theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_47

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support the uptake of apprenticeships and technical education. \p Janet Daby: Improving careers advice and work experience underpins our Opportunity Mission and will give young people a broad understanding of pathways into good skilled jobs.

The Skills for Life campaign promotes programmes such as T Levels and higher technical qualifications.

I hope that members will join in celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with us next month, which will champion the impact of apprenticeships and skills.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

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Mrs Sureena Brackenridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that pupils who are considered hard to place under school admission requirements receive suitable school placements. \p Catherine McKinnell: The school admissions code requires every local authority to have a Fair Access Protocol (FAP), agreed with the majority of the mainstream state-funded schools in its area, to ensure that unplaced and vulnerable children, and those who are having difficulty in securing a school place in-year, are allocated a school place as quickly as possible, minimising the time the child is out of school.

All admission authorities, including academies, are required to participate in the FAP for their area. This includes admitting pupils when asked to do so in accordance with the Protocol, even if the school is full. Where an admission authority fails to comply with the FAP, they may be directed to do so by the local authority, in the case of maintained schools, and currently by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education in the case of academies.

To further strengthen this framework, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes measures to allow local authorities to not only direct a maintained school to admit a child, but also to direct academies in the same way. It aims to streamline existing direction processes and provide a more robust safety net for vulnerable children, by giving local authorities the levers they need to secure school places for children more quickly and efficiently when the usual admissions processes, including the use of the FAP, have been exhausted.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

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Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has plans to extend the eligibility criteria for the Holiday activities and food programme. \p Stephen Morgan: The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme is aimed at children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. However, local authorities have discretion to go beyond this as set out in the HAF guidance: “While the majority of funding that local authorities receive should be used for holiday club places for children in receipt of free school meals, local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF provision”.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there will be future intakes for the development programme for CEOs of multi-academy trusts run with the National Institute of Teaching. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department has a contract in place with the National Institute of Teaching to deliver the multi-academy trusts CEO development programme to two cohorts of leaders that started their training in February and September 2024 respectively. The current contract runs to March 2026.

The government is committed to supporting the development of school leaders and has announced a review of the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), which will consider the support needed to meet the current and emerging training needs of leaders. NPQs provide training grounded in the best evidence and practice in education at every leadership level, including for executive leaders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much (a) her Department has and (b) her Department's arms length bodies have spent on hospitality in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) since 5 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to support (a) local authorities in England and (b) Councils in Northern Ireland with the increase to employers' National Insurance contributions. \p Jim McMahon: The government has announced an additional £515 million of support for local government in England specifically to manage the impact of changes to employer NICs announced at the Autumn Budget.

Final allocations to local authorities will be published alongside final positions on methodology as part of the final Local Government Finance Settlement in early February 2025.

The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett Formula in the usual way in 2025-26.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for the commencement of Section 111 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. \p Matthew Pennycook: In our response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation published on 12 December 2024 we made clear that we will take the steps necessary to implement build out reporting. This will involve implementing the provisions in Section 111 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 through regulations, following technical consultation. These provisions will make it a requirement for housing developers to formally notify local planning authorities before they commence development via development commencement notices.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 17565 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence between her Department and the Foreign, Commons and Development Office on the planning application for a proposed new Chinese Embassy. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government does not routinely publish correspondence between departments or place copies of such correspondence in the Library.
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect the countryside and wildlife, in the context of her Department's proposed planning reforms. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment by recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services. Development is restricted on sites which are designated for environmental or amenity value as well as National Landscapes.

The revised NPPF published on 12 December 2024 sets out that we expect developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorporating features which support priority or threatened species. The government will consult on future changes to national planning policy, including a set of national policies for decision making in Spring 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 17127 on Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, if she will list each section of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that (a) has not yet been commenced and (b) she plans to commence (i) in 2025, (ii) in 2026 and (iii) after 2026. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 17127 on 7 January 2025.
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Michael Payne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on priority need for housing for people living with HIV. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 19575 on 20 December 2024.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will include a target for the number of social rent homes in the long-term housing strategy. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 19382 on 20 December 2024.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations of the report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government are giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Planning Inspectorate has issued on representations on planning applications subject to foreign interference. \p Matthew Pennycook: In dealing with any application, Ministers and officials will act in accordance with published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions. More information can be found on gov.uk here.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the annual running costs of the New Towns Taskforce. \p Matthew Pennycook: The New Towns Taskforce is an independent expert advisory panel established in September 2024 to support the government to deliver the next generation of new towns.

