theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_185

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many households received a possession proceedings order after receiving a Section 21 notice in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) North Tyneside in 2024; and what proportion of those households had to pay court costs. \p Sarah Sackman: The information requested is not held. The Ministry of Justice publishes data about possession proceedings at: Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: October to December 2024 - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_186

Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what performance monitoring is in place to monitor how many calls are unanswered in County Courts when individuals are trying to book a public counter appointment. \p Sarah Sackman: HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does have management information that includes data on telephony performance, such as volumes of answered and unanswered calls. This information does not specifically detail metrics related to unanswered calls for counter appointment bookings at County Courts.

However, centralising calls into our national contact centre has provided improved visibility into true call demand and the volume of unanswered calls. By combining this with post call data and speech analysis from answered calls, we can identify trends and make informed assumptions about the key drivers behind unanswered calls.

Individual County Courts may have their own procedures for managing appointment bookings. For instance, some courts require appointments to be made via specific phone numbers or email addresses. For example, Birmingham Civil & Family Justice Centre schedules counter appointments through a dedicated phone line our centralised telephony team would sign post our customers to.
wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

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Tom Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including air-to-air heat pumps in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not currently support air-to-air heat pumps, as heat pump installations must provide both space heating and hot water heating, using liquid as a medium for delivering that heat. In most cases, air-to-air systems only provide space heating, with many installations still reliant on burning fossil fuels for hot water. We want to target support at technologies that offer the greatest potential to decarbonise our buildings.

However, the Government will keep its position on alternative electric heating technologies under review, and would consult industry and key stakeholders on any potential changes to the scheme before making any decisions.
wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_188
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Ofgem have made an estimate of the relative costs per KM of installing (a) overhead, (b) underground and (c) offshore electricity transmission cables for energy transmission infrastructure. \p Michael Shanks: Ofgem estimates of the relative costs of overhead, underground and offshore electricity transmission cables vary significantly depending on various factors such as technology types, voltage levels and locations. Due to commercial sensitivity, Ofgem cannot not share specific estimates. However, as set out in the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s 2012 study, offshore cables have considerable cost and technical challenges and can have substantial impacts on the marine environment. Undergrounding is usually by open trenching with costs between 5-10 times those of overhead lines.
wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_189
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with OFGEM on funding for shared ground loops under the Energy Company Obligation Scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: There is provision within the rules of ECO4 for shared ground loops to be delivered. ECO4 is not funded by government. Rather, the government requires energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures to eligible households. The energy suppliers fund those measures and recoup the costs from their customers’ energy bills.
wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_190
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to orchestral tax relief for International work on the orchestral sector's ability to deliver loss-making activities in the UK. \p James Murray: The UK provides world-leading support for orchestras: at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government confirmed that from 1 April 2025, the rate of Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) will be set at the generous rate of 45%.

From April 2024, qualifying expenditure is expenditure incurred on goods or services that are ‘used or consumed in the UK’, replacing the previous rule that qualifying costs were those incurred on goods and services provided from the UK or EEA.  To ease the transition to the new rule, orchestras with concerts in train on 1 April 2024 were permitted to continue claiming relief on goods and services provided from within the EEA until 31 March 2025.

It is appropriate to refocus orchestra tax relief on UK expenditure now that the UK has left the EU. Under the new rule, the relief incentivises activity within the UK, rather than the UK and the EEA.
wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_191
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_191

Dave Doogan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what definition of family farm was used when developing changes to inheritance tax relief for (a) business and (b) agricultural assets. \p James Murray: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

The Government’s assessment relates to claims for agricultural property relief and business property relief. The qualifying conditions for these reliefs are set out in Part 5 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984.

Guidance on agricultural property relief is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/agricultural-relief-on-inheritance-tax and www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/inheritance-tax-manual/ihtm24000.

Guidance on business property relief is available at www.gov.uk/business-relief-inheritance-tax and www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/inheritance-tax-manual/ihtm25000.
wrans/answers2025-03-08 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-08 conversation_1

Sir John Hayes:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the potential impact of the installation of heat pumps on the parliamentary estate on (a) noise and (b) electricity consumption. \p Nick Smith: The number of heat pumps installed on the Parliamentary estate over the past three years is as follows:

2022: 10 heat pumps2023: 41 heat pumps2024: 18 heat pumps

Most of these heat pumps have been configured to provide cooling for comms rooms. A comms room (short for communications room) is a dedicated space within a building that houses critical networking and telecommunications equipment. Its primary purpose is to manage data exchange, connectivity, and communication infrastructure for an organisation. In Parliament we call these rooms Secondary Distribution Points (SDPs). Comms rooms are a common feature in most buildings with a reasonable level of IT infrastructure. Air conditioning (provided by a heat pump system) is often used to maintain stable temperatures to prevent overheating and malfunction of the IT equipment.

