theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what engagement the New Towns Taskforce will have with hon. Members. \p Matthew Pennycook: As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, whether she plans to (a) amend and (b) repeal the assimilated EU Habitat Regulation Assessment regulations. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government does not consider it necessary to repeal environmental legislation to take forward the approach set out in the Development and Nature Planning Reform Working Paper to accelerate housing and infrastructure development whilst going beyond offsetting harm to drive forward nature recovery, although targeted changes may be required. As set out in the King’s Speech, we will only act in legislation where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20640 on Housing: Ownership, what estimate she has made of the number of new build replacements in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27. \p Matthew Pennycook: As set out in the answer given to Question UIN 17553 on 11 December 2024, our modelling suggests a long-run average of c. 1,700 sales annually under new maximum discounts. As a result, we believe local authorities will now be in a stronger position to replace the homes that are sold.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22048 on Housing: Energy, whether the average cost for private sector landlords who need to make improvements to their domestic properties as a result of the consultation proposal includes the new metrics for fabric performance, heating system type and smart readiness. \p Alex Norris: We are currently consulting on the Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime.

The average costs shown in the Consultation Stage Impact Assessment are based on landlords meeting the existing requirements of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations. This is currently set at a minimum standard of EPC band E using the current cost and carbon metrics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20226 on Environmental Impact Assessment, whether she plans to introduce the new regime through (a) secondary legislation under the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023 and (b) primary legislation. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 gave the government powers to bring forward Environmental Outcomes Reports.

The detail of the new system will be set out in secondary legislation through regulations as well as in guidance.

Until a new system is implemented current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the independent report entitled Independent review into legal challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, published on 28 October 2024, whether she plans to reform the judicial review system. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley and Golders Green on 23 January 2025 (HCWS385), which sets out the changes to judicial review being taken forward. The government’s response to the call for evidence on this matter will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, what steps is she taking to ensure new housebuilding is prioritised over the protection of newts. \p Matthew Pennycook: When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as a barrier to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature.

Proposals for a Nature Restoration Fund are under development for inclusion in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Further information will be set out when the Bill is introduced.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to Right to Buy on the number of social housing tenants who are eligible to buy their home. \p Matthew Pennycook: A review of Right to Buy discounts was published alongside the Budget. In this review, our modelling suggests a reduction in Right to Buy sales under the new maximum cash discounts with a long run average of c. 1,700 sales annually.

On 20 November we launched a consultation on wider reforms to the Right to Buy. The consultation seeks views on eligibility criteria and any policy changes brought forward following the consultation will be subject to appropriate assessment. The consultation closed on 15 January and my officials and I are carefully considering all the responses received.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) help tackle the disparity between house prices and average earnings and (b) ensure that affordable housing is accessible to (i) first-time buyers and (ii) low-income families. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. We are also committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. This government will work in partnership with councils, housing associations and the wider sector to build their capacity and ensure we hit our ambitious target to build the homes Britain needs.

At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced a cash injection of £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. This is due to deliver up to 5,000 additional affordable homes, with bidding already open to local authorities and other registered providers of social housing.

We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government has committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme to support those first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it his policy to introduce a requirement that a minimum proportion of large developments should be social rented housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December includes new Golden Rules for development on the Green Belt. Prior to development plan policies for affordable housing being updated in accordance with the revised NPPF, the affordable housing contribution required to satisfy the ‘Golden Rules’ is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement that would otherwise apply to the development, subject to a cap of 50%. We estimate that under this model, the median Green Belt local planning authority affordable housing requirement will be 50%.

Outside of the Green Belt, it is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies. However, the government have made clear that authorities should consider the particular needs of those who require Social Rent homes when undertaking needs assessments and setting policies on affordable housing requirements.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many grey belt planning applications have been submitted since 12 December 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government annually publish statistics showing the extent of England’s Green Belt, including changes resulting from land being released from, or added to, the Green Belt. These statistics can be found on gov.uk here. The next statistical release will be published in autumn 2025.