The Taskforce consists of 10 sector experts in relevant fields such as planning, infrastructure delivery, architecture and urban regeneration. The estimated running costs of the Taskforce, including remuneration, is around £200,000.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to include a specific requirement to support community-led housing in commissioning the next phases of funds for Homes England. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review.
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance she has issued to civil servants in the Land Registry on how frequently they should attend the office each week; how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each Land Registry office in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the proposed PCS trade union industrial action. \p Matthew Pennycook: The guidance given to HM Land Registry’s staff regarding office attendance is in line with the guidance published by the Cabinet Office. This guidance states that staff must spend a minimum of 60% of their contracted working time in an office location.

The following table shows the percentage of desks that were occupied and how many staff attended an office location in the most recent four weeks where the data is available, for each of HM Land Registry’s 14 office locations:

Office location

Proportion of desks occupied during November 2024

Volume of people who attended an office location during November 2024

Birkenhead

60.00%

510

Coventry

58.79%

254

Croydon

67.06%

369

Durham

56.75%

765

Fylde

51.61%

405

Gloucester

68.78%

353

Hull

54.42%

347

Leicester

60.35%

296

Nottingham

99.39%

521

Peterborough

90.15%

274

Plymouth

78.54%

770

Swansea

68.11%

823

Telford

44.28%

342

Weymouth

57.47%

254

HM Land Registry

63.84%

6283

HM Land Registry has always aligned office attendance policies with civil service expectations both before and since the 60% requirement and will remain committed to ensuring staff are meeting the attendance requirement throughout the proposed PCS trade union industrial action.
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Mrs Sureena Brackenridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to tackle youth homelessness in Wolverhampton. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We will look at these issues carefully and will consider youth homelessness as we develop our long-term, cross-government strategy working with Mayors and councils across the country, to get us back on track to ending homelessness.

The Homelessness Prevention Grant is allocated to councils across England based on local homelessness pressures and is used to meet local needs. Wolverhampton will receive £1,892,940.00 for 2025-26 through the Homelessness Prevention Grant.

Temporary accommodation must be suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. Applicants may ask for a review on request of the housing authority’s decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.

The £1.2 billion Local Authority Housing Fund will provide capital funding directly to English councils and is expected to provide up to 7,000 homes by 2026. It will create a lasting asset for UK nationals by building a sustainable stock of affordable housing for local communities. The Local Authority Housing Fund will ease local homelessness pressures, reduce spending on unsuitable B&B accommodation, and provide safe and sustainable housing for those on Afghan resettlement and Ukrainian sponsorship schemes.
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the total Government budget to tackle homelessness was allocated to allocated to Norfolk County Council in this financial year. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness funding across Norfolk is provided through allocations to Norwich, North Norfolk, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, South Norfolk & Broadland, and Breckland. Individual programme allocations for the 2024/25 financial year can be accessed using the following links:

Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homelessness-prevention-grant-2023-to-2025 (Collection)

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F63a1880dd3bf7f37654767a3%2FHomelessness_Prevention_Grant_2023_to_2025_allocations.ods&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK (Dataset)

Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-initiative-2022-to-2025-updated-funding-allocations/rough-sleeping-initiative-2022-to-2025-updated-funding-allocations

Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-winter-pressures-2024-25-funding-allocations/rough-sleeping-winter-pressures-2024-25-funding-allocations
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) support residential mobility and (b) ensure adequate housing in areas with high rates of under-occupation. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament. We intend to deliver housing of all tenures in the right places, supporting our towns and cities to grow, and providing the homes people want near to businesses and employment opportunities.

We also want to see efficient use of existing housing stock. When it comes to social housing, local authorities and housing associations are encouraged to support under-occupiers to transfer to smaller properties, including through mutual exchanges. We are also empowering local authorities to bring empty properties back into use. Where funding, tax, and informal approaches are ineffective, local authorities can use formal enforcement levers to bring homes back into use. The government is also considering recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce on how to improve housing choices for older people.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the council tax. \p Jim McMahon: The Deputy Prime Minister holds regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues about a range of issues, including their shared interests on local taxation. The government is focused on keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.
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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria she plans to use to determine which local authorities are selected for the Devolution Priority Programme. \p Jim McMahon: The Government is seeking to provide a fast track to mayoral devolution by May 2026 for areas ready to come together under sensible geographies which meet the criteria set out in the White Paper.
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Alistair Strathern:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department's proposals for planning restrictions on heat pumps will be implemented. \p Matthew Pennycook: Nationally set permitted development rights enable the installation of air and ground source heat pumps without the need to submit a planning application.

