theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how she plans to maintain the integrity of UK borders while fulfilling international obligations towards asylum seekers, in the context of evolving security risks. \p Alex Norris: All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations so that we do not remove anyone to a country where they would face persecution or serious harm. All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks. These checks are critical to the delivery of a safe and secure immigration system.

The Home Office conducts mandatory identity and security checks on all irregular arrivals. We capture the given identity, and biometric (facial and fingerprint) data. This biographic and biometric data is checked and compared against relevant Home Office systems and police databases, including domestic and international data so we can establish whether the person is a known threat to public safety.

Checks are conducted by the Home Office for a number of purposes, primarily for effective immigration control, safeguarding national security, and preventing, detecting and investigating serious and organised crime.

Anyone convicted of a ‘particularly serious crime’, defined as being convicted by a final judgment and sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months, and are considered a danger to the UK, will be denied asylum and considered for removal from the UK.
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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department applies when assessing asylum claims from (a) people with a risk of persecution from the Taliban and (b) other Afghan rights defenders. \p Alex Norris: All asylum and human rights claims from Afghan nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.

Each individual assessment is made by considering any relevant extant caselaw, the latest available country information, and relevant Asylum Instruction(s), notably Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status.

Our assessment of the situation for individuals claiming a fear of the Taliban in Afghanistan is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on GOV.UK
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the number of languages guidance on how to find an immigration centre is available in. \p Alex Norris: To improve the accessibility of the visitor process for immigration removal centres, the Home Office has published translated versions of the guidance on gov.uk for visiting IRCs into 20 languages.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the (a) age, (b) religion, (c) ethnicity and (d) country of birth of people (i) referred to the Prevent programme and (ii) convicted of terrorism-related offences in the UK in each of the last five years. \p Dan Jarvis: Prevent aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate interventions and support, and that communities areWe have provided data for the financial years 2019/20 to 2023/24. Data for the latest financial year 2024/25 will be released 6th November 2025 at Gov.uk.

Information on individuals convicted of terrorism-related offences in the UK is published quarterly by the Home Office in the statistical release titled Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This includes detailed data tables for Great Britain, covering a range of individual and offence-related characteristics, such as:

Annual and quarterly breakdowns for the last five years and prior and are accessible via Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics - GOV.UK.
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the legal requirement to use non-animal methods where possible is being enforced in the licensing of animal experiments. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office ensures all licences are fully compliant with all sections of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).

The responsibility of ensuring the principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) have been fully applied in applications belongs to the applicant. The role of the Home Office is to assure that the applicant has conducted extensive checks for each of the 3Rs and that they are maximally applied.

Home Office Inspectors are specifically trained to assess licences rigorously and robustly and thereby assure compliance with the ASPA. The training package for Inspectors has been enhanced with a greater emphasis on replacement methodologies.
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will end the issuing of licences for experiments involving (a) dogs, (b) cats and (c) non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. \p Dan Jarvis: This Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy later this year. However, in limited circumstances where there is no non-animal alternative, procedures are required to deliver benefits to people, animals or the environment. In the most recent available statistics from 2023, less than 1 percent of all procedures were carried out on dogs, cats and non-human primates.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) provides a robust and rigorous regulatory framework that protects animals used in science. It requires that the principles of the 3Rs - replacement, reduction and refinement - are followed so that animals are only used where there are no alternatives, the minimum number of animals are used, and the most refined procedures for using animals are employed to minimise harm.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that reports of fraudulent company registrations made to Action Fraud are treated as criminal matters. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government is working with City of London Police to replace Action Fraud with a new and improved national police reporting service for fraud and cyber crime. The new service (called Report Fraud) is nearing completion with full transition expected in early December 2025. The new service will support tackling fraudulent company registrations by providing law enforcement with better intelligence for investigations and other disruption activity.

