructure, and generally directed Members to Westminster Hall or Adjournment debates where appropriate.

National Care Service statement

Alison McGovern announced that the Government were preparing to build a national care service with free personal care, while Baroness Casey’s review continued and was expected to report the following summer. She linked the proposal to population ageing, pressure on the National Health Service and the position of care workers. Measures announced included thousands more academy places for young jobseekers, a national collective pension scheme dedicated to care workers, an unpaid carers’ champion and a £500 million fair pay agreement for adult social care. She also reported that digital social care records were used by 84% of care providers, compared with 72% when the Government took office, and that 92% of people drawing on care benefited from the modernisation. “We plan to offer an SFI scheme in 2027” was not part of this statement; the relevant care-service commitment was that “the Prime Minister has taken the decision to build a national care service, with free personal care.”

Damian Hinds asked about the meaning and scope of personal care, residential care, working-age adults, workforce integration, taxation and the relationship with the Casey review. McGovern defined personal care as help with activities including using the toilet, cleaning oneself and having a shower, and said she would follow up some questions in writing. Members also raised funding, capital limits, carers’ rights, private and co-operative provision, rural care, cross-border arrangements, end-of-life care and support for disabled adults. McGovern said that immediate work would continue on workforce matters, safeguarding, digital records, local-authority commissioning and integration between health and social care, while wider design questions would be considered with Baroness Casey, local government and other stakeholders. No complete definition of the service, final implementation timetable or detailed funding settlement was provided in the statement.

Highways (Financing) Bill: Second Reading and programme

Justin Madders said that the Bill would create a regulated asset base framework for privately financed trunk-road projects, with the lower Thames crossing as the immediate context, and would modernise toll collection. The Office of Rail and Road would act as the independent economic regulator, with powers including monitoring performance, obtaining information, imposing penalties, taking enforcement action and, where necessary, revoking a licence. Supporters argued that the lower Thames crossing would add capacity and resilience at the Dartford crossing and support trade, jobs and regional connectivity. Members also sought safeguards concerning toll levels, residents’ discounts, local employment, freight facilities and the possible return of the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry. The Minister said that there would be a stakeholder group and opportunities for local input, and that No. 10 North had committed assistance in finding a way to restore the ferry.

Richard Holden moved a reasoned amendment opposing Second Reading. It argued that the Bill could permit wider road-charging schemes, that its scope should be limited to the lower Thames crossing, and that further charging should require parliamentary approval and corresponding reductions in fuel duty. Holden said the Bill contained “sweeping powers” that could expose motorists to wider charges. Liberal Democrat speakers raised the need for scrutiny of tolls, regulation and the balance between road and rail investment, but did not take a final view on the Bill. Simon Lightwood said that the Bill was an additional financing option and that it contained “nothing else in the Bill” beyond the stated mechanisms, including no provision for applying new tolls to existing roads. The reasoned amendment was rejected, Ayes 76 and Noes 231. The Bill was then read a Second time and committed to a Public Bill Committee; proceedings in that Committee were scheduled to conclude on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Money and Ways and Means resolutions were also agreed.

Adjournment debate: Jagtar Singh Johal

Douglas McAllister raised the case of his constituent Jagtar Singh Johal, a British citizen released on bail in India on 1 October after almost nine years in pre-trial detention. McAllister said that eight cases remained outstanding, that Johal remained subject to strict bail conditions and that the death penalty remained a potential consequence if he were convicted. He referred to United Nations findings on arbitrary detention, alleged torture, duplicated charges and prolonged uncertainty, and called for intensified diplomatic efforts, a timetable for action and consideration of diplomatic protection. Other Members supported calls for a resolution and stressed that release on bail was not the end of the case because Johal could not return to Scotland. “Jagtar’s release on bail is welcome, but it is crucial to remember that this case is not over.”

Chris Elmore, responding for the Government, confirmed that officials at the British high commission in Delhi had met Johal twice since his release and would continue to provide consular assistance. He said that Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials and Alistair Burt, the envoy for complex consular detentions, remained in contact with Johal’s family. Elmore said that the Foreign Secretary had raised the case with India’s External Affairs Minister on 24 September and that the Government would continue pressing for a prompt and full resolution, including an investigation into the allegations of torture and mistreatment. He also stressed that the proceedings were matters for India’s independent courts. The Government did not announce diplomatic protection or a specific timetable in the debate. The motion was agreed to and the House adjourned.