In addition, the department publishes statistics on land use change, including estimates of new residential addresses created in Green Belt and other categories of land. The department also publishes statistics every three months on the number of planning applications made, decided, and granted in England, down to local authority level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Steve Race:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support his Department is offering to businesses to alter articles of association to align the interests of (a) people, (b) the planet and (c) profit. \p Justin Madders: Under section 21 of the Companies Act 2006, a company may alter its articles of association by special resolution (requiring 75% approval of its shareholders), and under section 172(2) of the Act, a company may set out a distinctive purpose that its directors must lawfully follow. Many businesses already use these provisions to set out how their directors should consider the interests of shareholders, employees and the environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

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Steve Race:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that company directors consider the interests of (a) workers and (b) the environment. \p Justin Madders: Under section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006, company directors are required to have regard to the interests of the company’s employees and the impact of the company’s operations on the environment. Since 2019, directors of large companies have been required to report annually on how they have met this duty.

The Government will consult this year on requirements for economically significant companies to report on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities via UK Sustainability Reporting Standards, and on how best to take forward the Government’s manifesto commitment on climate transition plan requirements.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of fireworks on animal welfare. \p Justin Madders: Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on animal welfare. To inform any future decisions the Government is engaging with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks.
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Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the devolved administrations on supporting economic development in pan-regional economies that are also cross-border economies. \p Gareth Thomas: The UK Government and the Department of Business and Trade engages regularly with devolved governments on all aspects of economic development, including at the Business and Industry Inter-Ministerial Group.

The inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions took place in Edinburgh in October 2024. The Council brings together the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister with the leaders of the devolved governments and the mayors of combined authorities to facilitate collaboration on cross-cutting challenges including the core mission of securing economic growth.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requirement in the Economic and Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to publish full lists of shareholders on (a) survivors of domestic abuse who own shares in private residential property management companies as a by-product of owning their own home and (b) shareholders in private residential property management companies who cannot afford the cost of applying to have their details redacted. \p Justin Madders: Requiring certain companies to provide a one-time full shareholder list will allow Companies House to present shareholder information that is already displayed on the register in a more user-friendly way.

The Government aims to strike the right balance between transparency and privacy. New measures will enable those whose details appear on the register (including people at increased risk of harm such as domestic abuse survivors) to apply to have more personal information protected from public disclosure than currently possible. Any fees payable will adhere to HM Treasury’s cost recovery principles.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he has made an assessment of the potential impact of additional trade barriers between the United States of America and Mexico on the UK economy. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: On 4 February, President Trump agreed to hold off imposing all tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days, following calls with Prime Minister Trudeau and President Sheinbaum. We will continue to monitor any further developments, including through discussions with counterparts, and we will always do what is in the national interest for our economy, businesses and the British people.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Canadian Government on a potential UK-Canada trade deal. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Secretary of State met with his Canadian counterpart Trade Minister Mary Ng at the G7 in July last year; they discussed the paused bilateral FTA and agreed that senior officials should begin discussions to see what it might take to resume negotiations.

I have met with Minister Ng twice since then, including in Vancouver last November where we agreed that senior officials should continue these discussions, which are ongoing. Meanwhile, the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement remains in force, underpinning approximately £27 billion in bilateral trade.
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Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how the Business Growth Service will (a) work with local authorities in design and implementation and (b) progress wider government aims for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. \p Gareth Thomas: The Business Growth Service will provide a national service and brand with locally led delivery and local business support services at its core. Local authorities are therefore key partners in the design and implementation of the Business Growth Service as well as the development of the broader Small Business Strategy aimed at helping SMEs to thrive.

DBT is currently consulting on these areas with the Mayoral Strategic Authorities, including the Greater London Authority, and other local government representatives via roundtables and other engagement routes, and this will continue as the Department prepares to the launch the Business Growth Service later this year.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish the (a) guarantees, (b) insurance policies and (c) loans issued by UK Export Finance to businesses in Northern Ireland in 2024. \p Gareth Thomas: UK Export Finance (UKEF) produces audited details of businesses supported each financial year as part of its transparency protocols.

Details of all UKEF support for businesses for 2023/24 and previous years can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-business-supported

The corresponding return of all businesses supported during financial year 2024/25 will be published in the summer.

UKEF does not publish a breakdown by UK nations and regions.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much of the £500 million grant to support the installation of an electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot steelworks has been paid. \p Sarah Jones: Grant payments are made in arrears and subject to confirmation that pre-payment conditions have been satisfactorily met. HMG has committed to provide Tata Steel with a grant of up to £500m to support the installation of an electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot site. The precise amounts and timelines for payments are commercially sensitive.
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Kate Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to ensure the continuation of the Lionesses Future Fund. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to supporting women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport, including football.