The new service will also improve the support services and reporting tools for victims. In addition, the Government has launched a National Fraud Squad (NFS) of specialist posts, led by the NCA and City of London Police. The NFS will help to combat fraudulent company registrations by taking a proactive, intelligence-led approach to identifying and disrupting the most serious fraudsters.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing steel import quotas to ensure that 60 per cent of steel used in the UK is made by domestic producers. \p Chris Bryant: Steel is a top priority for this Government and we recognise the continuing challenges facing the UK steel industry – driven by global overcapacity and with a changing landscape on international trade.

This Government is developing a steel strategy to be published in 2025 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there. Moreover, we will will ensure there is a plan in place for the UK steel industry in light of the expiry of the global safeguard measure on certain steel imports next year.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of opening Post Office branches within Banking Hubs. \p Blair McDougall: Thousands of Post Offices already provide the same everyday banking services, such as cash withdrawals and deposits, that are available at Banking Hubs. In its published response to the Government’s Post Office Green Paper, Post Office recently set out how it could enhance its banking offer by accommodating community bankers within larger post offices. This would enable customers to access support for more complex services available via community bankers at Banking Hubs.

Government would welcome further collaboration between Post Office and the banking sector and will be convening a roundtable to discuss opportunities for future potential collaboration.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps Companies House is taking to support (a) micro companies and (b) residents’ management companies with volunteer directors to complete its identity verification before 18 November 2025. \p Blair McDougall: Companies House is continuing to develop alternative options that will offer more support to individuals who are unable to verify their identities through the available routes. Further guidance will be issued. In the meantime, Companies House is ensuring that staff are on hand to help users who require assistance via its helpline and by email. In providing this support Companies House will be mindful of the entities directors represent such as flat management companies, charities and micro companies.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of Companies House identity verifications have used (a) assisted and (b) non-digital routes since 1 April 2025; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of those routes. \p Blair McDougall: The specific data is not available. Companies House has recruited significant resource and expanded and trained our customer service team to assist users in the identity verification journey. They are also establishing a specialist team to support customers who have very significant issues accessing identity verification. Companies House is also introducing a specific assisted route for people whose passport is from a country that does not issue biometric passports.

Individuals can also use the Post Office or Authorised Company Service Providers who can offer non-digital routes and further assistance.
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Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage the use of (a) quieter (i) fireworks and (ii) drone shows and (b) other low-impact alternatives at public events. \p Kate Dearden: The Government have launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season which encourages the use of low noise fireworks. The campaign also features new guidance for those running community fireworks events which recommends the use of low-noise fireworks to reduce the impact on communities, as well as social media materials that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks. The campaign materials are being shared widely to increase their impact.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 72662 on Timesharing: Regulation and the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 81170 on Timesharing: Regulation, what steps he is taking to ensure that fractional ownership schemes, as distinct from shared ownership schemes, are adequately regulated to protect consumers. \p Kate Dearden: The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulations 2010 stipulate the information consumers must be made aware of when purchasing timeshares. They also provide for a 14 day exit right, should the customer change their mind.

The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 protect consumers from being held to unfair contract terms. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 address mis-selling by prohibiting misleading actions and misleading omissions that might lead the average consumer to make a different decision.
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Sally Jameson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the hydrogen technology manufacturing sector to export (a) goods and (b) services. \p Chris McDonald: As a frontier Industrial Strategy sector, the government has committed targeted support to boost exports of hydrogen sector goods and services by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network, providing greater access to international supply chains and - as outlined in the Trade Strategy - by expanding clean energy sector agreements, like the UK-Germany Hydrogen Partnership.

To support these opportunities, the UK's export credit agency, UK Export Finance aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029, alongside options to support overseas sales, including loan guarantees for foreign buyers, and working capital, insurance and bond support products to assist UK suppliers.
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Sally Jameson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage investment into the hydrogen technology manufacturing sector. \p Chris McDonald: Under the Industrial Strategy's Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan the Government announced a public finance offer to crowd private investment into clean energy industries, including the UK's hydrogen economy. This includes: a £1bn Clean Energy supply chain fund; £5.8bn for the National Wealth Fund to invest across this Parliament in clean industries including low-carbon hydrogen; and a £4bn British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital scale and start up financing package.

