theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential cumulative impact of the (a) increase in National Insurance contributions, (b) changes to the level of retail, hospitality and leisure rate business relief from 2025-26 and (c) changes to the business rate surcharge on properties above £500,000 Rateable Value from 2026-27. \p James Murray: To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to support public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.

The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November 2024.

Without any government intervention, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief would have ended entirely in April 2025, creating a cliff-edge for businesses. Instead, the Government has decided to offer a 40 per cent discount to RHL properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business in 2025-26 and frozen the small business multiplier.

From 2026-27 we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties on 2026-27 - those with rateable values of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but capturing the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

The Non-Domestic Ratings Bill sets out the parameters within which the government proposes the multipliers would be set by Treasury regulations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Ben Maguire:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the tax allowance for pensioners to £15,000. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to keeping taxes as low as possible for pensioners while ensuring fiscal responsibility, which is why it is not extending the freeze on personal tax thresholds that was implemented by the previous government, and is instead allowing them to rise with inflation from April 2028.

At Autumn Budget, the Government announced that the basic and new State Pension will increase by 4.1% from April 2025. This means those on a full new State Pension will receive an additional £470 a year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Mims Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the level of National Insurance contributions on victims support services. \p James Murray: The Government publishes Tax Information and Impact Notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective and an assessment of the impacts including on the Exchequer, individuals and families, businesses including civil society organisations and others. The TIIN for the employer NICs changes was published on 13 November 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on agricultural businesses. \p James Murray: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer; the economic impacts of the policy; and the impacts on individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and an overview of the equality impacts.

The Chancellor has decided to protect the smallest employers by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500, and removing the £100,000 eligibility threshold, meaning all eligible employers benefit. This means that next year, 865,000 employers – including small farms who employ staff - will pay no NICs at all. More than half of employers will see no change or will gain overall from this package.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Phil Brickell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Revenue and Customs staff time and resource was dedicated to recovering funds from covid-19 (a) business relief and (b) procurement-related fraud in the latest period for which data is available. \p James Murray: HMRC remain committed to COVID-19 scheme compliance activity and will continue to prioritise and pursue the most serious cases of abuse.

Part (a):

The main COVID-19 business support schemes that were administered by HMRC were the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO). We have interpreted your request for details relating to business relief to relate to these grant schemes.

From tax year 2020/21 to date, HMRC estimate that c.3,500 staff have been deployed to recover overpayments on the COVID-19 business support schemes administered by HMRC (where one staff member is the equivalent of one full time staff member for one year).

Part (b):

HMRC has no functions in relation to the procurement processes and contracts awarded in relation to key healthcare related equipment and supplies. As such, HMRC would not generally investigate whether fraud has been committed in relation to the actual procurement or execution of such contracts, except where there was an ongoing investigation undertaken by other Law Enforcement Agencies concerning offences relating to one or more of HMRC’s functions, such as tax offences.

HMRC’s only involvement in stand-alone fraud investigations that might arise from procurement would be if there were issues in relation to one or more of HMRC’s functions, such as tax offences.

HMRC conducts thousands of civil and criminal compliance actions each year. A number of these relate to tax offences suspected of having been committed by those seeking and fulfilling government contracts relating to the procurement and onward supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and similar products during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work is undertaken across various teams within HMRC’s Customer Compliance Group.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any private sector companies contracted to her Department will receive increased payments for the increase in employer National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: Reviewing contractual payment provisions is dependent on the applicable terms and conditions of individual agreements. Supplier requests for such pricing reviews would be considered as part of standard contract management practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of how many full time employees will not be paying income tax when the freeze on personal tax thresholds ends in April 2028. \p James Murray: At the National Minimum Wage rates effective from April 2025 and working 35 hours per week a full-time employee over 21 would earn £22,222.22 –which is above the Personal Allowance of £12,570.

Therefore, when the freeze on personal tax thresholds ends in April 2028 a full-time employee earning at least the minimum wage would have pay more than the personal allowance and thus would be expected to pay Income Tax.

