theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of adherence to the Murad Code on improving information-gathering from survivors of sexual violence in conflicts within Sudan by (a) NGOs, (b) belligerents and (c) civil society. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan has been, and remains, unacceptably high. Given the frequent internet and communications shutdowns and lack of access to conflict zones, it is particularly challenging to monitor implementation of the Murad Code. As such we are currently unable to provide an assessment of trends in the level of adherence.

In 2022, together with Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad and the Institute for Inter­national Criminal Investi­gations (IICI), the UK launched the Murad Code, which sets out minimum standards for gathering information from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence safely and ethically. It is now available in 14 languages, including Arabic. Many non-governmental organisations and civil society actors, including those working in Sudan, have shown commitment to its principles. We continue to promote the Murad Code.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help (a) ensure that medical aid reaches people who are most in need in and (b) evacuate (i) people and (ii) children who need more extensive medical support from Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK continues to urge Israel to let Gazans receive urgent healthcare, including allowing the sick and wounded to temporarily leave the Gaza Strip for treatment. On 19 May, the UK, Canada, and France jointly called for Israel to cease its renewed military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. It is vital there is a full resumption of aid with Israel allowing the United Nations and other aid organisations to operate independently.

We announced a £7.5 million package of support to bolster medical care in Gaza and the region including additional funding for UK-Med, World Health Organization Egypt, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund.

The UK has supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. On 1 May, I announced that two children have arrived in the UK to begin privately funded medical treatment.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with UK regional allies on alternative aid routes into Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK has previously collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes, including air drops and a maritime corridor. However, these cannot substitute delivery by land, which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale required. On 19 May, the UK signed a joint donor statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza calling for a full resumption of aid and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Government of Israel must abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the proposed deal with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands amends the status of (a) the waters of the British Indian Ocean Territory's Water and (b) the Blue Belt Programme. \p Stephen Doughty: The agreement will be supported by an enhanced partnership between the UK and Mauritius on conservation. This partnership will prioritise high conservation standards, with the UK supporting Mauritius' ambitions to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the safety of transgender people travelling to the US; and if he will publish a country policy and information note on (a) sexual orientation and (b) gender identity and expression in the US. \p Stephen Doughty: US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The UK Government remains fully committed to upholding the human rights and freedoms of all LGBT+ people. We regularly monitor how policy changes in other countries could impact British nationals who travel, including LGBT+ people. We then review and update policies, and travel advice, as necessary.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support the roll-out of UK-made malaria vaccines. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is Gavi's largest investor, committing £1.65 billion to the current strategic period covering 2021-2025. Gavi coordinates the global malaria vaccination (RTS,S and R21) programme, providing essential financial support for the procurement, transport and roll-out of doses. To date, Gavi has supported 20 African countries in integrating the malaria vaccine into routine immunisation programmes. By collaborating with countries and partners, Gavi ensures the delivery of malaria vaccines as part of a comprehensive malaria control strategy. In addition to our support to Gavi the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and the UK Research and Innovation's Medical Research Council are funding applied research to support the effective rollout of malaria vaccines including how to best combine the vaccines with existing interventions.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to support efforts to tackle (a) malaria and (b) other diseases of poverty globally. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is a leading donor to the fight against Malaria. Our £1 billion pledge (2023-2025) to the Global Fund will support distributing 86 million treated mosquito nets, provide 452,000 doses of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and provide malaria treatment for 18 million people. The UK's £1.65 billion funding (2021-2025) to Gavi is helping to fund the rollout of malaria vaccines in up to 25 countries by the end of 2025. This is complemented by investments to support research and development and to improve access to key malaria products and support to the World Health Organisation and others to strengthen health systems. Additionally, our £1 billion funding to the Global Fund is expected to provide antiretroviral therapy for 1.8 million people and provide Tuberculosis treatment and care for 1.1 million people. Our £1.65 billion funding to Gavi will support immunisation of 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the International Finance Facility for Immunisation frontloading model is effectively utilised for the fast delivery of vaccines. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is the largest donor to Gavi and the largest contributor to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). IFFIm enables Gavi to rapidly introduce and scale-up new, breakthrough and existing vaccines and surge financing during unexpected health crises. The model also allows Gavi to manage financing more effectively across their 5-year strategic periods. The UK continues to monitor IFFIm's efficiency through our Annual Reviews that are published on Dev Tracker.
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Henry Tufnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on implementing a two-state solution in the region. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government regularly raises that a long-lasting ceasefire is the only credible pathway towards a sustainable peace, a two-state solution and the reconstruction of Gaza with counterparts in the Israeli Government. The Foreign Secretary last raised this in discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on 21 May as well as concern about the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. On 19 May the UK, alongside France and Canada, issued a joint statement expressing concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. The statement called for the release of hostages, reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defence with an emphasis on proportionality, and voiced support for both a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that Lukoil is not able to avoid UK sanctions. \p Stephen Doughty: We cannot comment on future designations. The UK has targeted Russian oil and those who produce it, by banning its import, implementing the Oil Price Cap, sanctioning two Russian oil majors, and specifying 251 shadow fleet oil tankers. Ships sanctioned by the UK in 2024 collectively carried $1.6 billion less year-on-year in Russian oil and oil products in Q1 2025.

