theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date councils with cancelled elections in May 2025 will cease to exist as legal entities. \p Jim McMahon: The date of elections to new unitary authorities will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.

The position remains that elections to authorities specified in the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 will take place on the date to which they have been postponed, in May 2026.

Any local authority dissolved as a result of local government restructuring will cease to exist on the date specified in the legislation providing for that restructuring; that date will depend on the nature of proposals and progress on development of those proposals.

The arrangements for by-elections to councils whose elections have been postponed in May 2025 are as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Local Authorities (Changes of Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025:

“Vacancies arising in the six-month period prior to the May 2025 elections would ordinarily have been filled at the May 2025 elections rather than by by-elections. The requirement for by-elections to fill such vacancies is reinstated by the postponement and this ensures there are no long-term vacancies on a council. For clarity, the instrument specifies that such by-elections must take place in the period between the coming into force of the instrument on 4 March 2025 and 1 May 2025.”

That Explanatory Memorandum can be found here.

Vacancies arising after 1 May 2025 will be filled at by-elections in the usual way, with any vacancies arising in the six month period before the May 2026 elections being filled at those elections.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish an explanation for the decision taken in respect of each project that (a) will receive and (b) have had cancelled their share of Levelling Up funding for cultural projects. \p Alex Norris: Due to the extremely challenging financial situation this government inherited we have had to make difficult choices to prioritise funding within extremely tight budgets.

We have carefully considered the responses to our consultation and chosen projects at an advanced stage that will have the greatest impact on local people and economic growth - this government’s number one mission.

For the cancelled projects, officials will be in contact to discuss reimbursement for costs incurred.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to implement the recommendations of the report by the Electoral Commission entitled Voter ID at the 2024 UK general election, published on 10 September 2024, prior to the May 2025 local elections. \p Rushanara Ali: The government has recently published our response to the Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 General Election, and this is available here: Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 elections: government response - GOV.UK.

As set out in that response, we will not be making any further changes to the voter identification policy ahead of the May 2025 local elections.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Building Safety Remediation: monthly data release - December 2024, published on 23 January 2025, in how many of the buildings where enforcement action has been taken but which are not in any remediation funding programme does the building owner meet the contribution condition. \p Alex Norris: The Department does not hold this information.

The contribution condition is met when the landlord group’s net worth is at least £2,000,000 per relevant building owned by the landlord group. If the landlord group of a relevant building meets the contribution condition, all qualifying leaseholders in that building are exempt from all costs associated with non-cladding defects and interim measures (including waking watch costs).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on implementing the Long-Term Plan for Towns funding for Dumfries. \p Alex Norris: The Chancellor confirmed at the Budget on 30 October that the Long-Term Plan for Towns will be retained and reformed as part of a new regeneration programme.

A revised prospectus for the programme will be published in due course, confirming the associated timelines and a new set of strategic objectives aligned to this government’s missions.

All 75 towns have now received an initial £250,000 of capacity funding. A further £200,000 of capacity funding will be issued in the 2025/26 financial year, to support the development of plans in line with our new objectives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent trade union representatives in her Department receive trade union facility time; what proportion of their working hours are spent on facility time on average; what the potential cost to the public purse is of facility time; and whether she has had discussions with unions on potential changes to these arrangements. \p Alex Norris: Paid facility time is captured and published in line with the Cabinet Office guidance on statutory reporting requirements Public-sector trade union facility time data - GOV.UK. As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total cost of recommissioning incorrect External Wall Review (EWS1) forms for residential buildings included in the Building Remediation Fund. \p Alex Norris: 10 mortgage lenders have signed a statement confirming they will lend on buildings before they have been remediated. We expect these lenders to honour this statement and not require an EWS1. The statement can be found here.

