theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support people to use electric vehicles in Fylde constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable and accessible charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. As of March 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of 75,305 publicly available charging devices, up 32% on this time last year.

Lancashire County Council, which includes Fylde constituency, have been allocated over £10.8m capital and resource funding through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to increase the number of local public chargepoints across the area. In total, the £381m LEVI Fund will support the installation of at least 100,000 local chargepoints across England.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the hours at which English National Concessionary Travel Scheme bus passes can be used in (a) Kent and (b) England. \p Simon Lightwood: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the travel time criteria, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.  The Government recently conducted a review of the ENCTS, which included considering travel times for disabled passholders, and is currently considering next steps.

Currently, local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the travel time criteria for the ENCTS.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Kent County Council has been allocated £23 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish. This could include extending the discretionary concessions available in the local area.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the introduction of low benefit-in-kind rates for electric vehicles on supply chain security since 2020-21. \p James Murray: Company cars in the UK are subject to an emissions-based regime, which taxes vehicles based on their list price as well as their CO2 emission level. The Government recognises that this regime plays an important role in the electric vehicle transition.

In July 2019, the Government announced new company car tax rates for the tax years 2020 to 2025, which included generous incentives for electric vehicles. These were legislated for as part of the Finance Act 2020. The Government subsequently announced rates for 2025 to 2028 at Autumn Statement 2022, and rates for 2028 to 2030 at Autumn Budget 2024.

Alongside each fiscal event where the changes were announced, an accompanying Tax Information and Impact Note was published setting out expected economic, equalities and other impacts of the new rates. In each of these notes, the rates were not expected to have any significant macroeconomic impacts, such as impacts on GDP and job creation.

At Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced £2 billion of funding to 2030 to support the zero emissions vehicle manufacturing base and supply chain, recognising the value that the industry delivers for the UK and its ongoing transition.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 32153 on Airports: Business Rates, how airports will be valued in the 2026 business rates revaluation. \p James Murray: Civil Airports for the 2026 Revaluation are being valued using the ‘receipts and expenditure’ valuation method. This takes into account the business’ income and expenses in determining the rateable value.

As with other revaluations, the VOA are in discussions with representatives from the airport sector. The VOA have not changed the methodology they use to assess airports since the last revaluation.

The revaluation is not yet complete and the VOA expect to publish draft valuations by the end of 2025.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of Enterprise Investment Scheme funding was provided to companies in Lincolnshire in each of the last ten years. \p James Murray: % of EIS Investment

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

0.1%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

0.1%

0.2%

It is not possible to provide this information for the last 10 years as administrative data is not available.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many dwellings there were in England in April (a) 2010 and (b) 2024; how many of those dwellings had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five or more bedrooms; and how many of those dwellings had a garden. \p James Murray: Please see the response to UIN 32144. The Valuation Office Agency does not usually record whether a domestic property has a garden.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered providing targeted relief or exemptions from employers' National Insurance contributions increases to (a) charities, (b) social enterprises and (c) other not-for-profit entities. \p James Murray: The Government recognises the important role charities play in our society and has made it a priority to reset the relationship with civil society by developing a Civil Society Covenant.

To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.

The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of employers with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year. Charities will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under 21s and under 25 apprentices, where eligible.

More broadly, within the tax system, we provide support to charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions, including reliefs for charitable giving with more than £6 billion in charitable reliefs provided to charities, CASCs and their donors in 2023 to 2024.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT from the energy bills of ceramic manufacturers. \p James Murray: VAT input tax on energy bills wholly and exclusively related to business activity can be reclaimed by VAT registered businesses.

The Government provides a range of support for business energy bills. The British Industry Supercharger includes a series of targeted measures to bring energy costs for key industries in line with other major economies. The Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme provides businesses with relief for the costs of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and Carbon Price Support mechanism in their electricity bills. Finally, the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund supports businesses with high energy use to cut their bills and reduce carbon emissions and is available over the period to 2027.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people who have instructed solicitors and are in the process of completing property transactions to apply previous stamp duty rates. \p James Murray: In September 2022, the previous government announced a change to the level at which purchasers of residential property start paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), from £125,000 to £250,000. This change was made temporary in November 2022, and the rate will revert to £125,000 on 1 April 2025. For first-time buyers, the nil-rate band is currently £425,000 and the purchase price limit for accessing the relief is currently £625,000. On 1 April 2025, after the rates revert, first time buyers will still benefit from paying no SDLT up to £300,000 and will be able to claim relief on purchases up to £500,000.