We have also targeted those enabling Russia's illicit oil trade. These include a British national involved in procuring vessels for Russia's shadow fleet on behalf of Lukoil and networks established to enable the trade of Russian oil via the shadow fleet.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will maintain funding for the Choices Reproductive Health Supplies programme through a multi-year commitment of £400million from 2025-2030. \p Stephen Doughty: Following the decision to reduce the UK aid budget to 0.3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) by 2027, implications for individual programmes are still being worked through. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Official Development Assistance allocations will be considered over the coming months and will be published in the summer.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the trustees of Chelsea Football Club, (b) his Portuguese counterpart and (c) the European Commission on the proceeds of the sale of that club. \p Stephen Doughty: The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion.

We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.

While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine receive the benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.
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Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the work ban for people seeking asylum on future employment opportunities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Our primary responsibility remains to crack down on illegal working, and ensure that those employers and employees who play by the rules are not undercut by those who are not.

Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can currently apply for permission to work in jobs on the Immigration Salary List (ISL). The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration and asylum system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reform in relation to the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers, and a wide range of other areas.

The Home Office also continues to invest in a programme of transformation to speed up asylum decision making and therefore reduce the time people spend in the asylum system. This approach will ensure that genuine asylum seekers can be accepted quickly and gain access to the labour market, and those who are not can be removed to their home country.
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Natasha Irons:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of independence of the National Age Assessment Board. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The introduction of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) in March 2023, a decision-making body comprising of social workers who can conduct Merton age assessments on behalf of local authorities, offers significant improvements to our processes for assessing age. It aims to create greater consistency in age assessment practices and increase capacity and expertise in the system.

We have gone to great lengths to ensure that the NAAB is distinct from the Home Office’s asylum and immigration decision making functions and the two sit under separate management functions. In addition, the information acquired by the NAAB when conducting age assessments is not accessible to asylum and immigration decision making teams, other than the final decision on age.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which private contractors work for her Department to secure private rented accommodation for asylum seekers. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Details of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts negotiated by the previous government, including the names of the contractors and the scope of their contracts are publicly available on the Contract Finder website.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether data and imagery collected by Anduril Maritime Sentry Towers are used in asylum application decision-making. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The data and imagery collected by Anduril Maritime Sentry Towers are not used in asylum application decision-making.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether asylum applicants are made aware of their right to (a) receive and (b) amend their transcript from their substantive interview. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Asylum claimants are advised throughout the interview process that they will receive a copy of their interview transcript, and are invited to make any clarifications that are required.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is she taking to help tackle illegal immigration from Iran. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We continue to work closely with our partners across the Middle East to enhance capabilities concerning irregular migration and border security across the region, to further disrupt serious organised crime, including organised immigration crime and illicit drug flows.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants have been granted asylum after being convicted of a criminal offence in the UK in the last 12 months. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This information is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of deportation orders issued to foreign criminals in the last five years have been enforced. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government pledged to deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 and this has been surpassed, with a surge in returns activity since the election leading to almost 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK being removed.

Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 4,436 were of FNOs. This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior (FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued on what steps self employed professionals should take to obtain Enhanced DBS checking to enable them to provide services to vulnerable clients where there is no sponsoring employer. \p Jess Phillips: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent from the Home Office. Guidance published on gov.uk informs applicants and employers that:

· A self-employed person who is eligible for a standard or enhanced DBS check due to the role they will undertake can ask the organisation that wishes to contract their services, such as a Local Authority, or a recruitment agency, to apply for their higher-level DBS check.

· Under current legislation, applicants cannot apply for an enhanced (or standard) check issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) by themselves. This needs to be done through the employer who has asked for a DBS check.

· Self-employed people may obtain a basic check, which any individual may apply for, which will reveal any unspent criminal convictions and adult cautions.

·  DBS issues eligibility guidance on its website to this effect: DBS checks: guidance for employers - GOV.UK, Quick_Guide_to_DBS_Checks.pdf.

On 9 April we published an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse: Tackling child sexual abuse: progress update - GOV.UK. In this we have committed to creating the ability for the self-employed to access higher level DBS checks. This will also include enabling access by personal employers.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of mandating blunt-tipped kitchen knives for domestic use on rates of knife crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government’s mission to halve knife crime over a decade will be delivered through tougher enforcement and stronger prevention. However, we have been clear nothing is off the table when it comes to getting lethal blades off our streets and keeping people safe. We are actively exploring options and pursuing changes in this area, and I will be meeting with retailers and manufacturers to develop next steps on the promotion of rounded tipped knives.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent comparative assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Police Negotiating Board and binding arbitration mechanism used in Scotland and (b) the Police Remuneration Review Body model in England and Wales. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers.

The pay review bodies gather and invite parties to submit evidence to inform their decisions. This includes both written and oral evidence from the Government, police employers and police staff associations. They weigh the evidence, consider independent research, and formulate detailed recommendations.

We are committed to the Pay Review Body process and the Government appreciates and values the independent, expert advice and contribution that the pay review bodies make.
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Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will publish the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government is committed to tackling rural crime, safeguarding rural areas through tougher measures to clamp down on equipment theft and anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and action to prevent fly-tipping.

We recognise that there can be challenges in responding to rural crime. That is why we are working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to deliver the next iteration of a Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy, to ensure the government’s Safer Streets Mission benefits every community no matter where they live, including rural communities. This will be published in due course.

This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure the weight of government is put behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

In addition, we are providing funding of £800,000 in the current financial year to the National Rural and National Wildlife Crime Units. This will ensure these specialist units continue to help police forces tackle rural and wildlife crime, including helping tackle organised theft and disrupting the activities of serious and organised crime groups.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any penalties have been applied to Serco for non-compliance with contractual obligations at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre in the past 12 months. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Onsite Home Office Compliance Teams are responsible for ensuring that Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) contracted centre providers are fulfilling their contractual requirements.

Performance is monitored through a robust and comprehensive system of contract management, to ensure that the Home Office is receiving effective service and value for money.

As part of this contract monitoring process, contractual failures have been identified at Derwentside IRC and appropriate action taken.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that women have access to high-quality (a) interpretation and (b) translation services at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There is detailed guidance for staff working at all Immigration Removal Centres (IRC), including Derwentside. Detention Services Order ‘Interpretation Services and use of Translation Devices’ provides instruction and guidance on the use of interpretation services and electronic translation devices. It sets out the provisions, including interpretation services and translation devices available for individuals held in immigration detention, and the circumstances in which these should be used.

During the arrivals and induction process, a primary and secondary language assessment is conducted. The outcome of those assessments is recorded on the individual’s profile.

For those requiring interpreters, staff at Derwentside have access to dedicated telephone interpretation services 24 hours a day. In addition, electronic translation devices are available to support informal engagement. Together, these enable support for women throughout their time in the centre.
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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to (a) record and (b) report on the number of animals in the UK who are bred for science and not used in scientific procedures. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office is presently reviewing the collection and publication of additional statistics on animals that were bred for, but not used in, scientific procedures.
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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report entitled Evaluation of Action Access, an Alternative to Detention Pilot by UNHCR, published in January 2022, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of community-based alternatives to detention for women. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a range of experts and stakeholders.
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to maintain the settlement criteria for British National (Overseas) visa holders. \p Seema Malhotra: 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.

Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of its White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, on Ukrainian refugees seeking indefinite leave to remain. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given on 21 May to PQ UIN 51999.
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Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applications for dependents of skilled health workers were rejected due to issues with birth certificates issued by the country of origin in 2024. \p Seema Malhotra: 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.
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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the merits of including the time people already living in the UK have accrued on their route to settlement via the Indefinite Leave to Remain routes. \p Seema Malhotra: We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases have been initiated against people found to not be in possession of a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation in Northern Ireland between January and March 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: Electronic travel authorisations were introduced in October 2023 to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the United Kingdom. They were more recently expanded to eligible non-European nationals (in November 2024) and Europeans (on 5 March this year). Further details of how the ETA requirement is being enforced will be published in due course.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the continued operation of UK-registered charities with links to hostile foreign regimes on national security. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government's first duty is to protect our national security and keep our country safe. In concert with partners, we will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from state threats. We do not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has a statutory function to identify and investigate misconduct and mismanagement in charities. We are confident that it has the expertise to do so effectively.
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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of migrants are granted settlement after (a) five years and (b) ten years for which the latest data is available. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office publishes data on how people move through the immigration system in the Migrant Journey report. Data on those granted indefinite leave to remain or citizenship by year of initial leave can be found in dataset MJ_D01. The latest publication includes those granted initial leave up to the end of 2024.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, whether the proposed increase in the standard qualifying period for permanent residence from five to ten years will apply only to newly-arrived migrants. \p Seema Malhotra: We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she expects Locality to open the window for grant applications for funding to support communities with developing neighbourhood plans in 2025-26. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the outline content of the expected qualification standards for housing managers under the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38621 on Combined Authorities, if she will make it her departmental policy to ask for sex not gender in future consultations. \p Alex Norris: We will be guided by the revised EHRC Code of Practice when it becomes available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_102

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45609 on Knutsford Town Council: Finance, how much of this grant was received by Knutsford Town Council. \p Alex Norris: Knutsford Town Council received £552,000 of the grant awarded to them in the first round of the Community Ownership Fund. The project failed to proceed as planned. By agreement with the applicant the full amount of grant received was returned to the Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_103

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will create an English language strategy within the Community Cohesion strategy. \p Alex Norris: The government recognises that the ability to speak English is key to helping people integrate into life in the UK, as well as supporting people to access education, employment and other opportunities.

For example, we have launched a competitive process to continue our support for Ukrainians and Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas), providing intensive English language lessons and employment support for up to 4,000 individuals. This builds on the success of the STEP Ukraine pilot which has supported over 13,000 Ukrainians, with an impressive 84% successfully completing the programme and 73% achieving a 100% in their English language test.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is leading cross-government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_104

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the locations were of the official visits she undertook on 10 April 2025. \p Alex Norris: The Deputy Prime Minister was undertaking official and political business from multiple locations on 10 April . This included a departmental visit to Birmingham.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_105

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials in her Department and (c) Best Value Commissioners have had any involvement in the interlocutory injunctions in relation to the industrial action in Birmingham. \p Jim McMahon: The response to the ongoing disruption in Birmingham’s waste services rightly continues to be led at the local level. Best Value Commissioners are not directly involved in negotiations between the Council and Unite but continue to work constructively with the Council to ensure that a fair, meaningful and sustainable resolution is found as quickly as possible.

Decisions on trade union facility time are a matter for the Council as the employer. There are no plans to expand the remit of the Commissioners to intervene in workforce matters of this nature. Commissioners were appointed to oversee the Council’s broader improvement journey and to ensure compliance with the ‘Best Value’ Duty.

