The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade does not hold data on the total number of barbers or the qualifications they hold and therefore cannot determine the proportion holding recognised vocational qualifications, including NVQ Levels 2 and 3. However, published data by the Department for Education for England shows that there were 406 starts on the Barbering Professional apprenticeship in academic year 2023/24, 326 in 2024/25 and 196 so far in 2025/26 (from August 2025 to April 2026).

The government has considered the relationship between ticket fraud and activity in the secondary ticketing market as part of its work on secondary ticketing reform on which the government made a clear manifesto commitment to strengthen protection for fans.

The government takes all forms of fraud seriously and is committed to working with law enforcement, industry and regulators to prevent fraud, pursue offenders and protect victims. We will continue to work with law enforcement and industry to raise awareness of how fans can protect themselves. Incidents of fraud should be reported to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or through its website at: www.reportfraud.police.uk.

The Department holds a readout for the roundtable. The full list of attending companies has been published as part of the Department’s transparency returns on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68640020354985706f111bd4/ministers_january_march_2025_meetings.csv

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade has not made a specific assessment of the impact of entry requirements in the barbering industry on apprenticeship uptake or professional training. The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for adult skills and apprenticeship policy, while the Department for Education retains responsibility for under-19 skills and further education provider accountability. The Government continues to support professional training through the Level 2 Barbering Professional apprenticeship.

We want to see all delivery companies provide a good level of service for customers and businesses and the government has been clear that some operators need to do more to meet the expectations of their customers.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the parcel delivery sector, and it monitors the experiences of businesses and consumers of parcel delivery services. Ofcom’s last annual post monitoring report found that around eight in ten SMEs were satisfied overall with delivery services.

Ofcom has, however, recognised growing concerns about parcel operators’ delivery performance and is keeping the need for enforcement or additional regulation under review.

We want to see all delivery companies provide a good level of service for customers and businesses and the government has been clear that some operators need to do more to meet the expectations of their customers.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the parcel delivery sector, and it monitors the experiences of businesses and consumers of parcel delivery services. Ofcom’s last annual post monitoring report found that around eight in ten SMEs were satisfied overall with delivery services.

Ofcom has, however, recognised growing concerns about parcel operators’ delivery performance and is keeping the need for enforcement or additional regulation under review.

The government remains committed to ensuring a reliable universal postal service for users across all parts of the United Kingdom.

We have been clear that Royal Mail’s quality of service has not been good enough. The government has discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the company and Ofcom, as the independent regulator, and they know there is more to do to improve stability and reliability for customers, but it is welcome that the most recently released quality of service figures, for Q1 26/27, show an improvement.

Ofcom is investigating Royal Mail’s quality of service performance for 2025-26, and Royal Mail has published a service improvement plan alongside a £500 million investment into frontline resourcing.

Estimates by local authority and parliamentary constituency are not always available due to data reliability constraints.

Around 180,000 workers in Scotland were expected to benefit from a direct pay rise following National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) increases in April 2026. The 2026 NLW uplift is worth around £900 annually for a full-time worker, and over £1,500 for 18–20-year-olds on the NMW.

Further details can be found in the Impact Assessment The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

Small salon businesses will benefit from the new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new multipliers are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties.

The Government has also published a range of analytical documents covering the policies referenced, which set out their likely impacts on businesses of different sizes. Each Impact Assessment covering the Employment Rights Act 2025 and The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2026 includes a small and micro business assessment.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was also published alongside the changes to employer NICs, which sets out the impacts on the Exchequer, the economy, individuals and businesses. The Government is supporting smaller employers through the increased Employment Allowance of £10,500.

The Government strongly supports the International Labour Organization’s work and values its role in upholding and enhancing workers’ rights globally. We also fully respect the independence of the International Court of Justice and its vital role in upholding the rule of law.

On 7 October 2025, the Government delivered its oral statement before the International Court of Justice in the oral proceedings concerning the right to strike under ILO Convention No. 87, the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention 1948.