Purchasers have had notice of these tax changes, as legislated for in the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Temporary Relief) Act 2023. In order to benefit from the temporary rates, purchasers will need to have completed on their purchase by 31 March 2025. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant of the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19700 on Airports: Business Rates, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the rates revaluation in April 2026 and (b) the surcharge for hereditaments above £500,000 Rateable Value from April 2026 on (i) economic growth, (ii) international competitiveness and (iii) airfares. \p James Murray: The Government recognises that in the post-COVID world, expected valuations for airports at the 2026 revaluation amount to significant increases. The aviation sector is in conversation with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about their 2026 draft rateable values.

The Government is legally required to introduce transitional relief for ratepayers to support those seeing the biggest increases at revaluations. Once we understand the complete 2026 revaluation picture will the Government be in a position to make final decisions, at Autumn Budget 2025, on the transitional relief scheme.

On the new multiplier rates, the Government will confirm these at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions.  Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025 – to take effect in the 2026-27 billing year – HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
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Chris Law:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC have taken to ensure farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa are being paid the National Living Wage in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024. \p James Murray: The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff.

HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.

HMRC continue to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many of our interventions in this sector employ seasonal workers.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of benefit-in-kind rates for electric vehicles on the annual uptake of electric vehicles. \p James Murray: HMRC publishes annual statistics which provide information about the company cars provided as benefits in kind to employees by employers, including the proportion of the company car stock which is electric. The most recent statistics were published in June 2024 for the tax year 2022-23, which showed that 220,000 company cars were fully electric, or 29% of the total company car stock, an increase from 50,000 in 2020-21.

The Government is committed to supporting the transition to electric vehicles, and generous company car tax rates for electric cars have been a key incentive for increasing their number on the road. Electric company cars also play a significant role in supporting the used EV markets. At the end of their lease company cars are sold into the used markets, which is where the majority of car sales take place in the UK. There were 314,000 zero emission cars registered for the first time in 2023, an increase of 18 per cent from 2022.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expensing intellectual property transactions. \p James Murray: The UK’s Intangible Fixed Asset (IFA) regime offers generous and internationally competitive relief for acquired intangible assets like trademarks and licences. In addition, UK businesses can benefit from the biggest tax treaty network in the OECD – which make the UK an attractive jurisdiction for holding IFAs.

The government committed to maintain the regime’s current competitive approach in the Corporation Tax Roadmap.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32146 on Public Houses: Business Rates and Employers’ Contributions, for what reason the median rateable value is used. \p James Murray: The Transforming Business Rates consultation used the median RV of a pub (£16,800) to illustrate the amount the average pub is estimated to save in business rates liabilities (over £3,300) from RHL relief being extended at 40% for 2025-26 rather than being removed entirely. The median RV was used as it is less affected by the presence of a few large pubs than the mean RV. Therefore, the median is likely to be closer to the actual RV of a greater number of pubs than the mean would be.
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Chris Law:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC inspections of farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa were conducted in each of the last five years. \p James Murray: The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff.

HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.

HMRC continue to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many of our interventions in this sector employ seasonal workers.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31955 on Private Education: Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of liability for business rates on the commercial viability of nurseries located within the premises of an independent school. \p James Murray: As the Government confirmed at Autumn Budget 2024, schools that satisfy the definition of a private school will lose any entitlement to charitable rate relief entirely. This may include private schools with some nursery classes, which, despite the presence of some nursery provision will still be, by their nature, private schools.

Standalone nursery schools, where they have their own business rates assessments, are excluded from the legislation and, where applicable, retain their charitable rate relief. This approach best ensures consistency with the underlying policy intent.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many days each Minister in her Department has spent working at the Darlington Campus since 5 July 2024. \p James Murray: Since 5th July 2024 the following working visits have taken place by HMT ministers at the DEC. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has spent 3 days at the DEC, on 11th July 2024, 12th December 2024 and 13th March 2025. Exchequer Secretary James Murray MP has spent 4 days at the DEC, on 31st July 2024, 17th August 2024, 5th December 2024 and 13th February 2025. Financial Secretary Lord Spencer Livermore has spent 1 day at the DEC, on 22nd August 2024. Chief Secretary Darren Jones MP has spent 1 day at the DEC on 13th March 2025.