Where a lender is not accepting an EWS1 for a building, leaseholders should provide alternative evidence, for example a letter from the department or the developer, to a mortgage lender that: their building is in the Cladding Safety Scheme, Building Safety Fund or covered by a developer that has signed the Developer Remediation Contract. They can also complete a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to evidence they qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act. More information for leaseholders on completing a Leaseholder of Certificate can be found here

EWS1s (External Wall System Fire Review) are not a legal or regulatory requirement and as such we do not collect information on the number of EWS1 forms issued by individual firms. EWS1s are not used in the consideration of applications for government funded cladding remediation schemes.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 22692, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Midlands Engine on business investment in the East and West Midlands. \p Alex Norris: Midlands Engine have undertaken a range of valuable work and have supported collaboration on shared growth opportunities. Moving forward, the government intends to support Mayors in collaborating at pan-regional level and creating convening bodies whose purpose, priorities and membership are decided at a regional level.

At the Autumn Budget, the Government announced that it would consult on its minded to decision not to extend funding for the six pan-regional partnerships beyond the agreed allocations to the end of the 2024-25 financial year. We are currently considering the responses received and will confirm a final decision shortly.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) trends in the level of local authority borrowing costs and (b) rent-setting policies on the ability of local councils to build and maintain housing stock. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises that access to low-cost borrowing and the certainty provided by a long-term rent settlement are essential to the ability of local authorities to build and maintain housing stock. To this end, the government is helping local authorities borrow more cheaply from the Public Works Loan Board until the end of 2025-26.

Local authorities are responsible for their own capital strategies and have wide freedoms to use borrowing to support local investment. Under the current framework, they must ensure borrowing is prudent, affordable, and sustainable.

The government recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase above inflation (by up to CPI + 1%) each year for five years from 2026. The consultation closed on 23 December and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to all the responses received. The government will issue its response to the consultation in due course.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to introduce the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 24890 on 29 January 2024.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help (a) councils and (b) local authorities deliver more (i) house-building and (ii) social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

On 30 July 2024 we announced a number of changes in planning policy designed to support the delivery of affordable homes. We also confirmed a range of new flexibilities for councils and housing associations, both within the Affordable Homes Programme and in relation to how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts, and a further £450 million for councils through the Local Authority Housing Fund enabling councils to grow their housing stock.

At the Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor set out details of an immediate one-year cash injection of £500 million to top up the existing Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver up to 5,000 new social and affordable homes. The Chancellor also confirmed that we will reduce Right to Buy discounts to their pre-2012 regional levels and allow councils to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales.

On 12 February 2025, the government announced a further cash injection of £300 million to the existing Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver up to 2,800 new homes, with more than half being Social Rent homes. The government also announced a £50 million uplift to the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

Between 30 October 2024 and 23 December 2024, the government consulted on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement to provide the sector with the certainty it needs to invest in new social housing.

We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria are applied by the Defence Medical Services to distinguish the adverse effects caused by the prescribing of Lariam (Mefloquine) to service personnel as an anti-malarial prophylaxis and those caused by post traumatic stress disorder; what treatment options are available for alleviating the effects of Lariam toxicity; and how many service personnel have been discharged in each of the past 10 years as a result of Lariam toxicity effects. \p Al Carns: People taking mefloquine (also known as Larium) can experience abnormal dreams, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and more rarely psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, agitations and psychosis have also been reported. This differs to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) where very specific criteria must be met to establish a diagnosis. Essential to this diagnosis is that the individual will have been exposed to an extremely threatening or horrific event or a series of events.

Given the specifics required for the diagnosis of PTSD, is it unlikely for those presenting with any side effects of taking mefloquine to be confused with that of PTSD.

The Ministry of Defence does not recognise the term ‘Larium toxicity’ however, the side effects that may be experienced whilst taking mefloquine will be treated according to the diagnosis; for example, if the patient is experiencing depressive symptoms, the treatment for depression will be instigated.

