theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to (a) elective and (b) activity-based payments on (i) access to (A) (1) ADHD and (2) other medication and (B) other treatments and (ii) the timeframe in which NHS England patients who opt to use Right to Choose will receive their treatment. \p Stephen Kinnock: As required by law, NHS England has assessed the impact of the proposed NHS Payment Scheme. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/25-26-NHSPS-Consultation-notice-C-impact-assessment.pdf

This impact assessment includes consideration of the impact on patient choice, as well as an assessment of the impact on patients, in line with NHS England’s public sector equality duty.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients will continue to benefit from the Right to Choose their provider at the point of referral. None of the proposed changes to the NHS Payment Scheme included in the consultation would change this.

Local integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for planning service provision in their local area, including for ADHD assessments. In planning local services, ICBs should take account of waiting lists. It is important that local National Health Service systems live within their means and manage their finite resources, prioritising the specific health needs of their local population.

NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is working to bring together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sectors. The taskforce is working to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support, with the final report expected in the summer.

The consultation on the proposed NHS Payment Scheme closed on 28 February 2025. The outcome of the consultation will be published shortly once all responses received have been fully considered and any decisions made about the final Payment Scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Gregor Poynton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to increase levels of mental health (a) support and (b) assessments for fathers during perinatal periods. \p Stephen Kinnock: Support is already available for expectant and new fathers and partners who experience mental health difficulties during the perinatal period. Partners of women accessing specialist perinatal and maternal mental health services should be offered an evidence-based assessment for their own mental health and signposting to support as required. In January 2025, the Department announced £126 million for the continuation of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes in 2025/26 in 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation. This includes £36.5 million for bespoke perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support, including for fathers.

In addition, NHS Talking Therapies services are also available for fathers and partners who need support with any mental health problems during the perinatal period. Anyone can refer themselves online via the National Health Service website or by contacting their general practitioner.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reform mental health services so that social support is integrated into treatment plans. \p Stephen Kinnock: The statutory guidance on discharge from mental health inpatient settings makes clear that National Health Service mental health trusts should have a clear plan in place for the ongoing care and support that a patient requires after discharge from a mental health inpatient setting. This should cover their pharmacological, physical health, psychological, social, cultural, education, housing and finances, and any other individual needs or wishes.

As part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future and shift care from hospitals into the community by improving community and crisis services, NHS England is piloting new models of care in the community for those with the most serious mental illnesses. New mental health centres open in six neighbourhood areas from this spring and will provide people and their families with support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if they are in crisis without needing to book an appointment, as well as provide housing, social support or employment advice to support them to stay well. A key feature of the model is continuity of care whereby the same team will support people with serious mental illnesses throughout all stages of their interaction with services, including transitions between hospital and the community.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to mental health support for people who are (a) homeless and (b) in temporary accommodation. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise the importance of reducing barriers to healthcare services for those experiencing homelessness, this includes those in temporary accommodation.

All local health systems should have mechanisms in place to ensure their mental health services can support people who are homeless. This should include work to routinely complete a mental health needs assessment for rough sleepers which will identify need and lead directly to action that increases access to mental health services for this population. As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, new specialist mental health provision for rough sleepers was established in 37 of the areas that most in needed it between 2019/20 and 2023/24. An evaluation of these services is currently being undertaken.

We are also working across Government, the health system, local government, commissioners, and the voluntary sector to review and support implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance on integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness, both nationally and locally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the availability of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy to all patients who need it. \p Karin Smyth: The Department continues to engage with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. Increased volumes of PERT are expected for 2025, and specialist importers have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market. In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to prescribe unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest update on PERT availability and easily accessible prescribing advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people to get onto the housing ladder in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Rushanara Ali: The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of home ownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own.