The previous government consulted on proposed changes to these rights, and on 21 November we announced our intention to amend the existing permitted development right for air source heat pumps in early 2025, to allow more flexibility in installation and size of heat pumps.

Further information can be found here.
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Edward Argar:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Land Registry application processing times; and what steps she is taking to improve those times. \p Matthew Pennycook: Improving speed of service remains the top priority for HM Land Registry (HMLR). It has been delivering on this objective by increasing the capacity and capability of its staff and enhancing the services its customers use. This work has been undertaken whilst continuing to deliver the essential services required to enable property transactions to complete. There has been a significant reduction in the overall age of applications in recent months, and HMLR is determined to build on this progress.

HMLR acknowledges that some customers may not yet feel the positive impact of these improvements. Anyone who is concerned that a delay with their application may cause financial, legal or personal problems or put a property sale at risk, can apply to have their application expedited free of charge. HMLR processes nearly 1,400 expedited applications every day, with more than 95% actioned within 10 working days.

HMLR publishes information each month about its latest processing times. These can be found on gov.uk here.
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Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending planning permission regulations to make the local water supplier a statutory consultees in applications to build data centres. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 15758 on 3 December 2024.

The hon. Member may also wish to know that we will be introducing secondary legislation later this year to prescribe data centres, gigafactories and laboratories as types of business or commercial development capable (on request) of being directed into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting regime.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to return the (a) areas and (b) activities of private estate management in the private sector to local authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ensure that the investment reserve of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme is transferred back to members. \p Sarah Jones: The Government is receptive to representations regarding the BCSSS. I recently met with the Trustees of the Scheme to discuss their proposals, and will be discussing the matter with the Treasury in due course.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the quantity in GWh of electricity imports there will be in each year until 2035. \p Michael Shanks: Annex O of the Energy and Emission Projections presents Net Zero consistent scenarios for the power sector, including annual net imports. [1] (Gross imports and exports are not published). These scenarios indicate that the GB power sector will shift from being a net importer of electricity to a net exporter between 2030 and 2035.

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6463addee140700013b6e048/annex-o-annex-j-all-power-producer-generation.ods
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of EV charging infrastructure in (i) rural and (ii) remote areas and (b) potential impact of that infrastructure on the phasing out of cars with internal combustion engines. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. As of 1st of January 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of over 73,334 publicly available charging devices (including 14,448 rapid charging devices).

The matter is devolved to the Scottish Government. In England, the Government is also delivering the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure Fund which supports local authorities to work with industry to significantly transform the availability of affordable public chargepoints across the country, including in rural and remote areas. At least 100,000 new public charging points are planned to be installed in England by local authorities under the fund.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to include updating circulator pumps in the Warm Homes Plan. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: There are currently no plans to update Ecodesign regulations for circulator pumps. We are currently aligned with EU circulator regulations; however the Government will assess all new EU regulation on a case-by-case basis and will consider aligning where we see fit.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to increase the number of interconnectors with other countries. \p Michael Shanks: The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan outlines our approach to delivering a clean electricity system, including our approach to electricity interconnectors. It expects 12-14GW of electricity interconnection by 2030, up from the 9.8GW currently installed.

Under the UK-EU reset we are working with the EU to identify areas (such as electricity interconnection) where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit.