The department is working with the Football Foundation to embed standard criteria to ensure access for women and girls for all their major capital projects, meaning more women and girls benefit from our investment. At the Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed our continued support for elite and grassroots sport by investing in multi-use facilities. Further details will be confirmed in due course.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ban the ownership of UK newspapers by foreign states. \p Stephanie Peacock: On 24 May 2024, new legislation came into effect which prevents newspaper and news magazine mergers resulting in any ownership, influence, or control by foreign states. This change was introduced by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer (DMCC) Act 2024, which added new powers to the Enterprise Act 2002.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what purposes the Charity Commission has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Stephanie Peacock: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Charity Commission has used Generative AI (GenAI) in the production and editing of some video content in the past 12 months.

The Charity Commission has robust internal policies in place that define acceptable and prohibited uses for GenAI modules and applications, to ensure its legal and ethical use.

The Charity Commission also considers the Generative AI Framework for HM Government when making decisions concerning the approval of GenAI tools and use cases.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the Games Rating Authority on the classification of video games; and if she will take steps to reduce the sexualisation of children in video games. \p Chris Bryant: The GRA’s decisions are made independently of the government, which is important to ensure impartiality. The GRA’s age ratings serve to protect the public and empower people to make informed gaming choices, whilst also recognising and respecting adult freedom of choice within the law. The GRA regularly conducts UK research on aspects of the international PEGI classification criteria for video games.

In most cases, the GRA is able to address issues of potential harm by awarding an appropriate age rating or suggesting changes to a developer’s content to make the game acceptable. However, where this is not possible, a classification may be refused.

Even if material is not in breach of a specific UK law, the GRA may also refuse to classify content,on harm grounds, when content contains:● Material that promotes criminal activity, including drugs;● Material that is illegal or has been created by the commission of a criminal offence;● Portrayals of children in a sexualised or abusive context;● Material which makes rape, or other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour, orsadistic violence look appealing.
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Kate Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Q33 of the oral evidence she gave to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 10 December 2024, HC 330, what assessment she has made of the (a) demand for women's and girl's football facilities and (b) the funding required for that provision over the next five years. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport. High-quality, inclusive facilities help clubs to get more people active and by backing these clubs, the Government will support more women and girls to get onto the pitch wherever they live.

We are pleased to see the significant progress in the number of women and girls taking up football in recent years, and wider developments in the women’s game. In 2023, Karen Carney OBE published a major Independent Review of Women’s Football which made a series of recommendations including supporting grassroots women and girls’ football. This Government fully endorses those recommendations and looks forward to ensuring tangible progress is made.

The Government continues to support grassroots facilities, including through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities programme, which provides funding to build and improve grassroots facilities, and a commitment to support the Football Association’s ambition to double their number of gold-standard (3-star) community clubs by EURO 2028. This will deliver more opportunities for women and girls to get on the pitch.

£123 million of funding is being delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25. Following the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, the Government confirmed its continued support for elite and grassroots sport through future investment, of which further details will be confirmed in due course.

We are also working with the Football Foundation to embed the learnings of the Lionesses Futures Fund as standard criteria for all their major capital projects, meaning more women and girls benefit from our investment. This includes guaranteeing a share of priority slots to women’s and girls’ teams and setting up a new small grants programme specifically targeted at creating female-friendly facilities off the pitch.

The Football Foundation plans their investment pipeline based on Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs) which have been developed in partnership with local authorities and are in the process of being refreshed to reflect the increase in demand for women and girls’ grassroots facilities.

The Football Association is a long-term partner of Sport England, and have received over £26 million of funding from them for the period 2022-27 for grassroots football projects.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to enact the recommendations of the Leveson Report on press regulation. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government has clearly laid out its priorities in the manifesto and in the King’s speech, and the second part of Leveson is not among them.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with the (a) Home Office and (b) Football Association on the potential merits of introducing lifetime club bans for people convicted of threats of violence against (i) referees, (ii) players and (iii) family members of referees and players. \p Stephanie Peacock: Violence has no place in football. As private businesses, football clubs have a right to ban individual supporters from attending matches or accessing club facilities; a power rooted in their responsibility to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all fans. These bans are a decision to be taken at club-level.