My officials have been working closely with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero to showcase these opportunities for investment alongside UK world-class capability across the hydrogen sector.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to include IVF in the (a) Employment Rights Act 2010 and (b) Employment Rights Act 1996. \p Kate Dearden: The government is committed to improving the wellbeing and work-life balance of all workers, including those navigating the difficult journey of fertility treatment. We are introducing measures through the employment rights bill to make flexible working available to more people, more easily. This change could help employees and employers agree arrangements that support attendance at medical appointments, including those for IVF.
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Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning unlicensed traders from selling fireworks to the public during specific festive periods. \p Kate Dearden: No recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of current legislation governing the sale and use of fireworks in England and Wales including the purchase from registered sellers during specific dates.

Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their circumstances.
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Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that workers are informed about the enforcement options available to recover unpaid tribunal awards. \p Kate Dearden: Workers should receive the payments they are entitled to. As part of the Plan for Change we will look at ways of strengthening enforcement options, including the Employment Tribunal Penalty scheme which will move to the Fair Work Agency (FWA) once established.

The proposed powers of the FWA are set out in the Employment Rights Bill and we are committed to ensuring that it has the appropriate resources to discharge its responsibilities. The FWA will work closely with HMRC, Insolvency Service and other relevant enforcement bodies to do this as effectively as possible. This will include considering how to use existing powers to tackle misuse of phoenix companies.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 76822 on Jeffrey Epstein, what records Integrated Corporate Services holds of meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and Ministers in the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills between 2009 and 2010. \p Kate Dearden: Any such information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Catherine McKinnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on the adequacy of its counter-fraud policies, in the context of the National Audit Office’s report titled Energy efficiency installations under the Energy Company Obligation, published on 14 October 2025. \p Katie White: Ofgem are the administrator for both ECO4 and GBIS and there is regular engagement between Ofgem and DESNZ on all aspects of the schemes. In regard to the NAO report, Ofgem are actively engaged in the review of evidence relating to possible fraud and they have the legal power to demand that energy suppliers pay for a new measure to be installed, where eligibility for the scheme or delivery of measures is found to have been carried out fraudulently.

Therefore suppliers must have robust fraud management plans as part of their obligation, or face losing money. Further, they will engage with any relevant authorities in pursuit of wider enforcement action where that is deemed necessary.
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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether consumers will be exempt from paying for remediation costs to fix faulty insulation installations under the (a) ECO4 and (b) GBIS schemes if the costs exceed £20,000. \p Katie White: The remediation costs sit with the original installer. We expect remediation for solid wall insulation installed under ECO4 or GBIS to cost between £250 and £6,000 for IWI and £5,000 and £18,000 for EWI. This should be covered by the guarantee should the installer no longer be trading.

There have been some instances where costs are greater than £20,000 (complex cases), we are working with the sector to find solutions and for these faulty installations to be fixed.

Wider consumer protection reform will ensure that financial protections are clearly accessible and fully protect the consumer.
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Lola McEvoy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help support small businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their premises. \p Martin McCluskey: The Government is working in partnership with small businesses to make them more energy efficient including through the Net Zero Council. The Council’s work includes supporting sectors to develop transition plans and supporting SMEs to innovate, save energy, grow and decarbonise.

To reduce energy bills the Government consulted on strengthening the non-domestic PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to EPC C by 2027 and EPC B by 1 April 2030. We are currently reviewing the policy to ensure it meets the needs of landlords and tenants and remains fair and proportionate.

The Business Energy Advice Service pilot scheme has already supported nearly 3000 SMEs in the West Midlands with expert energy efficiency and decarbonisation advice, with a value of £8.7 million to date. We continue to look at other policy options to help small businesses save on their energy usage.
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Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department taking steps to promote new technologies to help people save money on their energy bills. \p Katie White: The government is supporting the deployment of technologies that will reduce household bills through a variety of schemes including the Energy Company Obligation, the Great British Insulation Scheme, Warm Homes: Social Housing Decarbonisation, Warm Homes: Local Government and the continuation of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The government invested up to £42 million in the Heat Pump Ready (HPR) innovation programme to overcome barriers to heat pump deployment and support innovation in product design.

