theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_7

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which of the recommendations from the 2019 Online Harms White Paper his Department has implemented. \p Feryal Clark: The Online Harms White Paper set out a vision for a new regulatory framework for online services to tackle online harm, which would be overseen by an independent regulator with a suite of enforcement powers.

The Online Safety Act realises this vision. On 17 March 2025, illegal harms codes of practice came into effect, enabling Ofcom to take robust enforcement action against platforms failing to protect users from illegal content. Services are also required to conduct risk assessments for content harmful to children later this month, with the child safety duties expected to be enforceable by Summer 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to commission external reviews of digital compliance regulations. \p Feryal Clark: The Government's independent regulators regularly review regulations and provide their independent recommendations to the Secretary of State to ensure that these regulations are effective and support businesses within the sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how frequently his Department reviews compliance costs for the technology sector. \p Feryal Clark: Sections 28–31 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 set the legislative requirements for the inclusion of statutory review provisions in secondary legislation, including that a report of the first review must be published within five years of the relevant legislation's commencement date and subsequent reports published at intervals not exceeding five years. In the absence of a review provision, the post-implementation review statutory guidance made under section 31 of the act states that policies should still be subject to proportionate monitoring, evaluation and non-statutory review, where appropriate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Andrew Ranger:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure equal access to digital skills training and technology. \p Chris Bryant: The government is taking action in both these areas. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan sets out how we have, for example, launched a device donation pilot scheme in partnership with The Digital Poverty Alliance to refurbish end-of-life government laptops from three departments and get them to those that need them most.

The government is also supporting digital upskilling, for example through Essential Digital Skills (EDS) provisions funded by the Department for Education’s Adult Skills Fund. We will also be enhancing support for the EDS framework, which supports businesses and individuals to get the digital skills they need.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many cables his Department has recorded as damaged or suspected of being damaged by Russian ships in (a) the North Sea, (b) the English Channel, (c) the Irish Sea and (d) the North Atlantic in each of the last 24 months. \p Chris Bryant: Accidental cable damage from industrial maritime activity is part of the cable operating ecosystem. There are 65 cables systems connecting to the UK, with 45 of those cables connecting internationally. The large continental shelf and busy maritime sector in the UK mean there are a high number of accidental breaks each year, 12-15 mainly caused by industrial fishing and some from anchor drags or drops, and a small amount by underwater seismic activity. In the UK we have an exemption from permitting for emergency repairs meaning we have the fastest repair time in the world at 5-7 days. The cables provide redundancy for each other as data is diverted along other cables while a cable waits for repair.

We are aware Supporting cable repair industry and working with international partners to deter this activity through initiatives such as the Joint Declaration on cooperation to protect energy and telecommunications infrastructure in the North Sea, NATO’s Baltic Sentry and the Joint Expeditionary Forces Nordic Warden.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with universities on their approach to the (a) coding and (b) processing of data relating to (i) biological sex and (ii) gender identity in research projects in the context of the Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published on 19 March 2025. \p Feryal Clark: No direct discussions have taken place on these matters. The review has been shared with all departments, and is available for all arms-length bodies and institutions to consider in light of ongoing work in this area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regional distribution of research and development funding. \p Feryal Clark: DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9bn for the 2025/26 financial year, a real terms increase of 8.5% compared to 2024/25. This will include investments in our R&D system in every region of the UK.

There will be a lag in the data showing the exact regional distribution but the latest figures from UKRI show that all regions and nations received an increase in UKRI investment between the financial years 21/22 and 23/24. In 23/24 the greatest absolute increases in investment were seen in the North West, West Midlands and East Midlands.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39577 on Civil Servants: Recruitment, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the succession select tool on external recruitment to senior civil service roles. \p Feryal Clark: Succession Select is an internal search tool used to support talent management within the existing Senior Civil Service (SCS) digital workforce. It is not used as part of the recruitment process, nor does it influence external appointment decisions. Accordingly, the Government has not made a formal assessment of its impact on external recruitment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to enforce minimum Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA. \p Feryal Clark: For central government services, departments are required by the Government Service Standard to meet the minimum of level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 (which is the current version) for services that are in public beta or live.

Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations require most public sector organisations to ensure their services, websites, published documents, intranets, extranets and apps are accessible to disabled people by meeting the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines v2.2 to level AA and by publishing a prescribed format accessibility statement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the report entitled Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published on 19 March 2025, what steps he plans to take to ensure reliable sources for sex data are used for the proposed digital verification service. \p Feryal Clark: The Government recognises the importance of accurate data and statistics on sex and gender, and has shared the independent review’s recommendations with departments for consideration in ongoing policy work. The Government Digital Service is also developing data standards for attributes of a person with input from across the public sector. Digital verification services, and public authorities processing personal data which may be used by such services during the verification process, are subject to data protection legislation which requires the personal data they’re processing to be relevant and accurate for the purpose for which it is being used.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish the Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Governance consultation. \p Feryal Clark: The Government published its consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on 17 December 2024. This closed on 25 February 2025.

The Government’s priority now is to review all responses to the consultation, to help inform its approach to copyright and AI. The Government will continue to engage extensively as it considers next steps, and its proposals will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a global temperature increase that is more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels on Government-owned infrastructure. \p Emma Hardy: The third Climate Change Risk Assessment considered the impacts of climate change in the context of 2ºC and 4ºC global warming scenarios across the economy, including Government-owned infrastructure. Defra continues to work with other government departments, including Cabinet Office, to assess the potential impacts of global temperature increases on Government-owned infrastructure and to take action to improve its resilience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what degree of global temperature increase his Department's climate adaptation plans are intended for. \p Emma Hardy: Defra is the lead department for domestic adaptation to climate change, and as such it is responsible for coordinating requirements set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. Defra is the owning department for about half of the 61 risks and opportunities identified in the third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) and works closely with the departments who own the remaining risks.

The assessment of risks and opportunities in CCRA3 was based on global warming scenarios of 2ºC and 4ºC. The Government’s climate adaptation plans, as set out in the third National Adaptation Programme, follow the advice of the Climate Change Committee to plan for 2ºC. The Government remains flexible and responsive in our its approach, assessing for different scenarios.

The department is exploring how to set out stronger objectives to drive action to increase our preparedness for the impacts of climate change up to and beyond the next National Adaptation Programme in 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has established criteria to assess progress on climate adaptation. \p Emma Hardy: Defra actively monitors progress against the actions in the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) through regular internal monitoring across government. The department is developing a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework to support the implementation of NAP3. Progress on adaptation is also assessed externally: by the end of April, the Climate Change Committee will publish its next biennial report on progress in adapting to climate change.

In addition, Defra working with other Government departments including the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, use the cross-government director level Climate Resilience Steering Board to ensure that climate adaptation is embedded into policy- and decision-making across government. The Board oversees strategic, cross-cutting climate adaptation and resilience issues to increase UK resilience to climate change

My department is exploring how to set out stronger objectives to drive action to increase our preparedness for the impacts of climate change up to and beyond the next National Adaptation Programme in 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce a digitalised ID system for horses to (a) ensure effective enforcement of the ban on live exports for slaughter and (b) prevent illegal horse smuggling. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recognises the importance of the equine sector to the UK economy and of improving equine identification. We have no current plans to implement mandatory digital identification, but we remain in close touch with the industry.

Exporting livestock and horses from Great Britain for slaughter is banned under the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024. We have put in place regulations to ensure that the ban is enforced robustly. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Enforcement Regulations 2024 came into force on 1st January 2025 and provide a range of regulatory and enforcement powers to the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Local Authority Inspectors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38543 on Water Companies: Infrastructure, whether he has made an estimate of how much DPC schemes costs will increase household water bills. \p Emma Hardy: Bill impacts will be considered as part of Ofwat’s DPC approval process. In providing its consent to a water company to enter into a DPC contract, Ofwat will take into consideration the impact on customer interests, including the impact on bills. For example, through its pathfinder DPC project for United Utilities' Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Project, Ofwat included the estimated bill impact during the AMP8 period in United Utilities published Price Review 2024 Final Determination.