There is currently no planned review of the effectiveness of the voluntary register established under the Hairdressers Registration Act 1964. The Hairdressers Registration Act 1964 provides for a UK register of qualified hairdressers and barbers, although registration remains voluntary. Hairdressing salons and barbers are subject to a range of existing requirements, including health and safety and consumer protection legislation.

The government has been clear that Royal Mail’s quality of service has not been good enough.

The government has discussed Royal Mail’s performance with the company and Ofcom, as the independent regulator, and they know there is more to do to improve stability and reliability for customers, but it is welcome that the most recently released quality of service figures, for Q1 26/27, show an improvement.

Ofcom is investigating Royal Mail’s 2025-26 quality of service performance, and Royal Mail has published a service improvement plan alongside a £500 million investment into frontline resourcing.

The government will continue to press Royal Mail for improvements in service quality.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade (BIST) occupies premises predominantly owned, leased, and managed by the Government Property Agency (GPA) who are responsible for building assets, including the installation and use of rooftop solar panels.

BIST is engaging with GPA through its Net Zero Programme to track progress in this area and understands GPA intends to undertake feasibility studies and energy audits at a number of sites during this financial year to assess opportunities for rooftop solar panel installation.

Funding support for public bodies to install solar panels has been available through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) with a total of over £3 billion made available up 2028. Great British Energy (GBE) also supports public sector decarbonisation and the GBE Solar programme is investing £255 million to fund around 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites, and around 15 military sites to install solar panels across the country.

A list of special advisers is published each year in the Annual Report on Special Advisers. The department has made zero Delivery Advisers appointments.

The government recognises concerns raised by young people who contributed to Alan Milburn's interim review of the rise in the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Many reported submitting large numbers of job applications but receiving either no response or only automated rejections.

The government is considering these concerns and will respond to any recommendations arising from Alan Milburn's final review once it is published.

The government is not aware of any jurisdiction that legally requires employers to respond individually to every job application and has no current plans to introduce such a requirement. However, applicants may wish to request feedback from employers where appropriate. Employers must also comply with their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and must not unlawfully discriminate during recruitment or selection processes.

The government recognises concerns raised by young people who contributed to Alan Milburn's interim review of the rise in the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Many reported submitting large numbers of job applications but receiving either no response or only automated rejections.

The government is considering these concerns and will respond to any recommendations arising from Alan Milburn's final review once it is published.

The government is not aware of any jurisdiction that legally requires employers to respond individually to every job application and has no current plans to introduce such a requirement. However, applicants may wish to request feedback from employers where appropriate. Employers must also comply with their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and must not unlawfully discriminate during recruitment or selection processes.

The Government is working to finalise its response and will publish it as soon as possible.

The government recognises the importance of timely delivery of NHS letters. Royal Mail has introduced an NHS barcode to assist NHS units that continue to rely on post to communicate with patients. In addition, NHS England and NHS Providers have produced guidance for NHS organisations, including a case study, to increase awareness and uptake of the variety of Royal Mail services for the timely delivery of letters.

NHS Providers understand that they must ensure they are sending patients’ post out within the right timeframe and it is for them to determine what service they use to enable that.

AI is transforming the labour market, and the government is acting to ensure young people can access entry-level roles and meaningful career pathways.

Backed by £20 million, the Early Careers Jobs Alliance brings together government, employers, trade unions and young people, initially focussed on the digital and technology sector, to map how entry-level work is changing and recommend how businesses can redesign roles whilst maintaining entry-level pathways.

The Government is also investing in AI upskilling and training initiatives, including the TechLocal AI Professional Degree and Traineeship Accelerator, providing £7.8 million to develop innovative courses, and the AI Skills Boost campaign which aims to upskill 10 million workers in AI skills by 2030.

No money was spent on activities relating to Pride Month 2026 by former Department for Business and Trade or former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.