This government is committed to keeping taxes as low as possible for working people while ensuring fiscal responsibility, which is why it will not extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds, allowing them to rise with inflation the following year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2316 on Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to local education authority decisions on (a) parents with children joining the state system from independent schools and (b) other school admissions. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Public bodies specified by the duty include county and district councils, the Greater London Authority, and London Borough councils. We will support public bodies to ensure that they have clarity as to how to meet the duty in readiness for commencement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on protecting women from online harassment. \p Anneliese Dodds: Equalities Ministers have regular discussions with their colleagues across Government about tackling online harassment as part of the Government's commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. These include the Safer Streets Mission Board and Violence Against Women and Girls Ministerial meetings.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will publish a timeline for the introduction of mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting. \p Seema Malhotra: As set out in the King’s Speech in July, the government is committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. These measures will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which will be published in draft in this parliamentary session

We will shortly be consulting on our proposals to help us shape the legislation and will announce further details on timing in due course.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20613 on UK Research and Innovation: Staff, what are the duties of regionally-organised business growth advisers; and who pays their salaries. \p Feryal Clark: Regionally organised business growth advisors (also known as innovation and growth specialists or scaleup directors) provide a comprehensive spectrum of innovation and commercial expertise to high-potential small to medium-sized innovation-driven companies. They help clients tackle priorities such as improving the innovation process, forging international business collaborations, becoming investment ready, and structuring for growth. Additionally, they act as a gateway to UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) range of support and significant regional, national, and international innovation resources.

The salaries of these business growth advisors are funded by Innovate UK, which is part of UKRI.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the SEPs Resource Hub launched by the IPO in October 2024 on small and medium enterprises. \p Feryal Clark: From its launch on 22 July 2024 to 15 January 2025, the Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) Resource Hub has been accessed by 869 unique users. The IPO has sought feedback from stakeholders to assess whether they have accessed, understood, and implemented the Resource Hub’s guidance. Stakeholders have indicated that the Hub has helped to reduce uncertainty around FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) licensing, particularly for small and medium enterprises, and encourage more informed negotiations between SEP holders and implementers. Further evaluation is being undertaken, both to help make improvements to the Hub and assess whether intended impacts have been achieved.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Sam Carling:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent changes to Meta guidelines on hateful conduct which allow Facebook users to refer to LGBT+ people as mentally ill. \p Feryal Clark: The government is aware of the changes Meta has made to its guidelines. This change does not affect the strong protections the Online Safety Act will bring in for UK users online. The Act will oblige all social media companies to remove illegal content and content harmful to children and will give adult users more control over the type of content they see, including that which is hateful or abusive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help ensure that pornographic sites remove content that promote a sexual interest in children. \p Feryal Clark: The Online Safety Act will place strict safety duties on user-to-user online platforms, including pornography-sharing sites, to proactively tackle any child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) content on their services. These sites need to start assessing for CSEA and other illegal content risks now. Their duties to tackle this content are scheduled to fully take effect this spring.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute. \p Feryal Clark: There is currently no industrial dispute within DSIT or any of its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). No Trade Union has a current mandate for industrial action in DSIT or its ALBs.

There are ongoing disputes between PCS Union and both G4S Security Company (G4S) and International Services System - Facilities Management Services (ISS). G4S and ISS provide facilities management services in DSIT offices and those of other Departments under a contract managed by Government Property Agency. Those disputes are a matter for the union and employers concerned.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the incoming US presidency on scientific research in the UK. \p Feryal Clark: The US is our biggest research partner. We expect this to continue. The UK’s thriving scientific ecosystem make us a natural and leading collaborator for the US research community. The UK and US have a deep scientific partnership which supports the UK's economic growth agenda. The Government looks forward to continuing to build on our strong existing bilateral commitments on research, which advance the frontiers of science, research and innovation to shape the technologies of the future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve mobile phone signal coverage in rural areas of Boston and Skegness constituency; and what plans he has to ensure that (a) residents and (b) businesses in those areas receive reliable mobile connectivity. \p Chris Bryant: I have raised my concerns about the reporting of mobile connectivity with Ofcom, but according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report (published on 5 December 2024) 99% of the Boston and Skegness constituency has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, and that 5G is available from at least one operator outside 99% of all premises.

The Government wants all areas of the UK, including Boston and Skegness constituency, to benefit from good quality mobile coverage. Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

We work closely with the mobile industry and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much and what proportion of (a) Project Gigabit funding has been (i) spent on and (ii) allocated for and (b) additional funding announced in the press notice entitled Hundreds of thousands of Brits in rural villages and towns to benefit from UK government broadband boost, published on 7 January 2025, has been allocated for projects in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe constituency. \p Chris Bryant: Project Gigabit funding is not allocated at a constituency or regional level. Instead, it is targeted at premises across the UK that need it most, specifically those outside of suppliers' commercial plans.

The latest Project Gigabit contracts announced on 7 January 2025 do not cover Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe as eligible premises in the constituency have already been included in an earlier Project Gigabit contract with Openreach. This contract is currently expected to deliver gigabit-capable connections to approximately 3,600 premises in the constituency.