Ofwat will share future estimated bill impacts when projects have progressed, and the estimations have been made. Ofwat's initial indication based on pathfinder is that there could be savings for customers of between 6% and 40% through delivering a scheme as a DPC.

The full programme of all major projects is listed in PR24 Final Determinations: Major Projects Development and Delivery, but bill impacts will not be known until companies have finished the procurement process and final bids are received and approved.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Caroline Voaden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the reinvestment of environmental (a) fines and (b) penalties collected from (i) water and (ii) sewerage companies since November 2023 through the Water Restoration Fund. \p Emma Hardy: The Water Restoration Fund is reinvesting funding based on water company environmental fines and penalties into projects to improve the water environment. The Water Restoration Fund funding is based on water company fines and penalties from April 2022 until October 2023.

Up to £11 million of funding was made available on a competitive basis to support a range of water restoration projects.

Following a rigorous assessment process, I am pleased to say that current applicants to the Water Restoration Fund have been contacted regarding the outcome of their application.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the bathing standard in the (a) River Ver and (b) River Lea. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is committed to improving the quality of bathing water at designated sites around the country, as an important contributor to many people’s mental and physical health. However, as these two sites are not designated bathing waters they are not covered by the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. This means that the Environment Agency does not monitor for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, the bacteria used to assess bathing water quality.

They Environment Agency manages rivers and other open water locations that are not designated as bathing waters for the purpose of protecting fish and wildlife, rather than people, so health risks from using these locations may be higher than at designated bathing waters. Anyone can become unwell when swimming in open waters. UK Health Security Agency and the Environment Agency offer advice in the ‘swim healthy’ guidance, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/swim-healthy-leaflet/swim-healthy.

More information on designated bathing waters can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bathing-waters-list-of-designated-waters-in-england.

The Environment Agency also publishes the water quality data that they hold. This information can be accessed via the following link: Open WIMS data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) protect and (b) maintain water supply infrastructure from hostile actors. \p Emma Hardy: Defra is the Lead Government Department (LGD) in England with responsibility for the Water Sector, including as a Critical National Infrastructure sector. The equivalent bodies in the Devolved Governments are responsible for water, including Critical National Infrastructure in their respective nations.

Defra’s work to deter, detect and counter threats from hostile actors includes developing, maintaining and implementing legislation, including the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) 2022 and the Network Information Systems (NIS) regulations (2018) (UK). The SEMD sets out legal responsibilities for the Water Sector in England on matters such as security and emergency planning.

Defra also works with other government departments and water companies to understand risks from hostile actors and develop mitigations. Water companies are Category Two Responders under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) and as such have legal duties to assess, plan and advise on risks. They work with partner organisations through Local Resilience Forums to prepare, respond and recover from emergencies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions to the collection of household rubbish on the prevalence of (a) vermin, (b) odours and (c) insects. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has not produced a specific impact assessment regarding service frequency for residual waste collections. Modelling for this would be subjective to the circumstances of each individual local authority.

Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly.

Defra recognises that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of facilitating the recycling of blister packs. \p Mary Creagh: Through making producers responsible for the costs of managing the packaging they use; packaging extended producer responsibility incentivises producers to use less packaging and transition to re-usable or easy-to-recycle packaging.

Defra has previously considered the merits of facilitating the recycling of harder to recycle packaging such as blister packs. This resulted in some currently difficult to recycle packaging, such as plastic films, being subject to kerbside collection and recycling requirements.