The Darlington Economic Campus is central to the plans of HM Treasury and we are delighted to be nearing our target of 335 HMT roles based in Darlington, including a number of the most senior Treasury staff. The Chancellor and the broader Treasury ministerial team support DEC not only by regularly visiting, but also by ensuring that colleagues based in Darlington are welcomed to hybrid meetings and able to contribute fully to the work of the department, making their voices heard and shaping economic policy making for the country as a whole from the North East of England.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 30645 on Business Rates, if she will make an estimate of the number of hereditaments subject to the £500,000 multiplier if the threshold is not uprated in 2026. \p James Murray: The Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government intends to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

On 21 February, the Valuation Office Agency published an ad hoc release detailing total property counts and RV for properties in England with a RV over £500,000. This is broken down by sector, sub-sector, special category and region. This is available online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with NatWest on the adequacy of the provision of its banking facilities in Slough. \p Emma Reynolds: Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and businesses, including in areas such as Slough and Berkshire, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

While the ongoing trend in payments in the UK has been away from cash and towards card and digital payment methods, the Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups. Furthermore, businesses need access to cash deposit services in order to keep accepting cash and, therefore, support people’s ability to continue to transact using cash.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 granted the FCA the responsibility and powers to seek to ensure the reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. In September 2024, The FCA introduced regulatory rules for access to cash. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts. Data from LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) identifies 106 ATMs in Slough, including 70 free-to-use ATMs.

Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK assesses a community’s access to cash withdrawal and deposit needs, and can recommend a new service if necessary.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential savings to the public purse for abolishing the Payment Systems Regulator. \p Emma Reynolds: The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer and legislate as soon as possible.

The Payment Systems Regulator is funded by fees levied on industry.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to require (a) technology and (b) telecommunication firms to contribute to the cost of (i) fraud prevention and (ii) the reimbursement of victims of fraud on their platforms. \p Emma Reynolds: Fraud is a costly crime for citizens, consumers, and businesses.

I welcome existing pledges to prevent fraud made by tech and telecoms firms.

At Mansion House, the Chancellor announced this government would work with tech and telecoms companies to stop their platforms and networks being exploited by criminals.

We are monitoring progress, including work on the second Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter and implementation of the Online Safety Act.

To balance the requirement on Financial Services to reimburse victims of fraud, Section 72 of the Financial Services and Markets Act enables the sector to manage risk through due diligence checks before releasing payments.

The department will continue to work with the Home Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to unlock further prevention efforts across all sectors in the forthcoming update to the fraud strategy.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Bank of England on the Financial Services Compensation Scheme's compensation limit for (a) consumer and (b) business accounts. \p Emma Reynolds: Eligible deposits held by UK banks, building societies and credit unions that are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000, with joint accounts protected up to £170,000. This limit is set by the PRA and applies to both retail and business accounts.

The PRA is required to independently review the limit every five years and will be publishing a consultation on the outcome of its most recent review shortly. Any changes to the limit must be approved by the Treasury and the Government would carefully consider any changes proposed by the PRA.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of merging the Financial Conduct Authority and the Payment Systems Regulator. \p Emma Reynolds: The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer and legislate as soon as possible.

The Payment Systems Regulator is funded by fees levied on industry.
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Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the Government's plans to abolish NHS England on the future amounts of health related consequential funding that the Welsh Government will receive under the Barnett formula. \p Darren Jones: The Barnett formula is applied when departmental budgets change – not when departments announce changes in policy.

The Department for Health and Social Care are working through the implications of abolishing NHS England and will provide further details in due course. For any funding implications, the Barnett formula will apply in the usual way as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

A full breakdown of devolved government funding is set out in the Block Grant Transparency, the next iteration of which will be published in due course.
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Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to include a legislative consent motion with legislative proposals to lower the voting age to allow 16 and 17 year olds in Northern Ireland to vote in (a) Assembly and (b) local government elections. \p Hilary Benn: The Government has given a clear commitment to lower the voting age to 16 at all non-devolved elections, which includes Assembly and local elections in Northern Ireland. As elections are an excepted matter under Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, it will not be necessary to seek a legislative consent motion in relation to that commitment. The Government will of course work closely with stakeholders across Northern Ireland on the implementation of this major change to the franchise and ensure we empower our young people to participate in democracy.
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Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that Northern Ireland is included in legislative proposals to lower the voting age for UK elections. \p Hilary Benn: This Government will legislate to lower the voting age to 16 during this Parliament for all non-devolved elections across the UK, including elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland local government elections.
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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024. \p Hilary Benn: The Northern Ireland Office has had no staff in the department seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many meetings he has had with veterans who have served in Northern Ireland since taking his post. \p Hilary Benn: Since I was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I have engaged with veterans and their representatives on two occasions. I have also met with both the previous and current Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, and with a group representing former police officers. This is in addition to the engagement that has been carried out by the Minister for Veterans and People, and by officials in the Northern Ireland Office.

