theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment with the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the potential merits of taxing remittances to countries that refuse to accept their returned nationals. \p Dame Angela Eagle: All policy relating to taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the cost of deporting one million illegal migrants under existing rules for deportations. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 6 May in response to Question 47960.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Home Department of 2 June 2025, Official Report, column 13, for what reason Baroness Casey requested a short extension to the deadline for the audit on grooming gangs. \p Jess Phillips: Baroness Louise Casey was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive audit into the nature, scale, and profiles of group-based child sexual exploitation. I updated the House on 2 June that Baroness Casey has requested a short extension to her work from the Home Secretary to allow her to speak directly to victims, fully access the scale of the issue, and submit meaningful evidence-based recommendations to further tackle this vile type of offending.

The completed audit will provide the most up-to-date information to this government’s commitment to support local areas to lead their own independent inquiries and related work to understand this issue and the effectiveness of their responses to it. We expect to receive the report very shortly. We will then set out a comprehensive response, as well as next steps on the action we have already announced, including details of support available for local areas.

My officials will happily place the 12 March letter from the Home Secretary to all local authority leaders in the Common’s Library which makes clear the Government’s commitment to working closely with local areas to confront these terrible crimes.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the threshold is for police to make a proactive disclosure under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme in the absence of a named child at immediate risk; and if she will review that threshold in the context of voluntary youth organisations. \p Jess Phillips: The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme was introduced in 2011 and allows members of the public to make an application to police for information about a person who has contact with a child. The police guidance for the Scheme was updated in April 2023, which both modernised the Scheme and also formalised the process by which the police can make proactive disclosures when they are in receipt of information about a risk to a child or children without the need for an application by a member of the public.

The police have the common law power to disclose information about an individual where it is necessary to do so to protect another individual from harm. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, including its proactive disclosure route, does not replace statutory safeguarding processes in place – such as the Disclosure and Barring Service, Subject Access requests, or Freedom of Information requests – and relevant referrals will still need to be made as required.

That being said, through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are working to place the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme on a statutory footing. This will ensure that police officers follow published guidance as they consider the disclosure of information when they suspect someone might pose a risk of sexual harm.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase awareness of (a) coercive control. (b) financial abuse and (c) other forms of non physical domestic abuse. \p Jess Phillips: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduced a statutory definition of domestic abuse, encompassing not only physical violence but also emotional, coercive, and controlling behaviour, and economic abuse. The statutory guidance on controlling or coercive behaviour (CCB), issued to police forces and other statutory agencies, recognises economic abuse as a type of CCB.

We have taken strong action against those who commit CCB. Offenders sentenced to a minimum of 12 months for coercive behaviour are now managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), ensuring coordinated information sharing among enforcement agencies to prevent reoffending.

This year, the Government has provided £200,000 of funding for Surviving Economic Abuse to develop resources and training for businesses and charities to identify and support victims of economic abuse.

These measures are part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, details of which will be set out in the VAWG Strategy later this year.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking through the criminal justice system to help tackle the abuse of older people. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is clear that violence and abuse towards anybody is unacceptable. Whilst anybody can suffer from domestic abuse, for older victims, we know that abuse may be more disguised or compounded by other age-related factors, such as ill health, or through other forms such as economic abuse.

In recognition of this, the Home Office provides funding to Hourglass, a specialist elder abuse charity, and has done so for a number of years, and have increased their funding this year, to enhance their helpline, provide casework support, and train specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advisers. We remain committed to tackling all forms of violence and abuse.
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David Davis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of the number of cars that would be compatible with (a) E15 and (b) E20 fuel. \p Lilian Greenwood: The UK Government made E10 the standard (or ‘premium’) grade petrol in Great Britain in September 2021. Previously the grade supplied at UK forecourts contained a lower bioethanol content known as E5.

In making the decision to mandate E10 the Department carried out extensive consultation and undertook a comprehensive public information campaign. The UK did not move to E10 without assurance that vehicles on UK roads were ready to safely use higher blends of bioethanol, and that such a transition would align with industry agreed fuel standards for petrol.

The industry agreed standard for petrol, EN228, currently only permits fuel suppliers to supply petrol containing up to 10% ethanol (E10). The Department continually reviews all policies relevant to biofuels, including on E10. Any changes to fuel regulation would require alignment with industry led fuel standards for petrol and a consultation.
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Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) English Devolution and (b) the statutory roles of Mayors on (i) rail freight paths and (ii) access. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government wants to bring decision making as close as possible to the communities those decisions impact. That is why we will give mayors a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network.