For others, such as blister packs, we concluded that where they are separately collected by producers, via takeback schemes, and are then recycled at the producer’s cost, then producers would not need to pay pEPR fees on the tonnage which is recycled. In addition, for future years, a producer’s modulated fees may be reduced if the packaging they are using, such as blister packs, is part of an easy to access, UK wide takeback scheme, as it will improve their recyclability assessment outcome.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to support the Climate and Nature Bill. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises. We do not believe that more legislation is needed in the areas of climate and nature, where there is already a well-developed legislative framework, especially the Climate Change Act and the Environment Act. In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when its Second Reading debate is scheduled to resume.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on turning Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route into a National Trail. \p Mary Creagh: The proposal to designate Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route as a National Trail was approved in 2022. Natural England has been working with the Councils and National Park Authorities along the route to bring it up to National Trail quality standards.

We have worked to make sure the route is permanently protected in law and have improved the surface to make it easier to use. This includes 5km of flagstones over Nine Standards Rigg and White Mossy Hill in the middle of the route which gets very boggy. This will help protect local habitats and preserve the route for walkers.

We have also put up new signs that help people find their way and recognise Alfred Wainwright’s role in establishing the route.

The route remains on track for completion with plans to officially launch it in spring 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of waiting times for processing (a) applications to and (b) the release of funds from the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund in the past year. \p Daniel Zeichner: a) The application window for Productivity and Slurry FETF 2024 grants closed on the 07 April 2024; the application window for Animal Health and Welfare FETF 2024 closed on the 01 May 2024.

The majority of Productivity applicants received their Grant Funded Agreement offer on 24 May 2024 totalling a wait time of approximately 7 weeks.

The majority of Slurry applicants received their Grant Funded Agreement offer on 23 May 2024 totalling a wait time of approximately 7 weeks.

The majority of Animal Health and Welfare applicants received their Grant Funded Agreement offer on 29 May 2024 totalling a wait time of approximately 4 weeks.

b) More than 70% of all FETF 2024 claims paid to date have been processed within 30 working days.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects all areas of the UK to comply with the nitrogen dioxide annual mean limit. \p Emma Hardy: Defra uses a combination of national-scale modelling and on the ground monitoring to assess nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in England each year. Evidence shows that NO2 concentrations have reduced substantially in recent years, however a reporting zone is still considered to be exceeding the NO2 limit value if a single location remains above the limit value. The cities, agglomeration and non-agglomeration zones exceeding the NO2 limit value in 2023, and the predictions of when they will become compliant with the limit value, are based on data from Defra’s national modelling and monitoring networks, and additional local monitoring data gathered by cities and towns in England and held by the Joint Air Quality Unit.

13 cities in England exceeded the annual mean limit value for NO2 in 2023. These were:

Birmingham

London

Reading

Bradford

Manchester

Sheffield

Bristol

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Stoke-on-Trent

Coventry

Nottingham

Liverpool

Portsmouth

15 out of 31 reporting zones in England were non-compliant with the annual mean NO2 limit value in 2023. This included  2 of the 8 non-agglomeration zones (South East and Eastern) and 13 of the 23 agglomeration zones. The 13 non-compliant agglomeration zones were:

Bristol Urban Area

Nottingham Urban Area

Tyneside

Coventry/Bedworth

Portsmouth Urban Area

West Midlands Urban Area

Greater London Urban Area

Reading/Wokingham Urban Area

West Yorkshire Urban Area

Greater Manchester Urban Area

Sheffield Urban Area

Liverpool Urban Area

The Potteries

Predicting when locations that are currently exceeding will comply with the limit value is inherently uncertain. We don’t hold up-to-date detailed modelled projections to predict the impact of all current policies on future NO2 concentrations, however current indicative estimates suggest the majority of locations will become compliant with the limit value within the next four years. By 2029, we estimate all zones will be compliant except Bristol Urban Area, Sheffield Urban Area, The Potteries, West Midlands Urban Area and Tyneside. These correspond to Bristol, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham, all of which we estimate will become compliant by 2032, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We expect Newcastle-upon-Tyne will be the last city to become compliant due to a localised hotspot. There is considerable uncertainty in current estimates for when this location will become compliant, but we estimate this will be by 2045, at the latest. As the road traffic fleet continues to transition to zero emission vehicles this date is likely to come forward.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people had to wait longer than 10 days for a death certificate to be issued following the death of a family member since 2019. \p Seema Malhotra: The Office for National Statistics publishes weekly and annual data sets on death registration which includes the median time taken to register a death.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Government policy on visas on long term residency for Ukrainians. \p Seema Malhotra: We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes.