The most sustainable long-term method to improve housing affordability and help people into home ownership is to increase the supply of housing. That is why the government committed to deliver 1.5 million homes over the Parliament in the Plan for Change.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme meaning first-time buyers in Surrey Heath and across the country will be able to take their crucial first step on to the property ladder with only a small deposit.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has been spent on projects that have not been launched in each of the last five years. \p Alex Norris: This information requested is not held centrally.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of her Department’s (a) staff and (b) outsourced contractors are paid (i) below, (ii) at and (iii) above the London Living Wage. \p Alex Norris: The department engages a small number of Interns each year whose full-time equivalent rate of pay is less than the London Living Wage (LLW) rate. Salaries for these roles are set centrally by Cabinet Office with contracts typically lasting up to 12 weeks. There were fewer than five internships as of 17 March. All other permanent and fixed-term staff are paid a full-time equivalent rate which is above the LLW.

The department engages a small number of contractors who are currently below the LLW rate, for data protection purposes exact numbers are not released as they number fewer than five, all other engagements are above the LLW rate.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34282 on MHCLG: Cost Effectiveness, if she will itemise the individual efficiency savings made on communications in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Alex Norris: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has made marketing efficiencies in 2024/25, which include media campaigns that were halted following the election.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of the affordability of the average band D Council Tax bill, in the context of recent increases. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities are responsible for setting council tax levels, taking account of local circumstances. The government continues to set referendum principles to give taxpayers a final say over excessive increases. The council tax system contains a range of discounts and exemptions to reflect personal circumstances. Furthermore, every council is required to put in place a Local Council Tax Support scheme which reduces the bill of low-income households.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Helen Grant:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the adequacy of the service provided by First Port property management. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents.

Legislation is currently enforced by local authorities and by the National Trading Standards’ Lettings and Estate Agency Team, who have the power to issue warnings and banning orders to rogue estate and letting agents.

The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group chaired by Lord Best to advise them on how best to do it.

However, they failed to respond to the recommendations set out in the working group’s 2019 Regulation of Property Agents: working group report which can be found on gov.uk here.

Managing agents play a key role in the maintenance of multi-occupancy buildings and freehold estates, and their importance will only increase as we transition toward a commonhold future. As a result, we are looking again at the 2019 report.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government have made clear it intends to strengthen regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service. As a minimum, this should include mandatory professional qualifications which set a new basic standard that managing agents will be required to meet. We will consult on this matter this year.

We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of house prices in the last 12 months. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department continuously monitors the latest data on house prices.

In the 12 months up to December 2024 (the most recent data from the ONS), average house prices in the UK rose from £256,000 to £268,000 a 4.6% increase.

In England, the average house price rose from £279,000 to £291,000 a 4.3% increase. The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. The government is committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Bureaucratic burden lifted to speed up building in growth agenda, published on 10 March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of removing the Theatres Trust as a statutory consultee on the creative industries. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on plans to reform the Local Government Pension Scheme. \p Jim McMahon: The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) reforms are taking place as part of the Chancellor’s Pensions Review. As the Ministers responsible for the LGPS in England and Wales, the Deputy Prime Minister and I are working closely with the Minister for Pensions and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the reforms to the LGPS and our shared priorities in relation to the Pensions Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34874 on Combined Authorities, for what reason that consultation asks respondents for their gender rather than their sex; and what her Department's policy is on the use of the phrase gender, as opposed to the phrase sex. \p Jim McMahon: Collecting demographic information as part of conducting consultations helps us to understand whether the responses we receive are representative of those who live and work in the areas involved in the consultations. This will also help MHCLG conduct an equality impact assessment to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We are not asking for information that identifies individuals in consultation responses, and the demographic information provided is anonymous. We followed agreed guidance on how demographic questions are phrased, as laid down by the GOV.UK Design System for all government consultations.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 33490 on Tower Hamlets Council, if she will take steps to ensure that the Conservative group is represented on the Board. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33490 on 5 March 2025 and UIN 30642 on 19 February 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister has set clear expectations for local opposition party involvement in Tower Hamlets Council’s Transformation and Assurance Board but does not intend to dictate its membership. In the spirit of partnership, the Board’s membership is a matter for the Council to agree locally rather than for Ministers to direct. We expect the Transformation and Assurance Board to play a critical role in the Council’s recovery by providing robust external assurance on its compliance with the Best Value Duty and to have strong local buy-in.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what impact neighbourhood plans will have on planning decisions following reforms to the national planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 is clear as to the important role that neighbourhood plans play in the planning system and includes important protections for neighbourhood plans from speculative development.