The information requested about the numbers of personnel discharged over the previous 10 years whilst experiencing symptoms related to taking mefloquine, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's financial contribution to the proposed Chagos Islands settlement will be included in the figures his Department uses to calculate the percentage of GDP spent on defence. \p Luke Pollard: The treaty is not finalised yet, when the deal is finalised, the Government will put it before the House.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many pairs of Peltor ear defenders have been issued to the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force. \p Luke Pollard: Since the introduction of the Tactical Hearing Protection System in 2015, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) has issued the Peltor ComTac XP/ XPI to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as set out below:

Quantity Issued

Item Name:

Army

Royal Navy

Royal Air Force

Peltor ComTac XP/XPI

23,355

1,743

6,802

The legacy General Service Peltor Ear Muff has been purchased through the Logistics, Commodities and Services Transformation contract since 01 January 2022. A total of 50,944 have been issued across the three Services since this date, however we have been unable to provide a more detailed breakdown of this figure in the time available.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of joint ventures between the UK and Ukrainian defence industries. \p Luke Pollard: The UK recognises the need to develop strong defence industrial partnerships with Ukraine to accelerate and deepen UK and Ukrainian defence industrial capacity and capability, and to rebuild its defence industrial base.

Through Task Force HIRST, we actively encourage the development of partnerships and joint ventures between UK defence industry and local Ukrainian companies, and HMG has led five successful Trade Missions to Ukraine to bring together UK and Ukrainian Government and defence industry representatives, as well as international partners, to identify opportunities for developing sustainable, long-term cooperation and partnerships.

I recently led a trade mission of UK, Dutch and Norwegian firms to Ukraine in support of these and other aligned objectives.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of computer numerical control machines exported to Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: Computer numerical control (CNC) machines enable the precise production of advanced components. We have not received requests for CNC systems in the last two years. The Ministry of Defence is not taking any steps to increase the number of systems to Ukraine as we have not provided these type of systems to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence has and continues to work closely with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to understand their specific requirements, this includes the provision of components and specific tools to enable production of systems and capabilities in Ukraine.
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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on investigating drone intrusion incidents at (a) RAF Mildenhall, (b) RAF Lakenheath and (c) RAF Feltwell (i) during and (ii) since November 2024, with reference to the presence at each location of individuals connected with a hostile foreign state; and what steps he is taking to counter such intrusions in the future. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence continues to work in partnership with our allies and the appropriate civilian authorities.

We take the safety and security of our sites seriously and we maintain robust security measures, including counter-drone capabilities. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign and malign interference.

The National Security Act has additionally delivered a range of measures to strengthen the UK’s efforts to detect, deter and disrupt state threats.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Maria Eagle: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

Over the last 12 months, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/aukus-takes-another-step-forward-with-real-time-ai-trials.

Dstl can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage. This includes the Generative AI Framework for HMG, which has been superseded by the AI Playbook for the UK Government, as well as JSP936 covering dependable AI in defence.
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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of NATO membership for Ukraine; and what his planned timeframe is for accession for proposed membership of NATO. \p Luke Pollard: NATO made a long-term commitment to Ukraine and has been clear that Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. The Prime Minister has reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO membership, as agreed by all Allies at the Washington Summit.

That is a process that will take time, and for now our priority is to make sure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position on the battlefield and in any potential negotiations to come.
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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the UK-Ukraine 100-year Partnership Declaration, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the (a) safety of navigation and (b) protection of trade in the Black and Azov Seas. \p Luke Pollard: We are working with Ukraine and international partners to secure commercial shipping and shipping routes in the Black Sea, including Ukraine's maritime corridor. The 100 Year Partnership will help with this endeavour through the provision of training and equipment to Ukraine, to prevent and deter Russian attacks.

The 100 Partnership Declaration has made clear that freedom of navigation for commercial shipping in the Black Sea and beyond must be upheld and the UK will continue to do all it can to help Ukraine through the strengthening of its maritime forces.

The UK co-leads the maritime capability coalition with Norway and this work supports Ukraine’s maritime capabilities now and in the future.
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Chris Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the building maintenance backlog on Ministry of Defence properties. \p Maria Eagle: Service Family Accommodation (SFA):

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) conducts more than 300,000 maintenance tasks per year. These tasks relate to health and safety works, as well as proactive and reactive repairs, to maintain safe and compliant homes in line with the Decent Home Standard.