This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine Visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.

There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.

We continue to keep the Ukraine schemes under review in line with the ongoing conflict.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Jake Richards:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people (a) claim asylum and (b) receive leave to remain based solely on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Hon Member may be interested to know that grants of leave under family and private life rules are an unpublished subset of ‘Other Grants’ which can be found on tab Asy_D02 of the quarterly Immigration System Statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with local authorities on improving processing times for death certificates. \p Seema Malhotra: Home Office Ministers have not recently discussed processing times for death certificates with local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of visa processing times for Ghanaian nationals applying to visit or study in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office publishes data on its performance against its service level agreement for visas, which can be found on the GOV.UK webpage: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We are currently operating within published service standards for both tourism and study routes and continue to prioritise urgent compelling or compassionate cases across all workstreams. Where applications are complex and we require further information or checks, decisions may take longer.

UKVI encourages all customers to apply in good time ahead of intended travel dates.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time was for an administrative review of a visa decision between July 2024 and March 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Current timescales for processing administrative review applications are set out at Ask for a visa administrative review: If you're in the UK - GOV.UK, which states: “Currently, it can take 12 months or more to receive the result of the administrative review. If you do not get a decision on your application within 6 months, the Home Office will contact you with an update.”

For EUSS administrative review applications the current timescales are set out at: EU Settlement Scheme: administrative review - GOV.UK, which states: “We will continue to consider valid applications for an administrative review made before 4 April 2024. We have experienced unprecedented levels of applications which are causing a delay to our service. It can take 30 months or more to receive a result. If we have not made a decision within 6 months, we’ll contact you to update you on the situation”.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_39

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the administrative review backlog. \p Seema Malhotra: Caseworking resource for administrative reviews has doubled since 2021/22, which was the first of consecutive years of significantly increased demand. 2023/24 saw a 50% increase in AR applications compared to the previous year, and intake through 2024/25 continued at those same increased levels.

The Home Office continues to work hard to meet the timescales set out in public guidance for the processing of administrative review applications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_40

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will instruct relevant Departmental officials to engage with the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth's inquiry into grooming gangs. \p Dame Diana Johnson: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was given on the 8 April 2025 to Question 44194.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_41

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of building new charging infrastructure for police electric vehicles in each year between 2025 and 2030. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not hold this data. Decisions about the allocation of police resources locally, are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected local policing bodies (including Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors exercising PCC functions and the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_42

Mike Tapp:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to prevent the police from charging victims of theft whose cars have been stolen for the cost of holding or releasing those vehicles. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA) empowers the police to remove vehicles that are dangerously, illegally, or obstructively parked, or broken down or abandoned, which includes vehicles abandoned after theft.

Removals and storage entail a cost, which would have to be paid for out of police budgets if not met by the vehicle owner. As a result, the police are empowered to charge the owner prescribed sums, which are set by Statutory Instrument and vary according to the size of the vehicle and other factors.

In 2021, the previous government conducted a consultation on the charges for the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles, and published a response to the findings of that consultation exercise in March 2023.

This response stated that: “When a vehicle owner has their vehicle stolen and restored to them, they can either decide to pay the recovery fee themselves, pass the recovery fee onto their insurance provider, or choose not to have their vehicle returned.” It did not propose any change to these arrangements.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that – in addition to the options above – the police are also empowered to waive the recovery fee at their discretion, taking into account any special circumstances, including the ability of the owner to pay, but this remains an operational matter for their judgement.