This will ensure they will be appropriately consulted on GBR’s activity (including the development of railway plans, strategies and services), are able to scrutinise GBR’s performance. GBR will also be required to have due regard to devolved transport strategies.

An enhanced role for mayors will be balanced with GBR's role as the directing mind for the national network. The establishment of GBR will bring together responsibility for managing allocation of capacity and management of the infrastructure. GBR will therefore be able to make the best use of the rail network and provide a seamless service for passengers and freight users.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will release land previously allocated to the eastern leg of HS2 (Phase 2b) for local needs. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is thoroughly reviewing the position we have inherited on HS2 Phase 2b East, before setting out more detailed plans in the near future, including futureplans for HS2 Phase 2b safeguarding and a disposal programme for land and property acquired for HS2 that is no longer required. We expect to be able to provide further detail of our intended approach for Phase 2b safeguarding during the summer. Any land acquired for Phase 2 that is no longer required will be sold in line with Treasury rules through a disposal programme.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will direct Great British Railways to promote local tourism (a) on trains and (b) at stations. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government recognises the importance of tourism to the national economy. Domestic tourism was one of the drivers of the expansion of the railway, bringing people to new destinations outside of their regions for the first time. The railway currently promotes tourism destinations extensively through its marketing, and we are confident that will continue under Great British Railways (GBR).

Ahead of the establishment of GBR, Railway 200 is celebrating the UK’s rich rail heritage through a year-long programme of events. With many events across the country, the campaign is encouraging people to explore the country by train, supporting local tourism, boosting regional economies, and highlighting the enduring role of rail in connecting communities across Britain.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve (a) reliability and (b) frequency on the Robin Hood Line in Nottinghamshire. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department meets the train operator every four weeks to discuss performance. Last period 89 per cent of Robin Hood Line services arrived on time or within three minutes. Currently, there are no plans to increase the frequency of services on this route.
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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of running the Class 171 diesel fleet of trains on the line between Uckfield and Hurst Green on the environment. \p Simon Lightwood: The Secretary of State has not made a specific assessment of the environmental impact of operating diesel trains on the Uckfield branch line.  As the line is not electrified, it is a matter for the operator to ensure that they meet the needs of customers by deploying the appropriate rolling stock to deliver train services while reducing environmental impacts wherever possible.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of naming the new station Wixams for Universal once the Universal UK theme park opens. \p Simon Lightwood: While the Department for Transport does not directly determine station names, it recognises the importance of names reflecting local identity and supporting wider community and economic objectives. Any proposals for naming will be considered by the rail industry (including consultation with local stakeholders) in due course.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of naming the East-West Rail station Stewartby for Universal once the Universal UK theme park opens. \p Simon Lightwood: Between November 2024 and January 2025 EWR Co. held a non-statutory consultation where they presented options for stations and services on the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford; feedback from this is currently being considered. No decisions have been taken on names for potential stations on East West Rail at the current time.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) school-aged girls and (b) young women can access help on public transport if they are concerned for their safety. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department is committed to ensuring everyone, including women and girls, is safe on the transport network. As part of our aim to reduce Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) by half over the next decade, we have an ambitious, evidence-based programme to help tackle VAWG on transport. This includes proposals in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, such as staff training on how to recognise and respond to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

The Department is also working across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry and local authorities, to ensure that everyone feels and is safe when travelling.

For example, in line with their zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and sexual offences on the railway, the BTP deploy a range of policing techniques to pursue offenders on the rail network to ensure it remains a safe environment and encourage reporting of incidents via the 61016-text number or 999 in an emergency. They also have a range of innovative awareness campaigns to encourage reporting and bystander intervention in response to sexual offences. This includes the successful ‘Speak Up Interrupt’, encouraging bystanders to support or intervene to help victims.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including electricity in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation scheme. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport continues to review all policy options that may support the continued rollout of public electric vehicle chargepoints. This includes reviewing the potential for inclusion of electricity in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May to Question HL6929 on Roads: Cameras, if she will issue guidance to (a) police and (b) local authorities on how roadside noise cameras may be used to tackle noise-related anti-social behaviour. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport does not currently have plans to produce further guidance on noise cameras but is keeping up to date with any advancements in this technology.

It is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be for addressing issues with excessive vehicle noise within their area. The use of noise camera technology has already been taken forward by some local authorities.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with car manufacturer representatives on the advisability of continuing with the installation of Euro New Cap Assessment Programme systems on all new vehicles. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport has regular discussions with representatives from the automotive industry to help guide future policy.