Where heat pumps are proposed on the Parliamentary estate the system design is interrogated to ensure that the noise generated is not excessive and suitable for the context in which it is located.

Like all other equipment, system components and machines on the estate, heat pumps consume electricity. The design of any proposed heat pump on the estate will be interrogated to confirm that the electrical supply proposed for the heat pump is suitable and can be met by the estate’s electrical infrastructure.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_1

Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that young people living in supported accommodation are not financially disadvantaged when increasing their working hours. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for young people living in supported and temporary accommodation, including the different income tapers used by each benefit.

We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders. As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people claiming housing benefit in Gosport in each of the last three years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Monthly statistics for the number of Housing Benefit claimants in Great Britain are published quarterly on Stat-Xplore, The statistics are available for various geographies, including local authority and parliamentary constituency, and are currently available to May 2025.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to (a) obtain and (b) renew black powder licenses. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Under the Explosives Regulations 2014, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets the legal framework for the safe acquisition and possession of explosives, including black powder. However, the responsibility for issuing and renewing explosives certificates rests with individual police forces, who act as licensing authorities under those Regulations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for applications to the Access to Work grant. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As set out in the Green Paper, we are reforming Access to Work to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people into and on in work. We are committed to reducing waiting times for claims and we prioritise customers starting a job in four weeks. Nevertheless, Access to Work is demand-led and tailored to the needs of each customer.

We are continuing to streamline delivery practices and have increased the number of staff processing claims. Since May 2024, 118 additional staff have been redeployed to support Access to Work.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74887 on Retail Trade: Health and Safety, whether (a) he and (b) the Health and Safety Executive has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on Co-op's Project Lunar. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Health and Safety Executive have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade or received any representations from trade unions concerning Project Lunar. Project Lunar is an internal policy that the Co-op is introducing, so it is not a matter for HSE or the government to be involved in.

Under health and safety law it is the employer (Co-op) who is responsible for protecting its employees and others from harm. The employer must identify the risks and take action to eliminate them, or if this is not possible, to control the risk. An employer must manage any health and safety risks before people can work alone.

HSE and Local Authorities (LAs) work together as co-regulatory partners to enforce health and safety law, with LAs being responsible for regulation of health and safety in most retail businesses. Both HSE and LAs provide advice and guidance on the management of risk and what the law requires, conduct inspections and investigations, and take enforcement action where appropriate.

Any correspondence received by HSE raising workplace health and safety concerns is fully assessed, and subsequent actions can include, providing advice or guidance, further investigation or referral to another regulator where appropriate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) safeguards and (b) other provisions her Department has put in place to help protect (i) police officers and (ii) the public from exposure to asbestos during (A) operational duties when attending incidents in (1) older and (2) derelict buildings where asbestos contamination may be present and (B) other circumstances; and what guidance her Department has issued to the police on ensuring appropriate (a) risk assessments and (b) protective measures are undertaken in such environments. \p Sarah Jones: All police forces in England and Wales are subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) which requires employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees and to ensure their activities do not adversely affect the health and safety of other people. Since 1998, Chief Constables are deemed the employers of police officers and police staff and it is therefore their responsibility to ensure their force complies with the HSWA.

The HSWA places a duty on the police to carry out robust risk assessments which identify significant risks to both policing personnel and the public and set out safe systems of work which specify appropriate control measures, equipment and competencies. This duty applies to police operations in older and derelict buildings where asbestos may be present.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_7

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for chief officers of police, updated on 5 August 2025, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the potential impact of the requirement to undertake a medical assessment every six months on the (a) financial cost and (b) bureaucratic burden to people when renewing a firearms license. \p Sarah Jones: The Statutory Guidance does not require medical assessments for firearms certificate holders every six months. When applying for a certificate, or making a renewal every five years, an applicant is required to supply a medical report from their GP or another doctor. Subsequently, certificate holders must advise the police if they are diagnosed with, or treated for, a relevant medical condition.

In addition, and as part of the medical arrangements for firearms licensing, GPs are asked to place a marker on the medical records of those who hold a firearms certificate. This marker prompts the GP to alert the police if the certificate holder is diagnosed with a relevant medical condition at any time during the validity the certificate.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_8

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of criminal activity linked to candy retail stores. \p Sarah Jones: The Government is committed to ensuring high street businesses such as candy retail stores are not exploited by criminals conducting illicit activity such as money laundering or tax evasion.