Ministers, departmental officials and Commissioners have been updated on, but are not involved in, the interlocutory injunctions related to the industrial action. These are legal proceedings initiated by the Council, and it is for the Council to determine how to respond to the operational risks arising from the dispute. The government is supportive of the Council’s work to prevent any escalation in disruption.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_106

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) her Department and (b) the Valuation Tribunal Service has issued guidance to local billing authorities on the definition of a second home for council tax purposes. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 52861 on 23 May 2025. The government’s guidance also sets out how second homes are defined for council tax purposes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_107

Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43491 on Internal Drainage Boards: Finance, what steps she has taken to allocate funding to councils. \p Jim McMahon: The government announced at the final 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement that it will provide £5 million in funding for the local authorities most impacted by Internal Drainage Board levies. Allocations for the 2025-26 IDB levy support grant will be announced in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_108

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a list of the local authorities which will levy a second homes premium on council tax in 2025-26; and what estimate she has made of the number of homes liable to that premium. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51402 on 20 May. This data will be provided in November.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_109

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on how many and what proportion of the Jewish population (a) are living in (i) temporary accommodation, (ii) rented accommodation, and (iii) owner occupied housing and (b) are homeless. \p Rushanara Ali: The English Housing Survey (EHS) contains details on the demographic profile of households in England. In the published figures for 2022-23, there were 99,000 owner occupied households where the Household Reference Person (HRP) identified as Sikh. Within the rented sectors, there were 7000 private rented households and 15,000 social rented households where the HRP identified as Sikh.

In the published figures for 2022-23, there were 88,000 owner occupied households where the HRP identified as Jewish. Within the rented sectors there were 21,000 private rented households and 6000 social rented households where the HRP identified as Jewish.

The department does not hold information on the religion of households that are homeless or in temporary accommodation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_110

Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many titles on the Land Register were purchased by overseas people or entities in each month in the last five years; and what their total purchase price value was. \p Matthew Pennycook: HM Land Registry (HMLR) registers legal ownership, interests and mortgages against land and property in England and Wales. The Register of Title held by HMLR does not record the nationality of individuals who own land or property.

HMLR publishes a dataset about non-UK companies or corporate bodies that own land in England and Wales. This is publicly available via gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_111

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department has awarded to Artemis Technologies in each of the past three years, broken down by project supported. \p Mike Kane: In financial year 2024/2025, no funding was awarded to Artemis Technologies.

In financial year 2023/24 the Department for Transport provided funding, via the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) R&D Programme, to Artemis Technologies totalling £4,091,119. This was made up of:

In financial year 2022/23 the Department for Transport provided funding, via the UK SHORE, to Artemis Technologies totalling £9,901,637. This was made up of:

Artemis Technologies partner with others to deliver their projects. This includes subcontracting work out to others, which the funding ultimately covers. Funds are paid to Artemis once evidence of the costs being incurred and defrayed have been provided.

Artemis have are also involved in a range of projects, and this is taken into account when projects bid for funding. As part of the bidding process, application assessments include scrutiny of the project's ability to deliver, including 'team and resources' requirements. Assessments are conducted by independent assessors. For ZEVI and CMDC3 (which Artemis successfully applied for), there was an additional interview stage ahead of projects being awarded funding where the interview panel questioned all projects on their ability to deliver during the project timeframe, especially those organisations that potentially would be involved in multiple projects at the same time.

More information on these, and other projects funded through the UK SHORE programme, can be found at https://iuk-business- connect.org.uk/programme/uk-shipping-office-for-reducing-emissions/
wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_112
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_112

Mr Alex Barros-Curtis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to close existing loopholes which enable taxi drivers to work cross border. \p Simon Lightwood: Responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle policy is devolved to the Welsh Assembly. It is therefore for the Welsh Government to consider any changes to the regulation of the sector in Wales.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_113

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve rural bus services in South Northamptonshire. \p Simon Lightwood: The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in rural areas in South Northamptonshire.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council have been allocated £5.2 million and £5.4 million respectively. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.
wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_114
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-04 conversation_114

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Mayor of London on the effectiveness of enforcement measures against fare evasion on Transport for London services. \p Simon Lightwood: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for operational decisions to support reduced fare evasion. Department for Transport ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues including fare evasion on their network. TfL has informed the department of their activity to tackle this important issue which includes an expanded dedicated team of investigators and 500 uniformed TfL officers deployed across the TfL network with 360 offenders found guilty at court in 2024.