Once passed at referendum, neighbourhood plans form part of the development plan, which is the starting point in making planning decisions.

The revised NPPF is clear that where a planning application conflicts with policies in an up-to-date local plan or neighbourhood plan, the application should not usually be granted.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for publication of Environmental Delivery Plans; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that timetable on developments paused due to nutrient neutrality. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will work with Natural England to put the first Environmental Delivery Plans in place as soon as possible following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Given the impact nutrient neutrality has had on development in some locations, we will be looking to use Environmental Delivery Plans to quickly unlock growth in these areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what steps she plans to take to ensure that new electricity transmission infrastructure is integrated with local development plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: Measures are already in place that ensure infrastructure provision is considered in the local plan-making process.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that plans should be deliverable over the plan period, which will include ensuring that the required infrastructure, included energy infrastructure, can be provided to support proposed development.

Infrastructure providers will be consulted where relevant and would be expected to advise on whether any capacity constraints exist that could prevent planned development being deliverable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that critical cavity nesting bird habitat is mandated in new developments in line with nature recovery targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22080 on 15 January 2025.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of green space maintenance standards by developers after the construction of new housing developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: National design guidance supports the National Planning Policy Framework and emphasises the importance of considering management and maintenance regimes, including for open and public spaces, from the early stages of the design process, set out in a management plan.
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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on the use of offsite manufacture in house building. \p Matthew Pennycook: Building regulations apply equally to homes built using modern methods of construction as those built using traditional methods. Developers are responsible for complying with the functional requirements of the building regulations, which are set out in legislation and the Approved Documents.

We are working with the British Standards Institution to create a Publicly Available Specification for modern methods of construction new build residential properties, which will be published in due course.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework, last updated on 7 February 2025, whether her Department categorises (a) Greggs, (b) Pret a Manager and (c) Subway as a fast food outlet. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for local planning authorities, when receiving a planning application from any of the providers named in the question, to consider whether, given the type of food and service to be provided at the location proposed, they consider the outlet to be either a hot food takeaway or a fast food outlet.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many overdue tree preservation order appeal cases are outstanding. \p Matthew Pennycook: As of 31 December 2024, there were 423 overdue and outstanding tree preservation order appeal cases.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is working with the Scottish Government to ensure similar progress on compulsory purchase order powers to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing, in the context of recent proposals to enhance these powers for councils in England and Wales. \p Matthew Pennycook: Officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regularly meet with officials from the Scottish Government to exchange views on compulsory purchase.

However, compulsory purchase and associated compensation legislation is a devolved matter. It is therefore, for the Scottish Government to decide what reforms to bring forward in Scotland.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Environmental Delivery Plans will support the use of nature-based solutions to tackle flooding. \p Matthew Pennycook: When implementing Environmental Delivery Plans, Natural England will be able to use nature-based solutions, as well as other appropriate interventions, in their efforts to maximise the impact of conservation measures in addressing the negative effects of development.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Natural England will be expected to consult Internal Drainage Boards in the preparation of Environmental Delivery Plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) will be subject to public consultation, providing relevant organisations and bodies with the opportunity to comment on their content.

Natural England will be able to proactively seek the views of any public authority it considers necessary when consulting on an EDP. This may include Internal Drainage Boards where appropriate.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Environmental Delivery Plans will support the development of (a) community forests and (b) the forest of Marston Vale. \p Matthew Pennycook: When preparing Environmental Delivery Plans, Natural England will consider relevant strategies and plans. These may include strategies or plans for community forests.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment on the potential impact of Environmental Delivery Plans on levels of access to nature. \p Matthew Pennycook: Through the delivery of conservation measures, Environmental Delivery Plans provide the opportunity to improve access to nature. The scale of improvement will depend on the local context and circumstances.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 49.5 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether development will be permitted beyond the maximum amount specified by Environmental Delivery Plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: An Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) would only enable development up to the maximum amount specified in the EDP.

Where an EDP is reaching the maximum capacity, the Secretary of State would be able to request that Natural England amend the EDP or put a new EDP in place to address additional demand following the procedure set out in the Bill.