Of those 300,000 tasks, there are circa 2% which are currently on hold (these form the ‘backlog’). None of these tasks are priority work and they will be addressed once discretionary funding is available.

Built Estate (including Single living Accommodation):

Maintenance and life cycle replacements are identified though visual inspection regimes or via MOD’s Asset Lifecycle and Replacement Model (ALaRM) tool which predicts works needed to restore assets to a good condition.

This provides the Defence Infrastructure Organisation with a picture of the works required on the assets. Safety works are addressed immediately, or the risk mitigated, for example, by building closure.

The remaining maintenance requirements are prioritised for funding by the Asset owner within Defence. Infrastructure assets are categorised against their operational need.

The safety of Service personnel and their families remains a top priority for the MOD.
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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has continued to (a) monitor and (b) report regularly to Parliament on the numbers of service personnel prescribed Lariam as an anti-malarial prophylaxis, since the Government Response HC 648 published in September 2016 to the Defence Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2015-16 HC 567, published in May 2016 on the use of Lariam; and if he will publish such statistics as are available in tabular form. \p Al Carns: The Department continues to monitor and publish bi-annual statistics on the number of prescriptions for mefloquine (also known as Larium) given to UK Armed Forces personnel at Ministry of Defence medical facilities since 12 September 2016.

The full release of information can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mefloquine-lariam-prescribing-in-the-uk-armed-forces-statistics-index
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the mandatory retirement age for reservists. \p Al Carns: As the Minister for Veterans and People, I have commissioned an internal review in Defence to ensure that we are making the most of the unique contribution our Reserve Forces offer. The review will examine the Reserves landscape and will include some aspects of their terms and conditions of Service, such as normal retirement age.
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Bob Blackman:To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the report by the University of Bath entitled New report reveals potential $28 million tax discrepancy involving British American Tobacco in Kenya, published on 12 February 2025, if the Serious Fraud Office will reopen the investigation into British American Tobacco. \p Lucy Rigby: Following a three-year investigation, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) determined in January 2021 that this case did not meet the evidential test as defined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it was closed.

As is long-standing practice, the SFO can neither confirm nor deny if it is considering reopening the investigation into British American Tobacco Plc.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2025 to Question 30615 on Attorney General: Mauritius, whether the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory was discussed during the courtesy meeting. \p Lucy Rigby: Pursuant to my answer of 19 February 2025 to Question 30615, the Attorney General’s meeting did not constitute part of formal negotiations. The Attorney General and his Mauritian counterpart discussed relations between our two countries; their respective responsibilities as two Attorneys General; and referenced the ongoing negotiations regarding the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to ensure the impartiality of her Department's legal advice on compensation claims against British soldiers. \p Lucy Rigby: Impartiality of legal advice is vitally important for all government lawyers. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has an established and rigorous process for identifying and dealing with conflicts, and potential conflicts, that arise from the Law Officers’ past practice. That process predates the appointment of the Attorney General and sits against the backdrop of every lawyer’s professional obligation to be alert to, and actively manage, any situation that might give rise to a potential or actual conflict, in order to ensure impartiality.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Solicitor General, whether the Attorney General has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory; and whether the Attorney General has provided the Government with legal advice on the UK’s sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory. \p Lucy Rigby: As with any policy area, policy questions should be directed to the responsible Government department.

Regarding legal advice, paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May states: “By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

This is known as the Law Officers’ Convention, and it applies to your question.
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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Solicitor General, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on prosecuting knife offences. \p Lucy Rigby: I am aware of the terrible cases that have occurred in your constituency and these tragic cases are an example as to why we have committed to halving instances of knife crime in a decade as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.

Violent crime is too high, too many lives are still being lost to knives, and we too often see the consequences of these heinous crimes in the press. By banning zombie knives, tackling online sales via Ronan’s Law and working closely with community leaders, this Government has already taken robust action to tackle this issue.

We will continue to take action to reduce knife crime further. I am committed to the Crown Prosecution Service playing a full part in this critical work, and it requires a whole system effort.