The Government will continue to discuss legacy issues with veterans and their representatives, alongside our wider process of engagement with all interested parties, as we seek to establish a way forward that is lawful and can command confidence across communities.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. \p Hilary Benn: The Government is continuing to implement the commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, and the first meeting of Intertrade UK was held on 28 February 2025.

A key focus for Intertrade UK will be to promote the full extent of the UK’s market to businesses and traders and to help to counter any misconceptions or confusion businesses and traders in Great Britain may have about providing goods and services in Northern Ireland.

We are also committed to seeking a veterinary agreement with the EU for the whole of the UK, which could deliver tangible benefits for businesses across the UK and smooth flows of trade.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society during the debate on gambling harms of 5 February 2025, Official Report, columns 373-377WH, if she will outline the conditions under which her Department would intervene to replace the self-regulating system in the gambling industry. \p Stephanie Peacock: Gambling in Great Britain is independently regulated by the Gambling Commission.

The independent Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for regulating advertising in the UK. There are robust rules in place to ensure that advertising, whenever it appears, is socially responsible. Gambling operators must comply with the advertising codes of practice, which are enforced by the ASA, as part of their licence conditions. The ASA has the power to take action where there is evidence of advertising in breach of the Codes, and can also refer operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission for possible regulatory action. However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to protect the (a) creative, (b) video game and (c) animation industries from the potential impact of AI-generated content on jobs and educational programs. \p Chris Bryant: Our consultation on the impact of AI on the copyright regime, which was published on 17 December and closed on 25 February, received over 10,000 responses. We will now consider the full range of responses we have received and will continue to develop our policy approach in partnership with creative industries, media and AI stakeholders. Addressing this is an urgent priority for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, but no decisions will be taken until we are absolutely confident we have a practical plan that delivers for the creative industries.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) also works closely with the Department for Education (DfE) on skills policy affecting the creative sector. This includes DfE’s work on the reformed growth and skills levy, which will help more people learn new high-quality skills at work, including digital skills, and create routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries.

Many video games studios already use AI tools to streamline development processes and enhance game-play experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_328

Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff her Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS has zero such secondments. Secondments are one way of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time, and have been used by successive governments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_329

Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the United Kingdom continues to host international sporting events beyond 2035. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government remains committed to delivering major international sporting events with pride - building upon the UK’s global reputation for excellence in event delivery. - and seeking new opportunities to do so.

We recognise that major events deliver significant economic and social benefits as well as an opportunity to showcase the UK globally. We look forward to delivering a series of major events before the end of the decade, including the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, the European Athletics Championships, Invictus Games, Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup and Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2026,the UEFA European Championships in 2028, and the men’s T20 Cricket World Cup in 2030.

The Government is working with UK Sport and other partners in order to identify and secure major sporting event targets into the future, in order to to build a pipeline of events up until 2035 and beyond. This includes supporting a potential UK bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_330

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2025 to Question 30737 on AstraZeneca: Merseyside, if he will publish the feedback his Department has received from AstraZeneca on their Merseyside investment withdrawal. \p Feryal Clark: Company feedback on Government grant process continually informs improvements in grant delivery. However, to maintain confidentiality between companies and Government, we do not publish company specific feedback.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_331

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department has made on establishing AI growth zones in the devolved nations. \p Feryal Clark: The UK Government will partner with local and regional authorities and Devolved Governments to establish AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), ensuring substantial regional and national benefits, such as upskilling and employment opportunities, are felt across the country.

In February, Devolved Governments, along with local authorities and industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest. DSIT regularly engages with the Devolved Governments on a range of issues and there was significant interest in AIGZs from across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_332

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the hon. Member for Warrington North, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, whether she has made an estimate of the potential savings to the public purse of abolishing diversity, equality and inclusion roles. \p Charlotte Nichols: The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) does not employ any people who work solely in diversity, equality, and inclusion roles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_333

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31952 on Elections: Expenditure, what guidance the Commission has provided on (a) what (i) petrol, (ii) staffing, (iii) coach hire and (iv) other costs of a battlebus should be assigned to local candidate spend and (b) whether this includes travel outside a constituency to the constituency. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Commission has published guidance for parties and candidates on how to distinguish between party and candidate spending, and how to report such spending. The classification of spend on a battlebus visit will depend on whether the spending promotes the party or the candidate.