Where the full capacity of an EDP has been utilised, development would be required to come forward under the existing system.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to clause 49(7)(b) of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether development would be considered on a first-come-first-served basis up to the maximum amount specified. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government would expect Environmental Delivery Plans to operate on a first-come-first-served basis.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to clause 49(7)(b) of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether environmental delivery plans would be (a) replaced and (b) lapse at the end of the specified period. \p Matthew Pennycook: Developments coming forward after the expiry of Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) will not be able to utilise the Nature Restoration Fund.

Where an Environmental Delivery Plan is due to expire, the Secretary of State may make the decision to either update or replace it following the process set out in the Bill.

Whether an environmental delivery plan is replaced at the end of its duration will depend on the context and specific circumstances.

Where an environmental impact has been resolved, such as securing the restoration of a Habitats Site to a favourable condition, the need for an Environmental Delivery Plan may fall away as development may not be having a negative effect.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to clause 49(7)(b) of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what would happen to projects not completed as part of the environmental delivery plan at the end of the specified period. \p Matthew Pennycook: Where a developer has been granted permission relying on the payment of the Nature Restoration Levy, Natural England will be responsible for securing the necessary conservation measures to outweigh the negative effects of the development.

This model does not require development benefiting from the Environmental Delivery Plan to be completed before the end date of the Environmental Delivery Plan.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to clause 49(7)(b) of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, who will be responsible the ongoing maintenance of conservation projects implemented through environmental delivery plans at the end of the specified period. \p Matthew Pennycook: Natural England will secure and deliver conservation measures as part of an Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) to address the environmental impact of the development in question.

When preparing an EDP, Natural England will give consideration to the lifespan of the development to which the EDP applies and the period over which conservation measures need to be secured and managed.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she consulted with external organisations on the content of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill before it was published. \p Matthew Pennycook: Various government departments, including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, have engaged with external organisations during the development of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Furthermore, specific measures have been subject to dedicated public consultation and calls for evidence. These include, but are not limited to, local fee reforms, compulsory purchase order reforms, and judicial review reforms.

Stakeholder feedback was also sought through a series of published working papers concerning planning committees, nature recovery, and critical infrastructure reforms, alongside the English Devolution White Paper and the Clean Power Action Plan.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether measures included in Environmental Delivery Plans are funded through (a) her Department or (b) income from the Nature Restoration Fund. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Nature Restoration Fund will operate on a full cost recovery basis.

The government may in some instances provide upfront funding to Natural England to commence actions identified in Environmental Delivery Plans in advance of levy payments, with costs recovered over time as development comes forward.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make water companies statutory consultees in all planning applications. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any measures within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill relate to (a) flooding and (b) sustainable drainage. \p Matthew Pennycook: Hard copies of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are available from the Vote Office and an electronic copy of Bill can be found online here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion entitled Legal Consequences Arising From The Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, published on 19 July 2024, if he will ban UK trade and investment with illegal settlements in (a) Western Sahara and (b) Occupied Palestinian Territory. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. The UK is committed to international law and respects the independence of the ICJ. We are carefully considering the Court's advisory opinion with the rigour it deserves.

It is for companies to take their own decisions on whether to do business in Western Sahara. The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_106

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen economic ties with Ukraine. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK and Ukraine are strengthening economic ties through our Free Trade and Digital Trade Agreements and the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement, signed by the Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine in January. Our commitments demonstrate firm intention to support Ukraine and enable UK businesses to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction and modernisation, driving mutual prosperity. Initiatives including the UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce and UK-Ukraine Techbridge, and regular defence trade missions, are encouraging bilateral trade and investment, strengthening industrial partnerships and improving market access for UK businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_107

Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of continuing to permit UK (a) businesses, (b) investment firms and (c) trading entities to (i) invest, (ii) trade and (iii) import goods from and within illegal settlements in (A) Western Sahara, (B) Occupied Palestinian Territories and (C) occupied territories. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

Similarly, it is for companies to take their own decisions on whether to do business in Western Sahara.The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_108

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30065 on Trade Promotion: Israel and Occupied Territories, whether Trade Envoys paid travel and accommodation expenses. \p Gareth Thomas: Travel and accommodation expenses directly associated with activities undertaken in the role will be arranged and met by the Department or reimbursed. Where possible, the Trade Envoy will be offered accommodation at the Residence to minimise costs.