To promote the benefits of heat pumps the government has also relaunched its ‘Warm and Fuzzy’ campaign.

The Warm Homes Plan will continue our support for low carbon technologies and other energy efficiency upgrades to help reduce bills.
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Richard Foord:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support self-catering businesses in making changes to properties to comply with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. \p Martin McCluskey: Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation sought views on whether short-term lets should be included to help ensure a consistent standard across all private rented properties.

We engaged widely with stakeholders during the consultation process, including the self-catering holiday lets sector and a government response will be published in due course. Following the government response and relevant legislation changes, we will issue guidance to help landlords to comply with any new requirements, which would be published on gov.uk. Support is currently available at the government webpage ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’.
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has a completion date for Sizewell C. \p Michael Shanks: Sizewell C Ltd plan to begin operating the power plant in the mid- to late-2030s.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of requiring houses in multiple occupation to achieve an energy performance certificate rating of D or better. \p Martin McCluskey: Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector and reforming Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). The Energy Performance of Buildings consultation asked whether houses in multiple occupation should require EPCs.

If a property is let on a relevant tenancy and is legally required to have an EPC then it will need to meet the private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standard, unless a valid exemption applies.

Government has proposed to raise the standard from E to C or equivalent by 2030. A government response to both consultations will be published in due course.
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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to take steps to help protect tenants from (a) eviction and (b) rent increases following government-funded low-carbon improvement works carried out by landlords. \p Martin McCluskey: This government is committed to protecting and improving the rights of tenants through improving the quality of their homes, resulting in reduced energy costs.

We have engaged and consulted with landlord and tenant representative groups in developing policy. We set out proposals in the consultation on maximum spend from landlords and the exemptions regime. These changes do not require landlords to increase rents.

The new Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce protections for tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases and stop landlords using large rent increases to force tenants out. Landlords will be able to increase rents to market rates once per year, with tenants able to challenge this at the Tribunal if it is unreasonable.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the causes of Newcleo’s decision not to pursue its investment in nuclear reactors in the UK. \p Michael Shanks: Government is aware that Newcleo Ltd has taken the decision to suspend its activities in the UK. While it is disappointing to see a company scale back UK activities, this is ultimately a commercial decision for the company.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact for his policies of Newcleo’s decision not to provide funding for clear reactors in the UK. \p Michael Shanks: As set out at the Spending Review, the Government’s policy is to develop a new framework for privately-led advanced nuclear projects to be published shortly. The framework will have a new role for Great British Energy – Nuclear assessing proposals, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.

Newcleo LTD’s decision to suspend its advanced nuclear activities in the UK was a commercial decision for the company.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of heating bills on rural communities in the context of the Autumn Budget 2025. \p Katie White: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.

We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030, including those in rural communities. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bills.

On 25 September we published a consultation setting out our intention to continue support for those 6 million households. The consultation sets out proposals for the next scheme period (up to winter 2030/31), after current regulations expire on 31 March 2026. Government is gathering feedback from stakeholders on:

The consultation closes on Thursday 20 November.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support prepayment meter customers unable to access (a) heating and (b) power. \p Martin McCluskey: Customers who are unable to top up their prepayment meter may be able to obtain a fuel voucher, access to emergency credit or be eligible for Cold Weather Payments, the Warm Home Discount or the Winter Fuel Payment. Customers should contact their energy supplier if they have concerns and information on support with paying energy bills can be found on Citizens Advice's website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk

On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bills.

On 25 September we published a consultation setting out our intention to continue support for those 6 million households. The consultation sets out proposals for the next scheme period (up to winter 2030/31), after current regulations expire on 31 March 2026. Government is gathering feedback from stakeholders on:

The consultation closes on Thursday 20 November.
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Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the promotion of fraudulent energy saving products. \p Martin McCluskey: We are tackling promotion of fraudulent energy saving products in homes retrofit through several steps.

