theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14690 on Fire and Rescue Services: Standards, what progress was made in establishing national standards for Fire and Rescue services at the first meeting of the Ministerial Advisory Group held in December. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The inaugural meeting of the ministerial advisory group for fire and rescue service reform was the first in a series of meetings that will take place quarterly. One of the group’s key aims is delivery of the manifesto commitment to work with all stakeholders in the fire and rescue sector to inform policy, including the establishment of national standards. This will form a core part of our work programme, alongside the Government’s other priorities for meaningful reform of the sector.

This will build on the work that the Fire Standards Board has already taken forward in publishing 19 different standards for the sector. These cover a range of topics relating to operational management, leadership and ethics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with Eurofins Forensic Services Limited on the market for forensic services to police forces in England and Wales. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office has routine discussions with commercial forensic providers on issues relating to the forensics market, including through the Association of Forensic Science Providers which represents companies including Eurofins Forensic Services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of recent trends in the level of crime committed by illegal migrants on residents in Wythall. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government is determined to tackle crime irrespective of who has committed it. As part of the Plan for Change, our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will put officers and PCSOs back on the beat in every corner of the country, ensuring the police are visible, accessible and responsive to the communities they serve.

Our forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill will give the police the powers they need to crack down on the criminals who cause misery in our communities, and to tackle the scourge of serious violence on our streets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of (a) the adequacy of and (b) levels of adherence to (i) human rights and (ii) public order obligations in the policing of recent protests. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The police have a fundamental duty under the Human Rights Act 1998 to act in a way that is compatible with human rights, including the rights to freedom of assembly and expression. The police also have a duty to ensure that public order and public safety is maintained. This is made clear to all police officers through police guidance, such as the Authorised Professional Practice on Public Order and Public Safety and the National Protest Operational Advice.

The police must therefore strike a fair balance between individual rights to protest and the general interests of the community.

The use of police powers to achieve this is a decision for the police, who are operationally independent from Government. As such, Government Ministers cannot comment on the use of these powers in a specific public order context, as to do so may undermine their operational independence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Chris Curtis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timeline is for members of the police who enrolled on the 1987 Police Pension Scheme to receive McCloud remedy pension payments. \p Dame Diana Johnson: While the Home Office has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the police pension regulations, the police pension scheme is locally administered by individual police forces. The Home Office is working with the policing sector to support the effective implementation of the McCloud remedy for all affected individuals.

It is for each Chief Constable, in their role as scheme manager for their force, to determine their administrative timetable, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022, including when remedy payments will be distributed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm’s length bodies has spent on external communications through (i) Crown Commercial Service agreement RM6125 and (ii) other agreements since 5 July 2024; and which firms have received funding. \p Dame Diana Johnson: To identify the information requested would require a manual review of all transactions made in communications related account categories in the Home Office’s financial system since 5 July 2024, to confirm if they related to Crown Commercial Service agreement RM6125 and other agreements, and then to collate and verify relevant data.

This could only be done for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle car theft in Broxbourne constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime and we are working with the automotive industry and police to ensure our response is as strong as it can be. I met the NPCC Vehicle Crime lead, ACC Jenny Sims, recently and discussed this matter.

We work closely with policing and industry, via the recently formed National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the National Vehicle Crime Working Group. Through the working group a network of vehicle crime specialists has been established, involving every police force in England and Wales, to ensure forces can share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and better tackle regional issues.

We are also providing £250,000 funding this financial year to help support enforcement at ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including additional staff and specialist equipment.

PRC data shows there was a total of 375,048 vehicle related thefts in year ending September 2024. 188,517 of these offences were theft from a vehicle and 127,874 were theft of a motor vehicle.   In the latest year, the CSEW estimates that vehicle related theft has remained relatively stable with a 1% increase against the previous year. The Home Office does not collect data at the parliamentary constituency level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen cooperation with other nations to help tackle online fraud. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government recognises the serious threat posed by fraudsters targeting UK citizens from abroad. In October 2024, the UK played a pivotal role in helping pass the first ever UN Resolution on Fraud at the 12th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

The resolution outlines a set of key recommendations that all signatories to the UNTOC (186 Member States) should implement to mitigate the threat of fraud to their citizens. These recommendations include codifying fraud as a serious crime, pursuing fraudsters, protecting victims, and collaborating closely with the private sector to design out fraud. By establishing these guidelines, the resolution sets a baseline of global standards for all member states to follow. This is a significant advancement in the global fight against fraud and underscores our shared commitment with international partners in combating this pernicious crime.