To date, over £1 million in public subsidy has been spent in the Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe constituency through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and its previous iterations, passing nearly 800 premises with gigabit-capable broadband. This includes top-up funding from Welsh Government. Additionally, almost 6,700 premises across the constituency have received a gigabit-capable connection through the government’s Superfast and GigaHubs programmes. We do not hold constituency-level data of spend for these schemes.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies. \p Feryal Clark: The Department is a customer of the Government Property Agency (GPA) in its office locations. Artwork that is displayed in these locations is owned by Government Art Collection which is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. GPA is responsible for any heritage assets.

As separate entities, arm’s-length body are responsible for artwork and heritage items that sit within their office locations, rather than with the Department.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate he has made of the annual running costs of the Regulatory Innovation Office. \p Feryal Clark: The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) is the Government’s key tool for advancing regulatory innovation. The RIO draws on from core existing functions like the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) and the Regulators’ Pioneers Fund (RPF). The Government will continue to evaluate timelines, costs, legal considerations, and objectives to ensure the RIO aligns with our transformative goals and delivers effective regulatory solutions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) insurance requirements and (b) enforcement mechanisms are in place for (a) private hire and (b) delivery drivers. \p Lilian Greenwood: All drivers must have the correct insurance cover for the purpose they are using their vehicle for, and the police may check this when stopping a vehicle.

The Government takes uninsured driving seriously and tackles this through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a scheme where the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency collaborate to identify uninsured drivers; police enforcement on the road and through Operation Tutelage.
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Jonathan Hinder:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of restoring the Skipton to Colne rail route. \p Simon Lightwood: All feasibility work relating to the proposed reinstatement of the Skipton-Colne line has been completed. While there is a strong strategic case for improving connectivity between East Lancashire and the Leeds city region, the scheme is currently unaffordable due to its high capital and operating costs. No DfT funding has been allocated for further development.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many roads were closed during flooding in (a) Bedfordshire, (b) the East of England and (c) nationally in (i) 2024 and (ii) the latest period for which data is available. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department recognises the profound importance of our country’s road network in moving people, goods, and services around the country. The impact of closing roads will vary greatly depending on the roads in question and on the scale and severity of the flooding.

The Government does not keep centralised lists of local road closures during periods of severe weather and flooding, either in Bedfordshire or nationally. These are matters for local highway authorities.

Bedford Council and Central Bedfordshire Council, as the relevant local highway authorities for Bedfordshire, are responsible for the management of their respective local networks, including making operational network decisions in the event of severe weather events including flooding.

On a national basis, management of the English highway network is the responsibility of over 150 highway authorities, who make operational decisions based on the scope and severity of severe weather affecting their area.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute. \p Mike Kane: No recognised trade union currently holds a mandate to call industrial action in the Department for Transport or its Executive Agencies.

Members of PCS and Prospect unions in the Civil Aviation Authority have voted to take industrial action in a dispute over pay. The CAA is a statutory corporation and a public corporation of the Department for Transport. The number of staff potentially involved in the dispute is approximately 1,600, although it is estimated that 22% of staff are members of these unions.

PCS has called for a two-day strike commencing on 16 January followed by an overtime ban and work to rule.

Prospect has called for an overtime ban and work to rule commencing on 20 January.

Ministers look forward to a speedy resolution of this dispute and note that discussions between CAA management and unions are continuing. The pay of employees of the CAA is wholly a matter for the organisation itself.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) her Department, (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies and (iii) railway stations. \p Mike Kane: The Department borrows art from the Government Art Collection and does not own artwork. As separate legal entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the Department.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Jet Zero Taskforce Group will make an assessment of the potential merits of transitioning Grangemouth into a Sustainable Aviation Fuel facility. \p Mike Kane: This government, along with the Scottish Government, has put in place support to help workers to find new, skilled jobs, signed the £100m Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, and funded Project Willow to find a viable long-term future for the site. This work includes consideration of potential production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel on the site amongst other options.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the annual running costs of the Jet Zero Taskforce. \p Mike Kane: The Jet Zero Taskforce convenes government and stakeholders from across the UK aviation sector to identify, and advise on, unblocking the key barriers in delivering greener aviation. Membership of the Taskforce is on a voluntary basis and there are no paid positions. Administrative running costs are minimal.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve public transportation options for children with special education needs and disabilities that are in further education. \p Simon Lightwood: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Local authorities are responsible for transport to education and training for 16-19 year olds. Post-16 transport guidance requires local authorities to make the necessary transport arrangements or provide financial support to ensure young people can participate in education or training. The needs of young people with SEND should be specifically considered and the arrangements put in place for each group must be documented in local authority transport policy statements.