Interconnector development is a developer-led process in GB. Projects are given regulatory approval through Ofgem, a process that is undertaken independent of Government in line with Ofgem’s role as Great Britain’s independent regulator.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the UK’s gas storage levels were in each month since July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: The system operator National Gas monitors gas storage stock levels. They publish storage stock level data on their website, it can be found here: https://data.nationalgas.com/.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to increase the UK’s gas storage capacity. \p Michael Shanks: The diversity of Great Britain’s sources of gas supply means we are less reliant on natural gas storage than European counterparts. The Government recognises the value in having natural gas storage facilities in place as a source of balancing system flexibility when demand for gas is high and allowing for the future storage of hydrogen. Energy security remains a key priority and the government will continue to work with storage operators to explore options around the role storage can play in supporting future gas system resilience.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether AI Growth Zones will allow data centres to be co-located with (a) nuclear and (b) gas power plants. \p Michael Shanks: Future AI Growth Zones will be chosen taking into account the availability of generation and the need for a grid connection. For nuclear, we will be consulting on a new nuclear planning framework shortly. The proposed framework will empower new nuclear developers, including those interested in co-locating with data centres, to identify potential sites against a robust set of siting criteria on safety, environmental and socio-economic impacts.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on when the GB Energy board will meet in Aberdeen. \p Michael Shanks: Arrangements for Great British Energy’s first board meeting are currently being made. The meeting will take place at the company’s headquarters in Aberdeen.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information (a) his Department and (b) the National Energy System Operator holds on the number of number of generation assets that provided (i) spare margin and (ii) reserve for peak electricity demand on any day where a Capacity Market Notice was issued in the last 12 months. \p Michael Shanks: The National Energy System Operator (NESO) holds information required to balance the electricity network and are responsible for all operational actions required to maintain their electricity margin. Further information is available on the Elexon and NESO websites. As published in their winter outlook, NESO expect that supply margins will be adequate this winter, meaning that there is expected to be sufficient capacity to meet peak winter demand.

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero has no role in these operational decisions but remains in close contact with NESO during periods of tight margins, like on Wednesday 8 January.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to make it (a) easier and (b) cheaper for people who live in (i) listed buildings and (ii) conservation areas to make their homes more energy efficient. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The cross-government review of the barriers to adapt and retrofit listed buildings and homes in conservation areas (www.gov.uk/government/publications/adapting-historic-homes-for-energy-efficiency-a-review-of-the-barriers) was published in January 2024. This sets out the core challenges faced by homeowners and the actions government is taking to overcome barriers.

Changes to Permitted Development Rights in England, announced recently, will enable more air source heat pumps to be installed in homes, including those in conservation areas.

The Government has committed an initial £3.4bn over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency as part of the Warm Homes Plan. Further details will be set out in due course.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_84

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many ECO4 schemes have been funded in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire since 2022. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Since 2022 to the end of September 2024 (the latest available data by local authority and parliamentary constituency), ECO4 has installed 885 measures in 243 households in South Holland and the Deepings constituency, and 11,228 measures in 3,345 households in Lincolnshire (includes Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire local authorities).
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_85

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reduce fuel poverty in rural areas. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government has committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, this includes £1.8bn to support fuel poverty schemes.

Rural homes are supported through energy efficiency schemes including the Energy Company Obligation and Home Upgrade Grant.

The Warm Home Discount scheme provides eligible low-income and vulnerable households across Great Britain, including rural areas, with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill.

We will consult shortly on proposals for privately rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy for England.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_86

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority's annual report 2023-24, last updated 17 January 2025, for what reason the E-7 Wedgetail programme has received a Red rating. \p Georgia Gould: Compared to the end of financial year 22/23, in the final quarter of 23/24 the Infrastructure and Project Authority's (IPA) Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating for E-7 Wedgetail decreased from Amber to Red. This was primarily due to affordability and equipment delivery schedule risks and issues. The programme was seeking a revision to its scheduled end date as challenges within the global supply chain, retention of an appropriately skilled workforce at the modification facility and an increase in certification complexity in the aviation sector had caused delays to the expected in service date.

DCAs are not a comprehensive reflection of project performance, but reflect a project’s likelihood of success at a specific snapshot in time if issues and risks are left unaddressed. The 23/24 IPA Annual Report reflects the situation in March 2024. A revised assessment will be provided in the next Annual Report, which will set out the situation as at the end of the current financial year.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_87

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his policy on special adviser pay has changed since 6 October 2024. \p Georgia Gould: There have been small changes to the special advisor pay policy since 6 October 2024. Details of special advisers Costs and Salaries will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers later in the year.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_88

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21405 on Cabinet Office: Senior Civil Servants, if he will provide a hyperlink. \p Georgia Gould: The hyperlink to the GOV.UK announcement for the the Second Permanent Secretary for EU and International Economic Affairs can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-second-permanent-secretary-appointed-to-the-cabinet-office
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_89

Jim Allister:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much (a) his Department has and (b) his Department's arms length bodies have spent on hospitality in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) since 5 July 2024. \p Georgia Gould: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within the Cabinet Office have a responsibility to carefully manage official hospitality costs and demonstrate good value for money.

Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis, and are available on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_90

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on displaying artwork in 10 Downing Street of people associated with the slave trade. \p Georgia Gould: This policy remains the same as under the former government.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_91

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister plans to hold a Bandi Chor reception in Downing Street. \p Georgia Gould: Details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_92
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_92

Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Parliamentary Private Secretary position holders have changed roles since September 2024. \p Georgia Gould: Details of changes to Parliamentary Private Secretary post holders since the September 2024 list was published will be included in the next list when it is published on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_93

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of the Prime Ministerial residence in Downing Street since 22 May 2024; and on what items this was spent. \p Georgia Gould: Any associated costs would be detailed in the next Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_94

James MacCleary:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of total government expenditure on external consultants to assist with EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement implementation since 5 July 2024, broken down by (a) department, (b) consultancy firm, and (c) area of work. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Cabinet Office does not hold a central estimate of the total government expenditure on external consultants to assist with EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement implementation. This is due to the responsibility for implementing the agreement sitting across multiple departments. All departments are individually responsible for their consultancy spend. Further information on government specific contracts is available at https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_95

Richard Foord:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK Emergency Alert System since its introduction. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: In September 2024, the Cabinet Office delivered a thorough internal One Year Evaluation Report. Lessons identified from the report have been considered and are being implemented into processes used during an alert activation. Since the release of the cross-HMG evaluation, the capability has been used three times, each successfully mitigating danger to lives and most recently in support of organisations in Northern Ireland and Scotland coordinating the response to storm Eowyn.

Whilst the system was used sparingly in its first year of operation, it is expected that it will be used more often and for a variety of use cases as the confidence of the resilience community builds in requesting Alerts.

The Cabinet Office and other government departments continue to work closely to deliver training and facilitate exercising to empower requesting authorities to be confident in the request protocol and drafting process.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_96

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22184 on Cabinet Office: 48 Group, if he will make it his policy to provide guidance to (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants on engagement with the 48 Group in the context of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission judgment of 12 December 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Cabinet Office routinely assesses and updates advice on engagement with external organisations to support ministerial and official engagement.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_97

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23923 on Nissan, if he will provide the schedule for the publication of ministerial transparency data on meetings. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published shortly.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_98

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the European Commission press release, entitled Commission decides to refer the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for its implementation of EU law on free movement impacting the Withdrawal Agreement, published on 16 December 2024, how he plans to respond to the legal proceedings being brought by the European Commission against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Justice. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The EU Commission referred the UK to the European Court of Justice on 20 December 2024. It is right that the Government now reviews the points raised and will respond in due course. We are committed to the full and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and will fulfil our obligations arising from the Agreement.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_99
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_99

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) his Department has and (b) his Department's arms length bodies have spent on hospitality in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) since 5 July 2024. \p Hilary Benn: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within the Northern Ireland Office have a responsibility to carefully manage official hospitality costs and demonstrate good value for money.

Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis, and are available on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_100

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used AI in the last 12 months. \p Hilary Benn: 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.

Northern Ireland Office Ministers do not use AI. A small number of officials in the department have carried out a time-limited test of the use of AI for taking meeting notes and summarising information. AI is not available to Northern Ireland Office officials at present and is the subject of ongoing discussions.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_101

Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the First and deputy First Minister on the continuing vacancy in the office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: The appointment of a new Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland is a matter for the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_102

Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of investing in industrial sites in Luton North constituency. \p Sarah Jones: DBT works with all regions in the UK to understand in detail the areas sector by sector potential for investors. In Luton, DBT has a strong working relationship with Luton Borough Council and the South Midlands Growth Hub, where we have a shared understanding of Luton’s strengths in areas such as manufacturing, automotive, creative & digital and the green economy.
wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_103
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-27 conversation_103

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with representatives of the engineering sector on the impact of the British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024. \p Sarah Jones: The Department for Business and Trade works closely with businesses in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, construction, aerospace, and automotive sectors, and will continue to.

Each Government department engages with relevant sectors where appropriate.