Trade Envoys are expected to adhere to the Department’s expenses guidance which apply to the programme’s use of public funds and only incur costs which have been agreed beforehand.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of (a) hairdressing and (b) beauty businesses that are considering closing in the next 12 months. \p Gareth Thomas: There are no official statistics on the number of hair and beauty businesses that are considering closing down in the next 12 months. We regularly engage with the sector and review industry surveys to understand sector confidence.

The Government are protecting the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning that 865,000 employers will pay no National Insurance Contributions at all. We are also creating a fairer business rates system and to support hair and beauty businesses through this transition, we are extending business rates relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors for one year at 40% up to a cash cap of £110,000.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Industrial Strategy Council has met. \p Sarah Jones: The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council was launched on 17 December 2024 with their first official meeting. They met in person for a second time on 13 February. In addition the Council has held virtual check in meetings and a number of workstream meetings in smaller groups.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_111

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of giving the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority the statutory power to sanction all company directors. \p Justin Madders: As announced in the King’s speech, the Government intends to publish a draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill in due course. We expect the Bill to include further details on the proposed directors’ enforcement regime, including in respect of the scope of the regime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of widening the definition of a public interest entity in the context of (a) BHS, (b) Bulb and (c) ISG. \p Justin Madders: The Government’s plans to widen the definition of a Public Interest Entity were announced in the King’s Speech as part of the announcement on the draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_113

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to require the largest (a) public and (b) private companies to have (i) an Audit Committee and (ii) an internal audit function, in the context of the collapse of ISG. \p Justin Madders: Companies whose securities are traded on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and banks, building societies and insurers are required to have an audit committee. Other private companies are not required to have an audit committee, but may choose to have one. Outside of the regulated financial sector, companies are not required to have an internal audit function. The Government plans to extend the scrutiny of the largest private companies’ external audits through the draft Audit and Corporate Governance bill and will set out full details of what that will include in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential (a) costs and (b) merits of making internal audit functions a mandatory requirement for all contractors delivering public sector infrastructure projects. \p Justin Madders: The Government announced that it would publish a draft audit reform and corporate governance bill in the King’s Speech, which is expected to include extending enhanced Public Interest Entity audit requirements to very large private companies. The financial resilience of major suppliers to government, including firms working on infrastructure projects, is monitored on an ongoing basis by the Crown Commercial Service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_115

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a minerals trade deal between the US and Ukraine on the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy. \p Sarah Jones: A secure supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK's economic growth and security, Industrial Strategy, and clean energy transition. The Department for Business and Trade will publish a new Critical Minerals Strategy this year that will set out the Government’s refined approach including on international partnerships.   The UK is committed to collaborating with Ukraine on critical minerals through our 100 Year Partnership agreement to support the development of a Ukrainian Critical Minerals Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_116

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support the ceramics industry in Staffordshire. \p Sarah Jones: DBT works closely with the ceramics sector through Ceramics UK and directly with Ceramic businesses to understand its challenges and provide support to help its global competitiveness.

My department also provides limited support to the ceramics sector through our Supercharger scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-24 conversation_117

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of the EU General Product Safety Regulation on costs to UK businesses (a) before and (b) after the UK left the EU. \p Justin Madders: The Government is not required to make an assessment of the costs to businesses of the EU GPSR. The UK already enjoys a high level of product safety. The updated GPSR therefore largely formalises the reality of how businesses are already operating across the UK, and UK businesses will often already be going further than many of these requirements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-24)

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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of energy costs on nightlife businesses. \p Gareth Thomas: We recognise the impact that high energy costs are having on nightlife businesses. Through the Clean Energy 2030 Action Plan, we are providing a foundation to build an energy system that can bring down energy bills for businesses for good.

To further support businesses including those in the night-time economy, Government is creating a fairer business rate system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and our forthcoming Small Business Strategy will set out our plan for further supporting small businesses on the high street and beyond. We are also constantly testing our planning, regulatory and licensing regimes to ensure they remain proportionate and don’t unnecessarily burden night-time businesses.