As part of the Government’s on-going work to tackle fraud internationally, we continue to work closely with our strategic partners including Five Eyes countries, Singapore, EU nations and INTERPOL, to target fraud and scams at source. Through these forums we are working with source countries (where transnational organised fraud and cybercrime groups operate) to build capacity in their law enforcement agencies, in order to tackle and disrupt overseas fraud before it reaches the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how frequently deaf awareness training is provided to (a) decision-makers, (b) people in customer-facing roles and (c) other staff in her Department. \p Andrew Western: Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is mandatory learning completed by all staff as part of their induction into the department and can then be revisited at any time. Within the learning there is a scenario-based activity around deaf awareness.

In addition, all staff new to DWP complete customer service delivery learning which includes a module for deaf or hearing loss and the support DWP offers, including when and how to use interpreters for interviews. The learning explains the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 and how it relates to customers who are deaf or have hearing loss, which can also be revisited at any time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what purposes the Office for Nuclear Regulation has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Andrew Western: 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.

Over the last 12 months ONR has explored the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support its efficiency and productivity. ONR’s use of AI has been exploratory and is subject to robust oversight from an internal AI governance group.

Uses include:

ONR’s exploration of AI is continuing and includes national and international collaboration on regulating AI. This is in addition to working with the wider nuclear industry to assess potential opportunities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of unpaid carers that were entitled to the (a) Carer Premium and (b) Carer Addition in each year since 2000; and what proportion of those recipients were women. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making changes to military compensation so that it is not considered as income for the purposes of calculating means-tested benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 5 December 2024 to question UIN 16635.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children live in households in which at least one person is subject to a Limited Capability to Work Assessment in (a) the UK and (b) Torbay constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of american tariffs on steel on future trends in the level of UK steel imports. \p Sarah Jones: Tariffs on US steel imports have not yet been implemented, and this Government will engage with the US administration to seek a solution that benefits both nations. On 12 February I met with UK Steel, trade unions and our six steel producers to discuss the matter.

My Department will continue to engage with UK industries impacted, including the UK steel industry, to conduct a thorough assessment of any potential impacts. The UK's steel safeguard measure remains an essential tool to shield industry from surges in imports, and this Government is backing our steel industry with up to £2.5 billion of Government investment to help build a bright future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to establish additional public holidays to mark (a) St Andrew's Day, (b) St David's Day, (c) St George's Day and (d) St Patrick's Day. \p Justin Madders: The current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established and accepted. The Government has no plans to change it.

Northern Ireland and Scotland have additional bank holidays for St Patrick’s Day and St Andrew’s Day respectively.

While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure parcel delivery companies are held to account when they have (a) extremely low satisfaction rates and (b) poor reviews. \p Justin Madders: Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.

Ofcom’s approach to protecting consumers is to include a condition that all postal operators must establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive.

Ofcom is committed to ongoing monitoring of operators’ performance and will consider enforcement action or further regulation to protect consumers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are properly tested using (a) UK manufactured, (b) safe and (c) industry-approved test gas. \p Justin Madders: Carbon monoxide alarms should be properly tested before they can be placed on the UK market. British Standard EN 50291-1:2018 outlines the test methods and performance requirements of carbon monoxide alarms used in a domestic setting, and British Standard EN 50291:2:2019 outlines the same for carbon monoxide alarms used in recreational vehicles and similar premises.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is going through Parliament at the moment, will provide the powers needed to keep our wide and technical product regulation framework up to date, enabling the UK to maintain its high product standards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK-US trading relationship is already worth around £300 billion, supporting over a million jobs and representing 17% of total UK trade. This government's priority is economic growth and increasing trade with international partners is a major part of that. The Prime Minister had a warm call with President Trump on 26 January where they discussed trade and the economy and agreed to meet soon for further discussions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) predecessors to his Department have worked in roles relating to international trade in each of the last 27 years. \p Justin Madders: The information is not readily available or held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 12624 on Agriculture: Exports, what (a) trade shows, (b) missions and (c) events ministers have attended. \p Justin Madders: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) offer a compelling programme of trade shows and events to support agriculture exporters to access new markets, build buyer connections and increase their marketing in target countries, all underpinned by our GREAT marketing programme. We also host outward missions of exporters and inward buyer missions, creating as many opportunities as possible for businesses to connect and secure tangible connections and contracts.