Selection and installation of measures is overseen through expert certification processes and bodies. This is being enhanced though development of a robust model for future scheme delivery which will reduce fraud. This includes a simplified approach to scheme design and scoring of measures reducing opportunities for fraud and for gaming. We have ongoing investment in technology to prevent and detect fraud.

Retrofit delivered through local authorities and housing associations have support from delivery partners appointed to bring expertise in assurance and fraud prevention.
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Catherine McKinnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to review (a) regulations and (b) consumer protections through the Warm Homes Plan. \p Katie White: This government is committed to protecting consumers undertaking home retrofit work, as well as improving the overall consumer journey. We are leading reform of a system which is clearly not fit for purpose. This reform will involve rapidly changing the landscape of regulation and consumer protections, spanning from how installers working in people’s homes are certified and monitored, to where homeowners turn to for rapid action and enforcement if things go wrong. This work is already underway, but we will set out plans for root and branch reform as part of the Warm Homes Plan, which will be published soon.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80134 on Fuel Poverty: Ely and East Cambridgeshire, if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of fuel poverty in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in 2024. \p Martin McCluskey: Fuel poverty estimates at sub-regional level are official statistics in development. Since they are modelled estimates, they should not be used to identify detailed trends over time.

However, regional fuel poverty figures calculated from the English Housing Survey are comparable over time. The latest statistics (Trends table 4) show that the proportion of households in fuel poverty in the wider region East of England, containing Ely and East Cambridgeshire, has decreased from 18.8% in 2010 to 9.0% in 2024. This is measured using the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency metric.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82020 on Energy: Buildings, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, (b) Warm Homes: Local Grant and (c) Boiler Upgrade Scheme on (i) energy bills, (ii) carbon emissions (A) to date and (B) in each of the next three years and (iii) the nationally determined contributions target for 2030. \p Katie White: For Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) the Government publishes Official Statistics including WH:SHF Waves 1 and 2 measures installed, homes treated, carbon and bill savings. Statistics on WH:SHF Wave 3 and Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), summary business cases covering both schemes 2025/26-2027/28 and evaluation findings, will be published in due course.

There is a robust evaluation approach in place for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). The Government will publish an Impact Assessment covering the BUS from 2025/26 through to 2029/30. An Impact Assessment for period 2022/23 to 2024/25 is already published. The Government publishes Official Statistics including BUS deployment volumes to date (Table 1.1) and Energy and Emissions Projections (EEP) containing the estimated emission savings generated by BUS installations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_159

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the ICJ opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, published in July 2025, on the Rosebank Oil Field. \p Michael Shanks: Following last year’s Supreme Court ruling, we published in June supplementary guidance to ensure the full environmental impact of extraction is considered as part of consenting decisions for offshore oil and gas projects.

We have received further information from the Rosebank project developer, which is currently open to public consultation until 20 November to allow stakeholders to make representations. The further information and any representations received will be thoroughly reviewed. A robust decision-making process will be followed, as with onshore planning, which has similarities.

It would be inappropriate to comment on specific aspects of individual cases.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_160

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 91 of his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, published on 15 September 2025, HC 1274, for what reason was facility time increased from £49,777 in 2023-24 to £69,892 in 2024-25; what was the increase in facility time as a proportion of the pay bill; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of funding trade union activities from facility time. \p Michael Shanks: The increase results from an increased headcount and pay bill in the department; ongoing transformation work necessitating high levels of Trade Union engagement and increased engagement following the change of Government in July 2024.

The increase in pay bill from 2023/24 to 2024/25, accounted for 0.0058% of the 2024/25 paybill.