Convictions may also result in football banning orders (FBOs) which are a court decision to prevent violence or disorder at, or in connection with, regulated football matches. An individual with a banning order is prevented from attending all regulated matches in the UK and can be required to surrender their passport to police before overseas matches and tournaments.

FBOs can be imposed following a conviction for a football-related offence as set out in Schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 (which includes offences involving the use or threat of violence), or on application from the police or CPS.
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Kate Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on a long-term funding settlement for women and girls' football facilities. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport. High-quality, inclusive facilities help clubs to get more people active and by backing these clubs, the Government will support more women and girls to get onto the pitch wherever they live.

The Government continues to support grassroots facilities, including through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities programme, which provides funding to build and improve grassroots facilities, and a commitment to support the Football Association’s ambition to double their number of gold-standard (3-star) community clubs by EURO 2028. This will deliver more opportunities for women and girls to get on the pitch.

£123 million of funding is being delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25. Following the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, the Government confirmed its continued support for elite and grassroots sport through future investment, of which further details will be confirmed in due course.
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Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of loneliness on the (a) mental and (b) physical health of (i) elderly and (ii) vulnerable people. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) assesses multiple sources of evidence on loneliness including research on the impact of loneliness on physical and mental health across a range of demographic groups, including elderly and vulnerable populations. Chronic loneliness (feeling lonely often or always) can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or background, although some groups are known to be at a higher risk.

Research by DCMS highlights that this covers a range of demographics which are likely to include vulnerable adults. Data from the latest Community Life Survey suggests older people are not more likely to experience loneliness than the general population, although risk factors including having a disability or long-standing health condition, being widowed and living alone could increase the likelihood of experiencing chronic loneliness in this cohort.

DCMS research shows a bidirectional and cyclical relationship between chronic loneliness and mental health, with people experiencing chronic loneliness 3.7 times more likely to experience mental health distress compared to those who do not experience chronic loneliness. Furthermore, external research  suggests that chronic loneliness can have negative impacts on physical health, including higher risk of heart disease, stroke and susceptibility to infection.
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which Departments were involved in discussions with Astra-Zeneca on the expansion of the vaccine production plant at Speke Merseyside. \p Feryal Clark: A cross-Government approach is taken to support the UK’s Life Sciences sector. This was the case for Government’s work to explore AstraZeneca’s potential investment in Speke, which involved No10, HM Treasury, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business and Trade.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Launchpad Initiative in Northern Ireland by Innovate UK on the life and health sciences sector. \p Feryal Clark: Innovate UK Launchpads is an £80 million programme that builds on local innovation strengths to support emerging clusters of SMEs to deliver jobs, growth, and high productivity. For each Launchpad, Innovate UK invests up to £7.5 million for business-led innovation projects.

The Northern Ireland Launchpad is dedicated to the advancement of healthcare solutions and medical breakthroughs. Innovate UK has appointed independent consultants to evaluate the impact of this and the other Launchpads and will publish interim findings from early 2027 via UKRI’s public website. A full impact evaluation will report from late 2028.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of rural crime. \p Lucy Rigby: This Government is committed to working with the police and other partners to address the blight of rural crime to ensure the safety of those in all communities.

We are introducing tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthening neighbourhood policing, and introducing robust laws to prevent farm theft and fly-tippers.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy 2022-2025 provides a framework through which policing, and its partners, can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues which predominantly affect rural communities.

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors work closely with local police officers and officers from the National Wildlife Crime Unit to tackle all types of rural crime.

The CPS provides legal guidance on Wildlife, Rural and Heritage Crime, which is available to all its prosecutors, to assist them in dealing with these cases. They also provide specialist training to ensure that its prosecutors have the expert knowledge needed to prosecute these crimes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_83

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Solicitor General, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_84

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of people who commit hate crime. \p Lucy Rigby: Hate crime is truly abhorrent and can have a devastating impact on victims and their communities.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) takes such offending very seriously.

The CPS works closely with the police to build robust cases and secure prosecutions for these offences.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_85

John Cooper:To ask the Solicitor General, how much (a) her Department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies has spent on external public relations since 5 July 2024; and which firms that funding went to. \p Lucy Rigby: Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.