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is an independent charity, of which the Department is one of many members. It provides information to consumers on the relative safety of a range of new vehicles, including cars, so that they can factor safety into their vehicle buying decisions. Not all new vehicles are rated, but the process incentivises manufacturers to develop increasingly safer vehicles through better design and the use of new technology. It imposes no mandatory requirements, and it is a commercial decision for the vehicle manufacturers to determine which safety systems they choose to fit.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve (a) access to and (b) the (i) frequency and (ii) affordability of bus services in North Shropshire constituency. \p Simon Lightwood: The government recognises the importance of accessible, frequent and affordable bus services in keeping communities connected. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in North Shropshire.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.5 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.  Future funding for buses will be announced following the conclusion of the multi-year spending review.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the validity period of theory test pass certificates for learner drivers who are unable to book a practical driving test within the current two-year period due to delays in test availability. \p Lilian Greenwood: It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.

The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a customer’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation, and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.

Ensuring learner drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the learning to drive process as new drivers are disproportionately casualties on our roads. Learners therefore need to pass another theory test if their two-year theory test certificate expires.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the economic contribution of Gatwick Airport to the South East. \p Mike Kane: As this is live planning application that is yet to be decided, unfortunately I cannot comment in detail at this time. The Secretary of State will assess all evidence provided to her, by the applicant, the Examining Authority, and any parties who chose to make written representations. This will include information on economic impacts. Once the decision is made, the decision letter will set out the full rationale.
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Llinos Medi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Spending Review 2025 on businesses in Wales. \p Darren Jones: Spending Review 2025 (SR25) delivers for businesses UK-wide, including across Wales. Public finance institutions will work in collaboration with the devolved governments and local stakeholders to invest in businesses and technologies, and drive growth across all the nations of the UK. The British Business Bank, National Wealth Fund, and Great British Energy are already investing in businesses across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The government is due to publish its modern Industrial Strategy setting out how the government will accelerate growth in eight growth-driving sectors and strengthen economic resilience across the UK.

The growth-driving sectors – advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences, and professional and business services – are active across the regions and nations, each with their own specialisms. Supporting the success of these sectors, and the places where they are based, will be crucial in delivering high-quality jobs, new opportunities and higher living standards across the whole country.

Further detail on what SR25 delivers for businesses across the UK can be found at: Spending Review 2025 document - GOV.UK
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Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is her Department's policy that the classification of the East-West rail project as carrying 100% comparability factor for Wales is a publishing error in each Statement of funding policy, published between 2021 and 2024. \p Darren Jones: The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

We are aware of a potential error, originating in Spending Review 2021, with the Department for Transport comparability factor used to calculate Barnett consequentials for the devolved governments at spending reviews. HM Treasury will work through the impact of this potential error ahead of the next Statement of Funding Policy publication.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the planned changes to the Winter Fuel Payment, announced on 9 June 2025, for what reason an income threshold of £35,000 for the Winter Fuel Payment was decided. \p Torsten Bell: The Government wants more pensioners to benefit from Winter Fuel Payments. The £35,000 threshold means that the vast majority of pensions - more than three quarters and around 9 million individuals - will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. The threshold is also broadly in line with average earnings. This change also ensures that the means-testing of winter fuel payments has no effect on pensioner poverty.

Restricting Winter Fuel Payments to those with incomes below or equal to £35,000 means those on lower and middle incomes will still receive the help they need and ensures fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Financial Conduct Authority plans to review the methods used by car insurers to determine vehicle valuations in write-off settlements. \p Emma Reynolds: I refer the hon member to the answer contained in PQ UIN 56497.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System on economic growth; and when the regulatory framework for that system will be finalised. \p Emma Reynolds: In May 2025, the government delivered legislation to establish the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES). An impact assessment was published alongside it.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published their rules underpinning PISCES on 10 June 2025. This finalises the regulatory framework. Those wishing to operate a PISCES platform can now apply to the FCA.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32505 on Winter Fuel Payment, whether her Department measures the potential impact of its policies on consumer spending. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy. These forecasts, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions on UK household consumption, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The OBR does not typically publish estimates of the impact of individual policies on household consumption. Instead, the net effect of the government’s policy package is assessed by the OBR.

HM Treasury considers household consumption and retail sales data published by the Official for National Statistics as part of its ongoing monitoring of the economy. According to the ONS’s First Quarterly estimate, UK household consumption grew by 0.2% in Q1 2025.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the UK’s engagement in international financial institutions on debt relief for African countries facing debt distress. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK is committed to working with international financial institutions to address country debt vulnerabilities in a timely and coordinated way, providing swift debt treatments where required.

We progress this work through international fora and mechanisms, including the G20, Paris Club, IMF and World Bank Boards, and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR).