Minister Jones recently attended 100+ Accelerator Demo Day and Sustainable Innovation Expo as well as the Food and Drink Federation Investment Summit
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Lloyd Hatton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, whether applicants who obtain trust information through this regulation will be allowed to publish this information where it is in the public interest. \p Justin Madders: Under these regulations the presumption is that trust data on the Register of Overseas Entities will normally be disclosed when requested. Most applications will not require the applicant to demonstrate any legitimate interest. Legitimate interest applies where trust data involves a minor or multiple entities. In such cases, applicants must demonstrate their request relates to the investigation of possible money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing or sanctions breaches, make a statement it is to further their investigation and explain the information's intended use.

A legitimate interest must be shown for each new application.

The registrar will consider any appropriate restrictions on the use and further disclosure of trust information before disclosing this information to a successful applicant. The applicant may publish this information unless the registrar has imposed a restriction on its further disclosure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to achieve the construction of 14,000 additional prison places by 2031. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government will build the prison places that the previous Government promised but failed to deliver because of their inability to stand up to their own backbenches.

We are investing over £2.3 billion in prison building this year and next. The Lord Chancellor set out plans for delivering 14,000 new prison places by 2031 in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, which includes the construction of four new prisons, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate and temporary accommodation.

HMP Millsike in Yorkshire is due to open in spring 2025 and will deliver c.1,500 places. Construction of a new c.1,700 place prison near the existing HMP Gartree in Leicestershire is on track to start in the summer, and outline planning permission is in place for a c.1,500 place prison in Buckinghamshire and a c.1,700 place prison in Lancashire. Additionally, new houseblocks at HMP Rye Hill and HMP Fosse Way are due to complete during the course of 2025, providing c.700 places between them. We also continue to roll out hundreds more Rapid Deployment Cells across the estate. We are working with suppliers to deliver these places as quickly as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an estimate of the number of people that died of natural courses in prison while serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection in 2024. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The total number of prisoners who died of natural causes1,2 whilst in custody3,4 whilst serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection, January 2024 to December 2024, England and Wales.

Jan 2024 to Dec 2024

Total

12

It is right that IPP sentences were abolished in 2012. The Government is committed to working with organisations and campaign groups to ensure the appropriate course of action is taken to support those still serving IPP sentences.

Data Sources and Quality

Deaths figures are derived from the HMPPS Deaths in Prison Custody database. As classification of deaths may change following inquest or as new information emerges, numbers may change from time to time.

(1) Apparent cause is based on the HMPPS classification of deaths in prison custody

(2) Figures for deaths during previous years may change due to late notifications and changes in classification following an inquest, which may not be concluded for several years after the death, so it is likely that numbers in some categories will be revised once classifications have been finalised. Prisoner information can occasionally be updated after death when improved data becomes available

(3) Figures include incidents during contracted out escorts

(4) Deaths in prison custody figures include all deaths of prisoners arising from incidents during prison custody. They include deaths of prisoners while released on temporary license (ROTL) for medical reasons but exclude other types of ROTL where the state has less direct responsibility.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Melanie Ward:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to reduce average waiting times to access independent tribunals to hear appeals from parents against Child Maintenance Service decisions. \p Sarah Sackman: Appeals against Child Maintenance Service decisions are heard by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, which is part of the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.