The Government’s approach to tackling money laundering is set out in the Economic Crime Plan 2 which includes action to disrupt cash-based money laundering and strengthen system wide coordination. The Government, working in partnership with law enforcement and other agencies, is closely monitoring the level of illicit activity in the high street and actively considering whether further systemic interventions are needed to tackle this threat.

Operationally, in March 2025, the National Economic Crime Centre in the National Crime Agency, coordinated a three-week crackdown against barbershops and other cash intensive businesses involving 19 different police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units, as well as national agencies including HMRC, Trading Standards and Home Office Immigration Enforcement. In total, 380 premises were visited across the three-week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants and arrested 35 individuals. Officers also seized more than £40,000 in cash, 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, over 8,000 illegal vapes and two vehicles.

This is the first phase of targeted action against criminals and organised crime groups who use high-street businesses to launder criminal monies.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of (a) the Government’s commitment to halving levels of violence against women and girls within a decade and (b) the detention of women in immigration removal centres. \p Jess Phillips: Asylum-seeking victims must be treated as victims, first and foremost. We recognise the challenges asylum-seeking victims of VAWG can face and the VAWG Strategy will include more detail on our approach to migrant victims of VAWG. It is vital that we get this right, and we are committed to publishing the Strategy as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure coordination between her Department and the Department for Work and Pensions when monitoring foreign nationals' eligibility for Universal Credit. \p Mike Tapp: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) applies strict compliance and benefit eligibility checks to all claimants regardless of their nationality. In addition to verifying a claimant’s identity, DWP always checks a person’s immigration status before paying them benefits if they are a foreign national. The DWP verify this information with the Home Office, including through automatic system-to-system checks, which the Home Office is increasingly rolling out to other Government departments and public authorities.

The data made available through those system-to-system checks is specific to the need of each department and contains only the necessary information to inform their decision making.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is a standard condition applied to most categories of temporary immigration permission, which prevents those who are subject to immigration control from accessing certain services or benefits.

Those who are in the UK without lawful status are also prevented from accessing public funds. This includes access to Universal Credit.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has has made of the potential impact of the the suspension of refugee family reunion route on number of visa applications. \p Mike Tapp: The suspension of the refugee family reunion route is temporary while the Government undertakes a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system. In the meantime, those with protection status can use other family routes to sponsor a partner and child to come to the UK. Information relating to these changes are published on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1298-4-september-2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Justice of the potential impact of recent changes to the eligibility criteria for skilled worker visas on prison staff. \p Mike Tapp: On 12 May, the Government published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. On 22 July the first phase of changes took effect, including raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level occupations.

Prison service officers are classed as a medium skilled role and are not on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or Immigration Salary List (ISL). Therefore, workers with general work rights will not be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route.

Those on Skilled Worker visas before 22 July 2025 and who need to extend their stay can continue to apply in medium skilled roles and will have to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply.

It is our intention to publish an Impact Assessment (IA) at the earliest opportunity. A technical annex (www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex) was published alongside the Immigration White Paper setting out the impact of some of the key policy changes.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) evacuation and (b) relocation of Palestinian students from Gaza to the UK in 2025. \p Mike Tapp: There is no published data for the costs of the evacuation and relocation of Palestinian students from Gaza to the UK in 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to exempt the BNO visa scheme from the proposed extension of the standard qualifying period for settlement. \p Mike Tapp: The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.

I welcomed the opportunity to listen to the views of Members in the recent 8th September Westminster Hall Debate on settlement.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year. All will be welcome to participate. We will provide details of how the scheme will work after that consultation.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Helen Grant:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled Tribunal system reforms to speed up asylum decisions, published on 24 August 2025, whether first-tier tribunal judges of the immigration and asylum chamber will be permitted to work as professionally-trained adjudicators at the proposed new independent body. \p Mike Tapp: The Home Secretary confirmed in a statement to the House of Commons on 1 September that further information regarding Tribunal system reforms will be provided in due course. The statement can be accessed here: Borders and Asylum - Hansard - UK Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September to Question 75385 on Greta Thunberg, whether public expressions of support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action are considered relevant to an assessment under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules for refusal of entry to the UK. \p Mike Tapp: A person does not need to have a criminal conviction to be refused admission on non-conducive grounds. Examples of where a person’s presence may be non-conducive to the public good include where the person is a threat to national security, including involvement in terrorism and membership of proscribed organisation, or where the person has engaged in extremism or other unacceptable behaviour, such as the glorification of terrorism.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of visa sponsor licence revocations were (a) subsequently overturned and (b) appealed successfully from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. \p Mike Tapp: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office does publish data on the numbers of sponsor licences that are suspended and revoked each year and can be found under the Sponsorship Transparency Data heading at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that music remains central to mainstream school curriculum; and what assessments she has made of the potential merits of music education on students achievement's in (a) Maths, (b) English and (c) other disciplines. \p Georgia Gould: Creative subjects like music are important elements of the rich and broad curriculum every child deserves. Music is in the national curriculum from the age of 5 to 14 years (key stages 1-3). The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is looking at all subjects, including music, and any subject-specific findings will be included in the final report this autumn. The department also supports music education through a national network of Music Hubs.