The Commission’s guidance includes a number of examples of campaign events and how these would be reported.

The Commission has published guidance for candidates on transport costs. Reportable transport costs include the costs of transporting volunteers, party members or other campaigners around the electoral area, or to and from the electoral area, where they are undertaking campaigning on behalf of the candidate. This includes the costs of transport hire and fuel.

The Commission has also published guidance for candidates on staff costs. Costs for staff directly employed by the party do not count towards party spending limits. However, if staff are provided to a candidate for their campaign, staff costs would need to be reported by the candidate as notional spending.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_334

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31952 on Elections: Expenditure, what guidance the Commission has provided on (a) whether a battlebus must be declared as a local candidate expense if the candidate participates in campaigning with the battlebus and (b) the definitions of (i) directing, (ii) encouraging and (iii) authorising the spending. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Commission has published guidance for parties and candidates on how to distinguish between party and candidate spending, and how to report such spending. The classification of spend on a battlebus visit will depend on whether the spending promotes the party or the candidate.

Activity promoting the candidate must be reported on the candidate return if it is authorised by the candidate or qualifies as notional spending. There is a £700 limit on unauthorised spending to promote the candidate, which would be reported on the party return. The Commission’s guidance includes a number of examples of campaign events and how these would be reported.

The Commission has also published guidance on the tests for notional spending, including how to identify when an item has been made use of by the candidate or someone on their behalf. Someone can only make use of an item on behalf of the candidate if that use has been directed, authorised, or encouraged by the candidate or their agent.

The Commission has not published a specific definition of “directed, authorised, or encouraged”; these terms are interpreted according to their commonplace use.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-09 conversation_1

Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to deploy drone technologies carrying (a) defibrillators and (b) other emergency medical equipment. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government is committed to innovation in drones and other growth sectors, and work is ongoing across Government, including between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Civil Aviation Authority, to support the safe and effective introduction of drones into medical logistics.

Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, and UK Research and Innovation, supported five pilot projects, allocating them a total of £500,000 to explore the use of drones in the National Health Service. Given the potential of drones to improve how the NHS delivers patient care, the Department of Health and Social Care is supportive of trials that explore the use of drones in medical logistics.

Recent drone trials in the NHS have included pathology deliveries in Cornwall, blood deliveries in London, and the transport of chemotherapy to the Isle of Wight, where drone use reduced journey times from four hours by road and sea to a 30-minute flight

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has also funded a study into the use of drones to deliver defibrillators in emergency simulations, with more information available at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/drones-could-deliver-defibrillators-cardiac-arrest-patients-uk

Currently, there are no plans to deploy drone technologies carrying defibrillators outside of trials. The Department of Health and Social Care continuously reviews the available evidence surrounding the use of drones in medical logistics and is supportive of new trials, including those involving defibrillators, to further build this evidence base.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-09 conversation_2

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to implement the recommendations outlined in the Cumberlege Review with respect to the drug Primodos. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: Our sympathies remain with those who believe they were harmed by hormone pregnancy tests, such as Primodos.

Recommendation 4 of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, also known as the Cumberlege Review, specifically mentions hormone pregnancy tests, recommending that separate redress schemes be set up for each of the interventions examined by the Review, namely hormone pregnancy tests, sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. As a follow up to this recommendation, the Patient Safety Commissioner was asked to investigate and provide advice on options for redress for those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government is carefully considering the Patient Safety Commissioner’s recommendations.

The Patient Safety Commissioner was not asked to look at Primodos as part of this work, because the available scientific evidence does not support a causal association between the use of hormone pregnancy tests such as Primodos and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. The Government is committed to reviewing any new scientific evidence which may come to light.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-09 conversation_3

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the impact on carers is included in NICE technology appraisals for rare and progressive diseases. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: NICE’s technology appraisal process allows its independent committees to take societal benefits, such as health-related quality-of-life for carers and impact on personal social services, into account. NICE’s methods are set out in its published health technology evaluations manual, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg36.

Evaluations should consider all health effects for patients, and, when relevant, carers. When presenting health effects for carers, evidence should show when the condition is associated with a substantial effect on carer’s health-related quality of life and how the technology affects carers. This applies for all therapies, including therapies for rare diseases. NICE appraisals specifically consider health-related quality of life, for both patients and carers, rather than quality of life as a whole.