Reducing the outstanding caseload is the key measure to bring down the waiting times for tribunal hearings. We are currently focused on reducing the outstanding caseload in the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service continues to invest in improving tribunal productivity through the recruitment of additional Judges, the deployment of Legal Officers to actively manage cases, the development of modern case management systems and the use of remote hearing technology as appropriate. If an expedited hearing is requested, a Judge or Legal Officer will make a decision on that issue, taking all the circumstances into account.

Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal can be found at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what purposes the Office of the Public Guardian has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Sarah Sackman: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

A small number of staff in Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) are trialling the use of Microsoft 365 Co-pilot as part of a Ministry of Justice wide pilot, looking to reduce time spent on repetitive administrative tasks. OPG does not use AI in its decision-making processes.

OPG can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage. For example, the Generative AI Ethics Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure the recruitment of prison officers stays in line with planned expansion of prison capacity. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We know that sufficient and skilled frontline staffing is fundamental to delivering safe, secure, and rehabilitative prison regimes. We remain committed to ensuring prisons are sufficiently resourced and that we retain and build levels of experience, both of which are fundamental to delivering quality outcomes in prisons.

As of 30 September 2024, there are 23,571 Band 3-5 prison officers in post, and nationally across establishments we are at 99.5% of our Target Staffing Figure (when using hours adjusted FTE). Our current national resourcing context is much stronger in comparison to September 2022, when there were 21,617 FTE Band 3-5 prison officers in post.

All prison expansion projects, whether new prisons or smaller builds, are factored into our staffing forecasts to ensure we recruit on time and build up the experience needed to continue to deliver safe and secure regimes. HMPPS works closely with our partners to ensure that there is capacity across other workforce groups in prisons, including for educational and health posts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to start releasing annual statements on prison capacity. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The first annual statement on prison capacity was published on 11 December 2024. This can be found on the government website: Annual Statement on Prison Capacity: 2024 - GOV.UK.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that prison leavers under the Early Release Scheme are supported in securing housing upon release. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Those released under the Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) changes who are at risk of homelessness can be referred to H M Prison & Probation Service’s Community Accommodation Service, Tier 3, which can provide up to 12-weeks’ temporary accommodation.

Latest published statistics show that the proven reoffending rate for adults released from prison homeless or rough sleeping was double the proven reoffending rate for those who were in some kind of accommodation upon release (69% vs 34%).

During the initial release phase in September and October we worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Welsh Government to mitigate any impact on local authorities, as well as taking practical steps to minimise the chances that individuals were released homeless. These included ensuring data were shared with the 49 Strategic Housing Specialists based in prisons and with the Probation Service-based Homeless Prevention Teams, to make sure plans were in place for those who needed accommodation support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people who are currently in prison for drug offences are under 21 years of age. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: As of 31 December 2024 (latest available published data snapshot), there were 463 people in prison in England and Wales under 21 years of age with an associated (alleged or proven) drug offence. This is based on the total prison population, and includes those held on remand (both unconvicted, and convicted unsentenced), sentenced and non-criminals. It also includes those held in Young Offenders' Institutions (YOIs).

For those whose offending is driven by a drug problem, we work with health partners to divert them into treatment in the community where appropriate. This includes working to increase the use and strengthen the quality of Drug Rehabilitation Requirements as part of community sentences, which aim to tackle the root causes of offending behaviour through structured treatment and regular testing. Where a prison sentence is appropriate, we focus on supporting people into treatment, and ensuring their environment supports recovery – 81 prisons have an Incentivised Substance-Free Living unit, which provide a dedicated, supportive environment for any prisoner who wants to live drug-free in prison, with regular drug testing and incentives.

Recognising the distinct needs of young adults, HMPPS have developed a Young Adults Custodial strategy to ensure there is a consistent approach amongst prisons to understand this group and support staff in working with them, to better respond to the needs of the cohort.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will take steps to ensure that biological males who identify as female are not housed in women’s prisons. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We take the allocation of transgender prisoners very seriously. It is right that there are safeguards in place to protect the safety of vulnerable women, and well over 90% of transgender women in custody are held in men’s prisons.