We will keep this matter under review, but at present, it remains the case that the charging of recovery fees is the most sustainable means of funding the costs incurred by the police in removing and storing abandoned vehicles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_43

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41117 on Public Order, where the additional costs of policing last year’s disorder were funded from. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Details of any additional funding provided to police forces outside their allocated budgets are routinely published in the Home Office’s Annual Report and Accounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_44

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38594 on Neighbourhood Policing: Finance, what estimate she has made of funding available to frontline policing in 2025-26. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement. Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.6 billion, an increase of up to £1.2 billion compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement – a significant increase, and more than the increase last year. This equates to a 7.1% cash increase, and 4.6% real terms increase in funding.

Decisions about the allocation of police resources locally are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected local policing bodies (including Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors with PCC functions and the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_45

Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential (a) impact and (b) merits of reforming the 1987 Police Pension Scheme rules on police (i) widows, (ii) widowers and (iii) surviving partners in Wales. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The 1987 Police Pension Scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner. With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 police pension schemes, all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.

From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.

There are no plans at this time to make any further changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme. It was not originally costed to provide these extended benefits, and retrospectively changing the scheme would create additional costs for current officers and taxpayers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_46

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were convicted of taking control over the home of another person to use it for criminal activity in each of the last five years. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The taking control over the home of another person to use it for criminal activity, often referred to as ‘cuckooing’, is not currently a standalone criminal offence and therefore there is no data on the number of convictions.

However, the Government recognises the harm caused by cuckooing which is why we are introducing a new criminal offence in the Crime and Policing Bill.

This new cuckooing offence will ensure that we are taking strong action against those who prey on vulnerable people and help to ensure that victims are identified and protected from this appalling crime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_47

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34898 on Artillery: Procurement, when he plans to make a decision on the procurement of 15 MLRS and one RRV. \p Maria Eagle: We are currently undertaking a Strategic Defence Review which is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the 21st century. It would be inappropriate to prejudge the outcomes of the Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_48

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, whether he has considered changing the ranks for the (a) service chiefs and (b) Chief of the Defence Staff. \p Maria Eagle: This Government is bringing in the deepest reforms in UK Defence for 50 years, to speed up decision-making, secure faster delivery and achieve the best value for money for our troops and taxpayers.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements for the new organisational structure created as part of Defence Reform. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge.

There is no intent to replace the Chief of Defence People with a Senior Civil Servant.

The organisation and structure of our Armed Forces, including the ranks of the Chief of the Defence Staff and Military Chiefs, has been considered as part of Defence Reform. It was judged that their seniority and rank remain commensurate to their roles and responsibilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_49

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38645 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, whether he plans to procure decoy cruise missile-like weapons. \p Maria Eagle: Defence requirements are kept under constant review to ensure that our Armed Forces have the battle-winning capabilities they need. Due to the sensitive nature of this capability area it would be inappropriate to comment in detail. All capability requirements, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_50

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of US tariffs on defence exports. \p Maria Eagle: The Government is assessing the impact of, and our response to, US tariffs across the full spectrum of UK industries. Nobody wants a trade war. The United States remains the United Kingdom's foremost defence and security partner. The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion which supports 2.5 million jobs across both countries. This Government is seeking to negotiate an agreement with the US to deepen our economic relationship, while ensuring all options are considered in response to tariffs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_51

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will consider the potential impact of US trade tariffs against UK companies. \p Maria Eagle: The United States remains the United Kingdom's foremost defence and security partner. The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion which supports 2.5 million jobs across both countries. This Government is seeking to negotiate an agreement with the US to deepen our economic relationship, while ensuring all options are considered in response to tariffs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-11 conversation_52

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39917 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, which other platforms were procured through an Urgent Capability Requirement since 5 July 2024. \p Maria Eagle: The Urgent Capability Requirements process is used to address urgent operational capability risks and risks that present a threat to life. Due to operational sensitivity, it is inappropriate to comment further.