Through the GSDR – jointly convened by the IMF, World Bank and G20 Presidency – we have engaged closely with newer official creditors, private creditors and debtor countries, and discussions have helped to strengthen collaboration and build greater common understanding on debt issues, including the G20 Common Framework.

We fully support the World Bank and IMF’s ‘three pillars’ approach to countries facing liquidity (i.e. short-term payment) challenges. We are pushing the Bank and Fund to accelerate the roll-out in pilot countries and using our voice to encourage others to support

We are also actively engaging in the review of the IMF and World Bank’s Debt Sustainability Framework, pushing for more detailed incorporation of longer-term climate and nature risks and investments.
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Sarah Bool:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of redress mechanisms for victims of investment fraud. \p Emma Reynolds: Protecting the public and businesses from fraud requires a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and industry. The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce an expanded Fraud Strategy, and will set out further details in due course.

To better protect consumers from fraud, in October 2024 the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement requirement for authorised push payment (APP) scams, which may include investment scams, that take place over the Faster Payments System. This regime requires all Payment Service Providers in scope to reimburse victims of APP scams up to the value of £85,000. The PSR has noted that in the first three months of the regime, 86% of money lost to APP scams was returned to victims.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing the Office for Budget Responsibility. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the government’s official independent forecaster. The OBR’s independent scrutiny, via its economic and fiscal forecasts, underpins the credibility of the government’s fiscal policy. That is why on coming into office, one of the first bills this Government passed was the ‘fiscal lock’ to ensure that no future government can sideline the OBR.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of LINK’s banking hub criteria for market towns. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in market towns and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.

Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs. LINK will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments which will account for challenges in cash access faced by market towns. For example, firms are required to consider the actual travel times and costs to reach cash access facilities and identify gaps in provision where these are unreasonable, which may be particularly the case in rural areas.

LINK also takes into account local population demographics and levels of vulnerability within the community. The criteria also assess whether there is likely to be seasonal demand for cash, which may be the case in certain market towns. These considerations help to ensure the specific needs of a community are assessed.

Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Stephen Gethins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the terms of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to reimburse legal costs for victims of fraud. \p Emma Reynolds: The rules governing the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for consumers of failed authorised firms, including where those consumers have been the victims of fraud, are set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They are set out in the PRA Rulebook and FCA Handbook within the framework set by Parliament. It is for the FSCS to assess individual claims and provide appropriate compensation in line with those rules and depending on the circumstances of the claim and the regulated activity involved.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33135 on Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax, what the evidential basis is that the alternative clawback mechanism to the proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief would raise much less revenue. \p James Murray: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

A “clawback” would mean inheritance tax would only be due if the relevant assets are sold within a specified time period after a death. Introducing this mechanism, as some have suggested, could mean some of the wealthiest estates pay less inheritance tax compared to the proposed reforms. The Government disagrees with suggestions that a clawback would raise the same revenue as the reforms being introduced from 6 April 2026; it would raise much less, which would mean raising taxes elsewhere or lowering public spending. It would also add complexity to the tax system and continue to attract the very wealthiest to tax plan since beneficiaries could hold onto the assets over the specified clawback period just to escape the tax.

In accordance with standard practice, the Government does not publish internal modelling of alternative tax proposals that are not Government policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_235

Llinos Medi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of moving electricity bill levies into general taxation, in the context of average annual costs of household energy bills. \p James Murray: Energy levies support vital investment to secure the UK’s electricity system with homegrown, clean power. Through public and private investment, the Government is protecting billpayers from volatile international fossil fuel markets.

To help those that most need it, the Warm Home Discount provides a £150 discount off electricity bills to around 3 million households. The government has consulted on expanding the scheme to around 6 million households in total for winter 2025/26 and will respond to the consultation in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_236

Julia Lopez:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of education, health and care plans. \p Catherine McKinnell: Under the education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment process, local authorities must seek information and advice from a range of partners, including the child or young person and their parents, their school or college (if any), health and social care partners, an educational psychologist and other relevant professionals.

If it is determined necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person, the local authority must prepare an EHC plan which will say clearly what the child or young person’s needs are and what help they will be entitled to.

We know that families face issues with EHC plans and that it can sometimes take a long time for support to be delivered.

This government believes that in a well-functioning system, that is why we are committed to addressing the systemic issues that make special educational needs and disabilities support so hard to access for many families.

We are thinking about how to protect support for the children that will always need specialist placements, and make accessing that support less bureaucratic and adversarial, and how we can intervene earlier so support can be provided regardless of whether a legal plan is in place.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_237

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the evidential basis is for her assessment that schools can make efficiency savings within budgets without reducing headcount. \p Catherine McKinnell: Overall school funding is increasing by £3.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the core school budget will total £65.3 billion. This is a 6% rise in cash terms, or a 3.3% increase in real terms, compared to 2024/25. We are providing schools with an additional £615 million in the 2025/26 financial year to support them with the 4% teacher pay award and 3.2% support staff pay offer.