Participation in the arts, including music, is valuable in and of itself but can also bring wider benefits for children and young people. The Education Endowment Foundation reports positive impacts on academic outcomes in areas including maths and English, as well as for wellbeing and engagement with learning.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether multi-academy trusts can implement Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice schemes. \p Georgia Gould: New electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes for academy trusts are currently paused. Academy trusts with existing schemes have been able to keep them in place, but not expand them by adding new members. This pause is subject to a review about salary sacrifice schemes in the public sector and a decision on these schemes by HM Treasury. The department will inform academy trusts when a decision has been made, and the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) will be updated accordingly. The ATH is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-trust-handbook/academy-trust-handbook-2025-effective-from-1-september-2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what training and resources are provided to teachers to enable effective delivery of financial education in schools. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the hon. Member for Farnham and Bordon to the answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21190.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the curriculum is adapted to keep pace with changes in financial products and technology, such as digital banking and online credit. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the hon. Member for Farnham and Bordon to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43513.
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_22

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the value for money to students of each UK university. \p Josh MacAlister: The department recognises the vital role universities play in driving economic growth, producing world-leading research, and delivering value for money to students. Frameworks like the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) help ensure accountability for public research funding and demonstrate the quality and value of the research and knowledge exchange delivered by UK universities.

For each £1 of publicly funded research income, the UK higher education (HE) sector’s research and knowledge exchange activities generate approximately £9.9 in economic impact across the UK (2021/22). For every £1 of public funding for its teaching activities, the UK HE sector generates approximately £13 in economic impact from these activities across the UK (2021/22).

For students, the Office for Students (OfS) monitors outcomes including continuation, completion, progression and graduate earnings, helping ensure that public investment in HE delivers high quality outcomes for both individuals and society.

The department continues to work closely with the OfS and other bodies to support universities in delivering positive impacts for students and the wider economy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the mental health support needs of kinship carers and the children in their care; and what steps she is taking to improve their access to appropriate services. \p Josh MacAlister: All children, including those in kinship care, are entitled to access universal and targeted mental health services, such as NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and mental health support teams in schools. Children in kinship care who were previously looked-after and are now subject to special guardianship or child arrangement orders may also be eligible for therapeutic support through the adoption and special guardianship support fund, which provides funding for essential services such as counselling, play therapy, and trauma support.

In October 2024, updated statutory guidance was published to clarify local authorities’ responsibilities in supporting kinship families, including access to appropriate services to safeguard and promote children’s welfare. Additional steps to support the wellbeing of kinship carers nationally include expanding peer support groups and delivering training for kinship carers.

The department continues to monitor feedback from those with direct experience to inform its approach to supporting kinship families.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department received legal advice on the imminence of legal rulings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Chagos Islands. \p Stephen Doughty: The Government's position in relation to the UK-Mauritius treaty has been informed by legal advice throughout. The Government's legal position was set out on 22 May when the treaty was signed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-secures-future-of-vital-diego-garcia-military-base-to-protect-national-security
wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_25

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 49 of the House of Lords International Agreements Committee report on the UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, published on 25 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Chagossian Trust Fund. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer to question 75385. The response to the House of Lords International Agreements Committee report will be published shortly.

Ahead of ratification, the Government will make a ministerial Statement in both Houses providing a factual update on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the trust fund. This will enable further discussion in a proper manner.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_26

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has for the recruitment process for the next permanent US Ambassador. \p Stephen Doughty: The process for the appointment of our Ambassador to the United States of America will be determined in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_27

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question HL2064 on Diego Garcia: Military Bases, how many letters were sent between the two governments on the draft treaty that have not been published alongside the treaty. \p Stephen Doughty: In line with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the government published the treaty and documentation required to inform the ratification of the treaty, including the full costs of the deal, on the day of signature.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_28