This is an issue that is regularly discussed at Mission Boards and which I will continue discussing with Ministerial colleagues and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Solicitor General, whether the Attorney General has recused himself from providing legal advice on matters relating to historical allegations against armed forces personnel. \p Lucy Rigby: By long-standing convention, the fact that the Attorney General may or may not have advised, and the content of his advice, is not disclosed outside government, as is reflected in the Ministerial Code.

As I set out to the House on 23 January and 6 February, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has an established and rigorous process for identifying and dealing with conflicts, and potential conflicts, that arise from the Law Officers’ past practice. That process predates the appointment of the Attorney General and sits against the backdrop of every lawyer’s professional obligation to be alert to, and actively manage, any situation that might give rise to a potential or actual conflict.

This rigorous process for identifying and managing conflicts sits alongside the system relating to ministerial interests, overseen by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Both the Director General of the AGO and the Independent Adviser were provided with the Attorney General’s list of conflicts following his appointment.
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department. \p Ian Murray: No. There are not any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in our Department's office workplaces.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to remove barriers to young people in the UK wishing to study and work in the EU. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government recognises the value to young people of the opportunity to experience different cultures and work or study elsewhere. UK nationals can travel visa-free to the EU, for example for short-term study, for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. If travelling for the purposes of work, they may need permission from the relevant Member State.The Government introduced the Turing Scheme in 2021, which provides grants for students to study and work anywhere in the world, including Europe, supporting tens of thousands of UK students since its launch.
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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list each Department which (a) continues to and (b) no longer provides telephone numbers to Members of Parliament for its (i) Parliamentary Branch and (ii) for its Correspondence Section to pursue constituents' concerns; and whether it is government policy to prevent parliamentarians being able to speak directly to ministers' Private Office staff. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The List of Ministerial Responsibilities, published on GOV.UK, provides Members of Parliament with contact details for each Government department. It provides a single point of contact for each department, through which all Members of Parliament can pursue constituents’ concerns. This policy has been in place since October 2023 and was introduced following security advice. As outlined in the Guide to Handling Correspondence, also published on GOV.UK, the default method of correspondence with Government departments is via official departmental email addresses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Mary Glindon:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to hold discussions with the EU on enabling UK citizens to extend their stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days in a 180 day period; and if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a six month visa waiver for UK citizens in the Schengen Area. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the EU allows for travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. This may require a visa and/or permit.The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of households have resident adults with no English language proficiency. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th January is now available in the House Library.

UKSA Holding Response (pdf, 114.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the level of English language proficiency of adult migrants to the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th January is now available in the House Library.

UKSA Holding Response (pdf, 114.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of households in England have resident adults with no English language proficiency. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th January is now available in the House Library.

UKSA Holding Response (pdf, 114.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with Network Rail on the potential merits of a Devizes Parkway railway station. \p Lilian Greenwood: Future rail infrastructure investment will be considered as part of the current Spending Review, which will conclude in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Sir Geoffrey Cox:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to conclude the review of the Tavistock to Plymouth railway project. \p Lilian Greenwood: Future rail infrastructure investment will be considered as part of the current Spending Review, which will be concluded in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Sir Geoffrey Cox:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to provide one per cent of the funding required for the Tavistock to Plymouth railway project to help ensure the completion of the (a) business case and (b) Governance for Railway Investment Projects report. \p Lilian Greenwood: Future rail infrastructure investment will be considered as part of the current Spending Review, which will conclude in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has engaged with London Northwestern Railway on improving rail connectivity between Liverpool and the mid Cheshire town of Winsford. \p Simon Lightwood: No specific discussions have been held with London Northwestern on the subject of the adequacy of train services between Liverpool and Winsford. West Midlands Trains, who operate London Northwestern, keep train loadings under review and is expected to propose adjustments to train lengths and timetables where possible if required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of rail connectivity between Liverpool and the mid Cheshire town of Winsford. \p Simon Lightwood: No specific assessment has recently been made of the adequacy of train services between Liverpool and Winsford. West Midlands Trains, who operate London North-Western Railway, keeps train loadings under review and is expected to adjust train lengths where possible if required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to encourage bus and train operators to reduce levels of disability hate crime on their services. \p Simon Lightwood: The government believes that everyone should be able to make journeys on public transport services without fearing that they will become a victim of crime. It is especially concerning that people should experience disability hate crime whilst using buses and trains, and operators must do all they can to challenge such unacceptable behaviour in partnership with relevant authorities.

We introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill which focuses on delivering safe, more reliable bus networks. The Bill sets requirements for mandatory training on how to recognise and respond appropriately to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour, on buses for staff, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public or with issues related to the travelling public. This Bill will also extend requirements for relevant bus staff to undertake training relating to disabled passengers.

Provisions in the Bus Services (No 2) Bill would also give all local transport authorities the power to make bus byelaws, which can be enforced by local authority officers on vehicles and at bus stations and stops. This, combined with targeted enforcement, should lead to safer networks. Transport Safety Officers or Transport Safety and Enforcement Officers are also already operating in some areas, including those participating in the Department’s Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour on Transport pilots.

The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales. They take any reports of crime seriously, including disability hate crimes. The BTP works closely with the rail industry, including train operators, to target offenders across the network and ensure it remains a safe environment for passengers and rail staff. The BTP encourage crime to be reported via it is 61016 text number or in an emergency to call 999.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many anaphylaxis incidents on the rail network were recorded by Network Rail over the last 10 years. \p Simon Lightwood: Network Rail do not record this information centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Daniel Francis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of  additional Southeastern services from London Charing Cross on the Bexleyheath line on the evening and weekend. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department requires all train operators, including Southeastern, to plan services and timetables designed to meet passenger demand while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand. There are currently no plans to introduce additional services on this route in the evening or at weekends. However, as part of the forthcoming May timetable change Southeastern will introduce two new weekday services on the Bexleyheath line, as follows:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a land use framework. \p Mike Kane: Yes, I can reassure My Honourable Friend that our departments are working closely together to deliver on this manifesto commitment. You will notice that the recently published consultation on the principles for a land use framework specifically reference transport issues and include questions about its role. This is because both departments recognise:

- that different spatial choices will impact trip generation and travel patterns;

- that transport data – such as our emerging national measure of connectivity – are key to guide decisions about land; and

- that vision-led approaches can help better coordinate land use and transport issues.

I can reassure My Honourable Friend that we will continue to work closely with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on land use questions; firstly, to respond to the representations received through the consultation and then to ensure that transport issues and fully considered in the future development of the Land Use Framework.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Peter Lamb:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle the shortage of licensed (a) aircraft engineers and (b) pilots. \p Mike Kane: My Department works with industry to identify any skills gaps to ensure their workforce is resilient. There are three main approaches Government is taking to support the pipeline of talent:

- Encouraging opportunities for all with the ‘Generation Aviation’ programme raising the profile of aviation careers, removing barriers to access and attracting diverse and talented people to tackle new technologies, decarbonisation and other emerging trends. This includes the Reach for the Sky fund supporting outreach projects that only last week I announced the winners for 2025.

- Making it easier to train engineers and pilots of the future by transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners. As well as encouraging industry to fully funded pilot training programmes and applaud effort of companies such as TUI and British Airways which have established sustainable pipeline for budding aviators.

- Following EU exit, my Department sympathises with the difficulties faced by stakeholders in the aviation industry and establishing an effective personnel licensing regime that supports UK aviation remains a priority for us.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the regulatory health checks required before a person purchases a mobility scooter outside the remit of the mobility scheme. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department for Transport has made no assessment as we are unaware of the regulatory health checks referred to in the question. It is important that a mobility scooter is not used in a manner that is detrimental to the safety of the user or others.

Powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters are intended to provide local outdoor mobility for disabled people or those with mobility difficulties.

Creating a consistent, reliable mobility scooter policy which balances the interests of all road users continues to be a challenge. However, the Department is committed to ensuring that users of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs remain safe, mobile and independent.