No assessment has been made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_161

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Newcleo prior to its decision not to pursue its investment in nuclear reactors in the UK. \p Michael Shanks: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_162

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is he taking to ensure that charging meters in residential blocks that have been incorrectly classified as commercial are reclassified. \p Martin McCluskey: Electricity meters serving a premises used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling should be classified as domestic. If a person believes a meter has been incorrectly classified as commercial, they should raise it with the electricity supplier serving the premises, via the landlord if the contract with the supplier is with the landlord. Suppliers are obligated by Ofgem’s supply licence conditions to maintain accurate meter classifications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_163

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cash boost for coastal towns hosting clean energy infrastructure, published on 21 May 2025, if he will make it his policy to provide similar benefits to promote the adoption of onshore wind by communities. \p Michael Shanks: In May 2025, the government published a working paper on mandatory community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The proposals would require developers to contribute to community benefit funds to support people and businesses near low carbon energy infrastructure, including onshore wind. The paper also sets out how communities could own a stake in renewable energy infrastructure through shared ownership.

The government has also published updated voluntary guidance on community benefits for onshore wind in England, setting out best practice approaches to ensure developments have a lasting positive impact on communities.
wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_164

Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to accept the recommendation by the Office of Value for Money to lay a Command Paper with a Strategy and Delivery Plan for specific mega projects before Parliament. \p Michael Shanks: Where projects within the Department are designated as megaprojects, the recommendations of the Office for Value for Money study will be considered as appropriate.

Having been defined a mega project by the study, a Strategy and Delivery Plan for Sizewell C will be laid as a Command Paper in Parliament in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_165

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of Government road maintenance funding has been allocated to (a) local and (b) non-strategic roads compared with the strategic road network since 2024; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the funding in meeting local maintenance needs. \p Simon Lightwood: In respect of local and non-strategic roads, the Department has allocated approximately £5.2 billion for local highways maintenance in England over the period 2023/24 to 2025/26. This comes from a wide range of sources including the Highways Maintenance Block, the Integrated Transport Block, Potholes Funding, Network North, the Local Transport Grant, and highways funding that has been consolidated into City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS).

The figure does not include the baseline highways maintenance funding and Integrated Transport Block funding that has been consolidated into CRSTS funding for 2025/26. The Department has not split out how much of this funding is for highways maintenance as, by the nature of the funding, it is consolidated transport funding for local authorities to decide how best to use.

The £226 million Local Transport Grant of 2025/26 is for local transport and maintenance more widely. Integrated Transport Block funding is for local transport maintenance and enhancements.

The above figure includes the £500 million funding uplift for local highways maintenance in 2025/26 that the Government announced at the Autumn Budget 2024. This funding goes well beyond the government's manifesto pledge and is helping councils to fix the equivalent of 7 million extra potholes in 2025/26.

In respect of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), the Government provides National Highways with an overall funding settlement, which does not split out maintenance from other spending on their operations. However, National Highways reports that over the period 2023/24 to 2025/26, approximately £756 million of their funding settlement has been spent directly on the maintenance of the SRN. This figure excludes spend on the maintenance of sections of their network that are operated by Public Finance Initiatives (PFIs). These PFIs are paid a lump sum to maintain, operate and renew some sections of the strategic road network and maintenance costs are not split out.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_166

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82739 on Electric Vehicles: Grants, how many electric car grants were provided for vehicles (a) manufactured and (b) not manufactured in the UK by model in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Keir Mather: The Department cannot provide a per model breakdown due to commercial sensitivity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_167

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to allocate further funding for HGV driver welfare and parking infrastructure from (a) the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme and (b) other schemes. \p Keir Mather: Through the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme the Department and industry partners are projected to deliver up to £35.7m of joint investment to enhance truck stops across England. This significant investment is in addition to joint investment by National Highways and industry of up to a further £30 million, aimed at improving lorry parking facilities along the strategic road network.

There are no plans for further windows of the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Scheme.

Funding for further lorry parking improvements is planned for the third road investment strategy (RIS3) as part of the Customer and Community Designated Funds, subject to confirmation National Highways RIS3 settlement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-31)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-31 conversation_168

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department expects passenger train services to begin operating on the first section of East West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes. \p Keir Mather: The Department is working closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the service. We are looking forward to commencing services as soon as all necessary authorisations and agreements are in place. Passenger services will commence once train testing and driver training have been completed.