In addition to their statutory responsibilities, many local authorities do offer some form of subsidised transport which, combined with the 16-19 bursary, has been intended to provide financial support to students from low-income households. These decisions are best made locally, in consideration of local needs, the resources available and other local circumstances.

With regard to public transport options more widely, the government wants everyone who needs it, including children and young people with SEND, to have access to public transport and is committed to improving services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity.

The government’s reforms to bus services typify this. On 17th December, the government introduced a new Bus Services Bill that will give local leaders the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including for disabled people. The Bill includes measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many street works carried out under emergency procedures she considers as evidence of misuse. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department have examined data from our Street Manager digital service and spoken to industry representatives and found no evidence of misuse. Emergency works are needed to deal with danger to life and urgent works are needed, for example, to repair leaks, restore customer connections, and repair dangerous potholes. The Government believes, however, that there is scope to improve how such works are managed and communicated to road users and we are working with the sector to develop proposals to address this.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the utilities industry on minimising disruption caused by street works. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport works closely with industry stakeholders, including utility companies, as we continue to review our legislation, statutory guidance and guidance, to identify areas where the regime can be improved to minimise the impact of street works. We have recently announced to the industry that we will be clamping down on disruptive works by doubling fixed penalty notices for utility companies who fail to comply with rules and extending charges for works that overrun into weekends.

As more highway authorities are progressing with their applications to operate lane rental schemes to target the most disruptive works on our roads, my Department have been engaging with utility companies directly as part of a series of regional visits. Utility companies have also been invited, along with a range of other stakeholders, to take part in a consultation on proposals to improve and simplify the lane rental application process.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with representatives of Great Western Railway since 29 November 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Secretary of State has not met with Great Western Railway representatives since 29 November 2024, however on 12 December the Rail Minister met with representatives of both Great Western Railway and Network Rail to ensure they are progressing their plans to improve services for passengers.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to help ensure rail stations are step free. \p Simon Lightwood: Since April 2024, step free upgrades at 13 stations have been completed, with a further 18 due to be completed by April 2025. This will be the most stations completed in one year since the programme started in 2006. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the proportion of rail journeys eligible for discounts through the 2025 Rail Sale. \p Simon Lightwood: Over two million tickets at discounts of up to 50 per cent are available for purchase as part of the Rail Sale. Train operating companies have decided on a commercial basis, the proportion of tickets available at discounted prices on their services.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many open access applications (a) were approved in 2024 and (b) are awaiting a decision from the Office of Rail and Road. \p Simon Lightwood: The Office of Rail and Road has confirmed to us that in 2024 they approved 2 applications from Open Access operators to provide completely new services and approved a further 8 applications from existing Open Access operators to either continue or make small-scale amendments to existing services.

The Office of Rail and Road is currently considering 13 applications from Open Access operators. Details of all decisions and live applications are published on the Office of Rail and Road’s website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the second stage of the process evaluation of the Active Travel Fund Tranche 2 will take place. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department recently published both stages 1 and 2 of the Active Travel Fund tranche 2 process evaluation. Active Travel England will continue to work with the University of Westminster and Sustrans to consider further evaluation of government investment in active travel and the impact of interventions to encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_190

Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation on Benchmarking operators’ performance in rail passenger assistance, published on 16 December 2024. \p Simon Lightwood: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), like the Department for Transport, follows Government accessibility standards for its online content - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps.

ORR outlines the steps it takes to make content on accessible in its accessibility statement https://www.orr.gov.uk/accessibility-statement. The statement also sets out how users can request alternative versions of website content; provide feedback on website accessibility; or make complaints about the accessibility of website content.

For the Benchmarking operators' performance in rail passenger assistance consultation, https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-consultations/benchmarking-operators-performance-rail-passenger-assistance, ORR has provided alternative versions of the consultation document (including larger print and easy read versions) and alternative ways to respond (online form, email, post, easy read form).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_191

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to respond to the letter from Liberal Democrat hon. Members on the nationalisation of South Western Railway. \p Simon Lightwood: The Rail Minister replied to this letter on 14th January 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_192

Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned East Coast Main Line timetable change in December 2025 on local rail services in (a) County Durham and (b) the North East. \p Simon Lightwood: An assessment suggested Chester-le-Street calls on Trans Pennine Express be increased to hourly services, which have now been implemented. As well as the LNER London to Newcastle trains be increased from two trains per hour to three trains per hour, now scheduled to start from December 2025.