Schools will be expected play their part in driving productivity across the public sector and find approximately the first 1% of pay awards by ensuring resources are deployed to maximise support for teaching and learning.

There is already evidence that schools are making savings and bringing down operating costs. For example, 400 schools participating in the department’s new energy offer are projected to save an average of 36% compared to previous contracts.

We are also working to secure better banking solutions and provide services such as Get Help Buying for Schools and the Teaching Vacancies Service to reduce procurement and recruitment costs. This support has evolved from the School Resource Management Programme, which helped schools realise £1 billion of savings between 2018 and 2022.

We know workforce deployment is the biggest component of school budgets. We will support schools to benefit fully from the tools we already offer to benchmark and integrate resourcing and curriculum planning, such as the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. We will also introduce a new toolkit to support schools to adopt evidence-based deployment models.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_238

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing spelling, punctuation and grammar marks from non-English (a) secondary and (b) sixth form exams. \p Catherine McKinnell: The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is ongoing and is evaluating the existing national curriculum and statutory assessment system in England to ensure they are fit for purpose. The Review wants to ensure an assessment system that captures the strengths of every child and young person and the breadth of curriculum, with the right balance of assessment methods, whilst maintaining the important role of examinations. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn, at which point the government will respond.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_239

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support the introduction of assistive technology in primary schools in (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England. \p Catherine McKinnell: The government is committed to increasing awareness and use of assistive technology (AT) in primary schools across England, including in the Yeovil constituency and Somerset.

Firstly, the department is investing in high-quality research to identify barriers to and opportunities for AT use in schools, so that we have a strong evidence base for AT and are able to pilot approaches. This is key to giving schools the right support they need. We published the most recent research report for special schools and colleges in May entitled ‘Developing a competency framework for effective assistive technology training’. The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/developing-a-competency-framework-for-effective-assistive-technology-training.

From September 2025, teachers will receive training on effective AT use as part of their initial teacher training. Our programme of research can also inform the development of workforce training aimed at equipping teachers with the necessary skills to effectively use AT.

Secondly, the government is working to improve the multi-agency working of all those involved in supporting pupils to get the AT that they require. The department will soon publish research undertaken with local authority special educational needs teams and local authority health teams, AT suppliers, schools and colleges to identify effective practices when working together to meet pupil need.

Finally, the government is investing £20 million this year to ensure schools can access a fibre internet connection, which includes 27 schools across Somerset. Our investment in infrastructure will ensure that schools can fully harness the opportunities of AT.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_240

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will appoint a named policy lead in her Department on dyslexia. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia.

The SEND code of practice makes it clear that meeting the needs of a child with special educational needs does not require a diagnostic label, such as dyslexia. Instead, we expect teachers to monitor the progress of all pupils and put support in place where needed. In keeping with this, the department has no current intentions to pursue a condition-specific approach.

However, we recognise that the early identification of need and support is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND, including those with dyslexia. There are already a number of measures to help teachers do this, including the phonics screening check and statutory assessments at the end of key stage 2.

Measures have also been introduced to support the effective teaching of reading, including for those at risk of falling behind. This includes the English Hubs programme, the publication of the reading framework and an updated list of high quality systematic synthetic phonics programmes for schools.

The English Hubs programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on supporting children making the slowest progress in reading. As part of the continuous professional development provided by the English Hubs, the Reading Ambition for All programme has been launched to improve outcomes for children who need additional support with reading, including those with SEND.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_241

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants who were (a) responsible for funeral costs and (b) in receipt of a qualifying benefit were denied a Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment because of the family tests in the eligibility criteria in each of the last five years. \p Torsten Bell: Table 1 shows the number of applicants who were refused a Funeral Expenses Payment for the below reasons:

Table 1: Funeral Expense Payments- Refusals linked to the Family Test

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Number of Refusals

1,100

900

1,200

1,200

1,000

Notes:

- These figures have been estimated using unaudited internal DWP Management Information which is not quality assured to the same extent as Official / National statistics.

- These applicants are assumed to have been responsible for funeral costs and to have been in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

- Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_242

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department holds on suspected illegal migrants attempting to access welfare services. \p Andrew Western: The department does not hold data on illegal migrants attempting to access welfare services.

People who are in the UK illegally (that is to say people without a valid UK immigration status) are not permitted access to DWP public funds benefits.