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has received representations from his US counterpart on freedom of speech in the UK. \p Stephen Doughty: Like the United States, the UK supports freedom of expression as a fundamental right and we have a long history of promoting freedom of expression globally, underpinned by our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_29

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer given 3 September 2025 to Questions 69773 on Chagos Islands: Marine Protected Areas, on what dates implementation talks have taken place since 22 May 2025; and which (a) ministers and (b) officials were present at those meetings. \p Stephen Doughty: As we have consistently said, we are not going to provide a commentary on the negotiations, nor our implementation talks. The final, agreed Treaty has been laid in Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_30

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Serbian counterpart on recent protests in Serbia. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign Secretary and I look forward to meeting Foreign Minister Djuric at the Berlin Process meeting of Western Balkans Foreign Ministers, that the UK will host next month. In visits to Serbia across the year, the former Foreign Secretary, UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Dame Karen Pierce, and I have stressed to the Serbian leadership that all action to manage protests should be proportionate, legal, and respect fundamental rights to peaceful freedom of expression and assembly. Noting with concern recent violent clashes, including with the police, we have continued to be clear - including in our contact through our Embassy in Belgrade - that incidents should be fully investigated and perpetrators of crimes held to account.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_31

David Davis:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times employees of Global Counsel have visited the UK embassy in Washington since 10 February 2025. \p Stephen Doughty: It is a long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private meetings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_32

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Benjamin Wegg-Prosser visited the US Embassy in Washington during the tenure of Lord Mandelson. \p Stephen Doughty: It is a long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private meetings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_33

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57228 on Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments, whether the British Ambassador to the United States' Developed Vetting was undertaken by (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) United Kingdom Security Vetting, (c) his Department and (d) an independent body. \p Seema Malhotra: All national security vetting is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_34

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51154, if he will publish the declaration by the Ambassador to the United States of America. \p Seema Malhotra: It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments to require ambassadors to declare personal or business interests and report gifts and hospitality. These declarations are reviewed internally on a regular basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_35

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what due diligence was undertaken for the appointment of the UK ambassador to the US. \p Seema Malhotra: Normal pre-employment processes, including vetting, are routinely carried out prior to all senior civil service appointments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_36

Alex Burghart:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release of the US Committee on Oversight and Government Reform entitled Oversight Committee Releases Records Provided by the Epstein Estate, Chairman Comer Provides Statement published on 8 September 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of the work of the UK Ambassador to the United States of America of the inclusion of the UK Ambassador's name in records released with this press release. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Honourable Member to the Urgent Question answer in the House of Commons on 11 September, Official Report, volume 772, column 1038.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_37

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the safe provision of humanitarian aid to people in need in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The previous Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 23 August to discuss a number of issues including humanitarian aid. We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations and United States, to push for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_38

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect hares; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the introduction of a closed season for hare hunting. \p Mary Creagh: This Government recognises the need to protect hares and the importance of tackling rural crimes such as hare coursing. Hare coursing and wider poaching activity is a UK wildlife crime priority, and a national police-led group is in place to help tackle this illegal activity. Defra is providing £424,000 in 2024-2025 for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which helps prevent and detect crime against hares by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations.

Where a close season for hares is concerned, the Government considers the need for this measure is justified by animal welfare as well as biodiversity and species conservation. In short, a close season should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, which runs from February to October, meaning fewer leverets are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation. A close season is consistent with Natural England's advice on wildlife management that controlling species in their peak breeding season should be avoided unless genuinely essential. Defra Ministers support the ambition to introduce a close season for hares in England and are considering how this can be brought forward.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_39

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of catapults on wildlife; and what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that wildlife is not (a) maimed and (b) killed by catapults. \p Mary Creagh: The Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the ongoing misuse of catapults against wildlife.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales. While the Act does not specifically include catapults in the list of weapons that a person must not use to kill wildlife, it is still illegal under this Act to deliberately attempt to kill, injure, or harm protected species. There are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of crimes under these Acts.

The Government is of the view there is already sufficient legislation in place which protects wild animals from targeted use of catapults. Defra therefore has no current plans to take further legislative steps to ensure that wildlife is not (a) maimed and (b) killed by catapults though my officials are holding discussions with Home Office on this issue in an effort to tackle these horrific crimes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_40

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60425 on Sustainable Farming Incentive, what his planned timetable is for announcing further details of the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that will better target SFI in an orderly way towards our priorities for food, farming and nature. Further information about the reformed SFI will be provided shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-22 conversation_41

Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to phase out the use of animals for the production of antibodies. \p Kanishka Narayan: I refer the hon. Member for East Antrim to the answer of 23rd of June 2025 to Question 59903.