Darlington should retain its two trains per hour to London by LNER and Durham should retain its one train per hour to London by LNER, both of which have been confirmed.

Other benefits to the North-east identified for introduction include more local trains north of Newcastle.

Network Rail is modelling the timetable to enable industry to focus on actions to ensure the timetable can be delivered reliably.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_193

Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the upcoming Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls on congestion at the Dartford crossing. \p Simon Lightwood: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL is responsible for assessing any impact of tolls on the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels on congestion in the area. However, given the additional capacity provided by the Silvertown Tunnel and that for most of the day the charges for cars, vans and lorries at the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will be less than those at the Dartford Crossing, the Department expects minimal changes in total demand at the Dartford Crossing when tolling begins
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_194

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the total expenditure was on achieving net zero targets in each year since 2015 by sector; and what the corresponding estimated total reduction in global emissions was in the same period. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its analysis of the cost of reaching net zero by 2050 in chapter 3 of the July 2021 edition of its UK Fiscal Risk Report. As the OBR has noted, “the costs of failing to get climate change under control would be much larger than those of bringing emissions down to net zero.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_195

Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on international climate commitments since 5 November 2024. \p Kerry McCarthy: This Government believes that we can only ensure climate security for further generations in the UK if we lead globally. Secretary of State has had a range of engagements with European counterparts on international climate commitments, including at COP29.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_196

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the annual subsidy is for renewable energy projects; and what the average increase in consumer energy bills was in each of the last five years. \p Michael Shanks: This data is published by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility and Ofgem.

Renewables provide energy security by reducing our exposure to gas price volatility, as well as providing significant savings for those households and businesses directly benefitting from small-scale renewable measures, such as solar panels.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_197

Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of US policies in relation to renewable energy between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK's renewable energy commitments. \p Michael Shanks: BEIS has, and DESNZ continues to, assess the implications of international policy on the UK. The Department works on the basis of its legislative commitment to combating climate change and meeting the UK's Carbon Budgets
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_198

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the sustainability of energy produced by Drax power station in the last 12 years. \p Michael Shanks: The Government supports biomass as a low carbon source of energy only where relevant sustainability criteria are met. Drax must demonstrate compliance with these criteria to Ofgem as the independent regulator. Evidence provided is independently audited. Ofgem recently published their conclusions on an investigation into Drax’s compliance with sustainability standards on 29 August 2024. The investigation found that whilst Drax complied with the standards, it failed to report data accurately. Government expects full compliance with all regulatory obligations and the size of Drax’s redress payment, £25m, underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_199

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much his Department has spent on measures to achieve net zero targets in the last five years. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its analysis of the cost of reaching net zero by 2050 in chapter 3 of the July 2021 edition of its UK Fiscal Risk Report. As the OBR has noted, “the costs of failing to get climate change under control would be much larger than those of bringing emissions down to net zero.” Spending Review 2021 set out £26 billion of public capital investment in net zero over four years across Government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_200

Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Energy in response to the hon. Member for Gordon and Buchan during the Oral Statement of 13 January on Gas Storage Levels, Official Report, column 32, if he will publish details of the meetings the Minister for Energy has had with oil and gas companies in Aberdeen since July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_201

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who received grants for heat source pumps under (a) the Green Homes Grant and (b) similar schemes are supported when systems prove unfit for purpose and the installation company goes into liquidation. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme required that consumers seek advice from a suitably qualified TrustMark registered installer before they applied for a voucher. It also required that installations meet Publicly Available Standard (PAS) 2035.

If a homeowner believes that any installation work carried out in their home under a Government scheme is faulty, they should first contact the installer. Where the installer has failed to adequately resolve the issue or have ceased trading, they may refer to TrustMark’s website which contains further guidance on steps consumers can take if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: (https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowner/support/complaints-process).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_202

Connor Naismith:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to ensure that (a) commercial and (b) retail units utilise (i) solar panels and (ii) other renewable energy sources. \p Michael Shanks: Future building standards this year will set new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuel markets and ensures they are fit for a net zero future.

Changes have been introduced to permitted development rights, enabling more solar installations to benefit from these flexibilities and planning freedoms.

The Government will assess the potential to drive the construction of solar canopies on outdoor carparks over a certain size through a call for evidence this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-17 conversation_203

Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to roll out the Warm Homes Plan to Runcorn and Helsby constituency. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out later this year following the conclusion of the Spending Review.