Transgender women who have committed sexual or violent offences, or who retain birth genitalia, will not be held in general women’s estate, other than on an exceptional basis where experts have a high level of confidence that they pose a low risk to other prisoners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to introduce regulations to prevent the sharing of scam content on social media platforms. \p Feryal Clark: Government takes the issue of fraudulent content on social media platforms seriously – which is why fraud is listed as a priority offence in the Online Safety Act.

In-scope services, including social media platforms, will have to take steps to prevent fraudulent content appearing on their platforms and to swiftly remove such content if it does. The largest services (categorised services) must also take action to tackle paid-for fraudulent adverts.

Ofcom has robust powers to take enforcement action where companies fail to meet their duties, including issuing fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has conducted a lessons learned review over negotiations with AstraZeneca on proposed investment in Merseyside. \p Feryal Clark: AstraZeneca’s decision not to invest in Speke is deeply disappointing. The Government regularly reviews it’s grant process and routinely seeks applicant feedback. The Government also continues to engage positively with AstraZeneca, including on the new Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan, due to be published in late Spring. This will set out a comprehensive plan of how the Government intends to drive growth in the sector. Support includes the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, which will allocate up to £520 million to deliver economic growth and build health resilience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with social media companies on the role of their platforms in perpetrators committing online fraud. \p Feryal Clark: The government is committed to tackling online fraud, as demonstrated through the strong duties in the Online Safety Act to protect users from this content.

In addition, the Joint Fraud Taskforce is a partnership between government, the private sector and law enforcement to tackle fraud collectively. Minutes of the taskforce’s meetings are published on gov.uk
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_94

Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help ensure that infrastructure service suppliers do not leave areas of poor broadband connection in fully connected urban areas. \p Chris Bryant: We aim to achieve nationwide gigabit capable coverage by 2030, connecting a minimum of 99% of premises across the UK. The regulatory regime has helped create a competition-friendly environment in commercially viable areas, supporting market entry and expansion by alternative network operators. Project Gigabit is designed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that will not be built to by the market. We continue to monitor commercial rollout plans and adapt Project Gigabit plans accordingly. We are aware pockets of unconnected premises remain in urban and suburban areas and continue to assess the best approach to addressing these
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_95

Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has plans to consult people with lived experience of self-harm and suicide on the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023. \p Feryal Clark: The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.

The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_96

Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Building Digital UK on the existing levels of (a) fibre and (b) gigabit capable broadband of premises included in Project Gigabit in Didcot and Wantage constituency. \p Chris Bryant: The latest data from the independent website Thinkbroadband.com shows that in the Didcot and Wantage constituency, over 52% of premises have access to full fibre broadband, and 86% can access a gigabit-capable broadband connection (>1000 Mbps).

To improve this further, Gigaclear is currently delivering two contracts as part of Project Gigabit that will bring gigabit-capable broadband to approximately 10,000 eligible premises across Oxfordshire, including in the Didcot and Wantage constituency.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_97

Alberto Costa:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to improve (a) broadband speed and (b) connectivity in rural areas. \p Chris Bryant: Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans.

More than £2 billion of contracts have been signed to connect over a million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband, predominantly in rural areas. This includes a £77 million Project Gigabit contract for Leicestershire and Warwickshire with the supplier CityFibre, benefitting the South Leicestershire constituency.

Through the Shared Rural Network, 4G geographic coverage from at least one mobile operator has now reached over 95% of the UK landmass. Our ambition is for all populated areas, including communities in rural areas, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_98

Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on progress by the Small but Risky taskforce on tackling the risk posed by dangerous online platforms. \p Feryal Clark: The Online Safety Act’s illegal content and, where relevant, child safety duties, will apply to services of all sizes. In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom CEO outlined information about the taskforce: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/public-correspondence/2024/letter-from-dame-melanie-dawes-to-the-secretary-of-state-11-september-2024.pdf?v=380026. The taskforce is developing and delivering a workplan focusing on high priority themes such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls. Should small but risky services choose not to engage and there is evidence of non-compliance, Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_99
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_99

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of illegal fly-tipping on agricultural activity. \p Mary Creagh: The department does not intend to assess the potential impact of illegal fly-tipping on agricultural activity. The Government understands the difficulty that fly-tipping poses to all landowners. We have committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess that they have created and will provide further details on this in due course.