It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_86

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he will confirm funding for the Great British Insulation Scheme for the 2025-26 financial year. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is not a government funded grant scheme, but an obligation on larger energy suppliers to provide energy efficiency support to eligible households through the installation of one insulation measure per home.

GBIS is scheduled to run until March 2026 and is funded through consumer bills, under the price cap.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_87

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when she will publish the Warm Homes Plan. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. Future funding towards decarbonisation and to tackle fuel poverty will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late Spring 2025. The Warm Homes Plan will be published after the conclusion of the Spending Review, and further details will be set out in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_88

Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to support the insulation of homes in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) other areas in England with high levels of fuel poverty. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy. Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in England to support social housing providers and tenants, alongside a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help low-income homeowners and private tenants in England are expected to start delivery this year.

Current targeted schemes include the Energy Company Obligation, the Great British Insulation Scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and the Home Upgrade Grant. Additionally, the Warm Home Discount provides £150 off bills to over 3 million low-income households.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_89

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to consult on the EPC of C or above requirement for rental properties. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_90

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to publish an update to the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a crucial tool for consumers to understand the energy efficiency of their homes. We are implementing an interim update to the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP), which underpins EPC ratings, in Spring this year. This update aims to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the current model. This is ahead of a more significant, ambitious EPC reform programme set for late 2026, aimed at better supporting Net Zero objectives and delivering the Warm Homes Plan.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_91

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to ensure that the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution (a) facilitates a just transition and (b) commits to increased climate finance. \p Kerry McCarthy: In January, the UK submitted its nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing additional information on our headline target, including how it will facilitate a just transition. The UK is dedicated to supporting workers, communities and businesses to transition to net zero. As part of the Clean Power Mission to reach clean power by 2030, the UK has established an Office for Clean Energy Jobs (“the Office”) to explore what is needed to ensure our workforce can deliver the dramatic pace of change needed to reach this goal.

The UK is committed to delivering climate finance to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts and support a transition to low-carbon economies. In compliance with Article 9.5 of the Paris Agreement, the UK submitted its third Finance Biennial Communication to the UNFCCC in December 2024 which sets out our forward-looking action on the support components of the Paris Agreement. We have also reaffirmed the existing commitment to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance by 2025/2026, including at least £3bn on nature. Our next International Climate Finance commitment will be carefully considered and determined through the Spending Review this year. But we’re also clear that public finance alone is not going to fund the global transition, and are working closely with partners to mobilise more private capital for the climate transition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_92

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of net zero policies since 2000. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Net Zero transition is critical to sustainable UK growth because of the economic costs of unmitigated climate change. The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its analysis of the cost of reaching net zero by 2050 in chapter 3 of the July 2021 edition of its UK Fiscal Risk Report. As the OBR has noted, “the costs of failing to get climate change under control would be much larger than those of bringing emissions down to net zero.”
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_93

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of enabling community-owned small-scale energy generators to sell electricity directly to local consumers on (a) energy prices, (b) grid stability and (c) the transition to net zero. \p Michael Shanks: Small-scale generation sites, including many community energy groups, can benefit from an exemption, which means that they do not require a licence from Ofgem to generate electricity or to supply to local customers.

Local energy is unlikely to impact national energy prices, because these are driven by wholesale markets. In addition, given the scale of generation, local energy is unlikely to have a significant impact on grid efficiency overall. The Government recognises that local energy will play an important role in achieving the Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. To help deliver this, Great British Energy will support the development of up to 8GW of local and community energy projects.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_94

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to enable community-owned small-scale energy generators to sell electricity directly to local consumers. \p Michael Shanks: The Government recognises the role that access to local energy will play in achieving net zero. The Government’s licence exemption regimes already allow small scale suppliers, including many community energy groups, to come to market to supply local customers. One general exemption is the Class A Small Supplier exemption, under which a producer of energy who produces no more than 5MW of energy, of which no more than 2.5MW is provided to domestic consumers, does not need a licence to supply.

In addition. Ofgem has flexibility to award supply licenses to generation sites that are above the exemptions threshold when they are restricted to specified local area.
wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_95

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the relative costs per km of (a) overhead, (b) underground and (c) offshore electricity transmission cables in the last 12 months. \p Michael Shanks: The Government keeps abreast of the various technologies that can be used to help us achieve clean power by 2030, including the various means of laying cable, but has not yet made an estimate of the relative costs of cabling in the last 12 months.