We continue to work with stakeholders, such as the National Farmers Union and local authorities, through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to share good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. Various practical tools, including case studies and ‘how to’ guides on key issues such as setting up effective local partnerships, are available from their webpage at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_100

Jake Richards:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many consultations his Department (a) initiated and (b) completed in the last Parliament between (i) 13 February 2020 and 6 September 2022, (ii) 6 September 2022 and 25 October 2022, (iii) 25 October 2022 and 13 November 2023 and (iv) 13 November 2023 and 4 July 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: All Defra consultations are published through the Citizen Space digital consultation platform and are available in the public domain Defra - Citizen Space. The Defra Citizen Space account also hosts consultations for several of Defra’s Arm’s Length Bodies. Other engagement activities such as Call’s for Evidence are also hosted on this platform.

The table below covers volumes for Defra’s public consultations only. Where completed volumes don’t align with initiated, this is as a result of the consultation period extending across date ranges.

Number of Defra Consultations initiated and completed by date range:

Date Range

Consultations Initiated

Consultations Completed.

13 February 2020 - 6 September 2022

98

84

6 September 2022 - 25 October 2022

1

14

25 October 2022 - 13 November 2023

36

33

13 November 2023 and 4 July 2024

16

19
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_101

Alison Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of microplastics in the environment, in the context of the potential impact of microplastics on levels of prevalence of heart attacks and strokes. \p Mary Creagh: Under the 2022/23 UK REACH Work Programme, Defra initiated a research proposal to investigate the risks of intentionally added microplastics. It did not look specifically into any links between microplastics and the prevalence of heart attacks and strokes, but the evidence project has reviewed their emissions, and the risks they pose both to human health and the environment. It also included a socio-economic assessment. It will advise on the most effective measures to address any risks and help identify wider evidence gaps that need to be addressed to support a more strategic approach to managing intentionally added microplastics. This project is expected to report in early 2025. Defra and the Welsh and Scottish Governments will consider its findings once complete.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_102

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes the Forestry Commission has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Mary Creagh: 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.

Forest Research, an agency of the Forestry Commission, is primarily trialling Machine Learning to automate some of the basic tasks currently performed by scientists to support its specialist work. This algorithmic learning can be trained using established and mature techniques on new and existing datasets to classify complex, multidimensional data. This is carefully considered and monitored for accuracy and performance and viewed in the context of evolving practice and recommendations of secure, sustainable and ethical Artificial Intelligence.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_103
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_103

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that veterans of the Northern Ireland conflict are not subject to potential repeated or prolonged legal action under the provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. \p Hilary Benn: We owe a great debt to our Armed Forces who served in Northern Ireland.

The previous government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 has been found to be unlawful and was widely opposed in Northern Ireland, including by some families who lost relatives whilst serving the State.

That legislation does not prevent legal action being brought by prosecutors for Troubles-related offences, although it is clear that, with the passage of time, prosecutions are increasingly unlikely. As this Government puts in place changes to ensure that legacy cases are dealt with sensitively, efficiently and lawfully, we will ensure that any veteran engaging with this process receives welfare and, where appropriate, legal support.
wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_104
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-19 conversation_104

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether it is her policy that only charities accredited by the Gambling Commission will be eligible for funding under the statutory levy for gambling research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms; and whether organisations involved in gambling lobbying will be excluded. \p Stephanie Peacock: Since 1 January 2020, operators have been required to direct their annual financial contribution for gambling research, prevention and treatment as required by Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) SR code 3.1.1 to one or more of the organisations on a list maintained by the Gambling Commission. The purpose of this list is to demonstrate to operators how to be compliant with the LCCP requirement. Once the levy system is in force, it is likely that the LCCP RET will be no longer relevant or needed. The Commission has consulted on this and will publish their response in due course.

It is a priority for levy funding to be directed where it is needed most. This is why we have appointed statutory bodies to lead on research, prevention and treatment which will be led by the evidence of what works to improve and expand efforts to understand, tackle and treat gambling-related harm. We will also put in place robust governance arrangements to ensure that levy funding is spent in line with our objectives.