theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the cost of electricity bills. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

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

The Government recognises that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we are delivering the Warm Homes Discount to over 3 million households in fuel poverty this winter. In addition, I have also been working with energy suppliers to agree a £500 million winter support package to help customers struggling with bills this winter.

I urge any consumers who are struggling to pay their bills to speak to their supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice who may be able to provide help and support.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to tackle fuel poverty in winter 2024-25. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income and fuel poor households. The Warm Home Discount provides £150 off bills to over 3 million low-income households.

The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 26921 on Offenders: Deportation, what the cost to the public purse was of these deportations; and whether financial incentives were offered. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer I gave him on 3 February to Question UIN 26775.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inflatable boats used to smuggle people across the English Channel were seized in (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is set out in the below table:

Boats

2022

1421

2023

515

2024

751
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 26777 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, what the value is of the individual financial incentive offered to each person deported as a Verified Voluntary Return. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Guidance on the functioning of the Voluntary Returns Service is available on Gov.uk at this link: Get help to return home if you’re a migrant in the UK: Overview - GOV.UK. I can confirm to the Hon Member that this guidance has not changed since the current Government came to office.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the police grant for 2025-26 on crime in Epping Forest constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.5 billion in 2025-26, an increase of up to £1.1 billion compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement.

This includes funding to support the costs of the 24-25 pay award, the increase in the employer national insurance contributions, funding for officer maintenance and an additional £200 million to kickstart the first phase of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

Essex Police’s funding will be up to £433.3 million in 2025-26, an increase of £27.1 million compared to 2024-25. This represents a 6.7% cash increase and 4.2% real terms increase when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to provide support to victims of antisocial behaviour. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

The Government’s Plan for Change, announced by the Prime Minister on 5 December, committed to a zero-tolerance approach to ASB. This will include a dedicated ASB lead officer in every police force working with communities to develop a local anti-social behaviour action plan. We will also put 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities so that residents have a named officer they can turn to when things go wrong.

This Government will strengthen the powers available to relevant agencies to tackle ASB. We recently announced Respect Orders, which will be introduced in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill. Respect Orders will be applied for by police and local councils and issued by the courts. They will enable courts to place wide-ranging restrictions on the behaviour of the most persistent and disruptive ASB offenders. Breach will be a criminal offence meaning officers can arrest and act quickly to disrupt ongoing ASB. Breaches will be heard in the criminal courts who will have a wide range of sentencing options, including community orders, unlimited fines and, for the most severe cases, up to two years’ imprisonment.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of special constables. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities safe.

As we announced in the Police Funding Settlement in January, this Government is doubling the funding available in 2025/26 to support the first steps in delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel, including special constables. This total £200 million investment underlines our commitment to the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and making the country’s streets safer.

Police forces have been asked to design delivery profiles for their workforce mix that are tailored to local needs and operational contexts, based on what is deliverable within their funding allocation, including special constables. This will ensure that additional neighbourhood personnel in 2025/26 are delivered in a manner that is flexible and easily adaptable to local crime demands.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support retailers to improve security measures in their stores to prevent crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Shop theft soared to unacceptable levels under the previous government, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this. Everybody has a right to feel safe at their place of work.

The Government is committed to tackling retail crime. We will end the effective immunity, introduced by the previous Government, granted to shop theft of goods of £200 and under. This will remove any perception that offenders will escape punishment.

We will also introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

As set out in the Autumn budget 2024, we will provide over £7 million over the next three financial years to help support police in tackling retail crime.

I am committed to chairing the newly established Retail Crime Forum to ensure we understand the needs of all retailers and to promote collaboration between the retail sector, security providers and law enforcement.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will reintroduce the Resident Labour Market Test. \p Seema Malhotra: As announced by the Prime Minister on 28 November 2024, the Government will be producing a White Paper this year setting out our plans for reducing net migration, which will be published in due course.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a breakdown of companies sponsoring skilled visas by Nature of Business (SIC). \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.

The Home Office publishes a range of Research and statistics - GOV.UK relating to migration. Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics - GOV.UK, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of excluding (a) family members and (b) dependents from student visas. \p Seema Malhotra: The Student route already restricts most students from bringing their dependants to the UK. Partners and children are the only family members which can be sponsored by students as dependants and only if the relevant student meets certain relevant criteria, such studying for a PHD or other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role the Government has (a) in policing and (b) tackling crime within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone; and whether Westminster Bridge is in the Government Secure Zone. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Departmental responsibility for tackling crime, whether on Westminster Bridge, or in the Hon Member’s own constituency of West Suffolk is a matter for the relevant local police force.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her department records the (a) employment and (b) earnings of (i) people who arrived in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa and (ii) their dependents. \p Seema Malhotra: Every migrant is required to submit a valid certificate of sponsorship (CoS) that details their employment and earnings whenever they apply for a skilled worker (including a Health and Care) visa. These details remain on our Sponsor Management System.

Home Office staff carry out compliance checks on the employers that sponsor the migrant workers to verify their roles and earnings. No equivalent data is currently collected in respect of their dependents.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made cost benefit analysis of the Health and Care Worker visa. \p Seema Malhotra: Impact Assessments evaluating the impacts of policy changes to the Health and Care Worker route since it was established can be found at: Impact assessments covering migration policy - GOV.UK. These provide insight into specific economic impacts of the route, addressing matters such as direct and indirect business impacts and the visa fee revenue collected by the Home Office.

Further analysis of the economic impact of those on the Health and Care Worker visa can be found in Chapter 1 of the independent Migration Advisory Committee’s 2024 Annual Report (Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) annual report, 2024 (accessible) - GOV.UK). The OBR also assesses the potential economic implications of net migration, to which those on the Health and Care Worker visa contribute, as part of their Economic and Fiscal outlook (Net migration forecast and its impact on the economy - Office for Budget Responsibility).
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are awaiting appeal decisions in under the Afghan resettlement scheme. \p Seema Malhotra: The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) has brought together the previous Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. In order to improve efficiency, value for money and outcomes across Afghan Resettlement.

The latest published statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-september-2024) show that (up to the end of September 2024) we have brought around 33,400 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region.

Afghan operational data is viewable at Afghan Resettlement Programme: operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and is released quarterly. There is no right of appeal against eligibility decisions made under the ARP.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken to release death certificates. \p Seema Malhotra: Since the implementation of the death certification reforms in September 2024, the 5-day statutory time period for an informant to register a death commences when the registrar receives a completed Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) from a Medical Examiner, or notification from a Coroner.

Monitoring by the General Register Office for England and Wales confirms that current appointment availability for the bereaved with registrars in Local Authorities to be available to register deaths is adequate, but the Government is continuing to work towards the electronic registration of deaths to minimise the burden on bereaved family members at a difficult time, as set out by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23834 on Offenders: Foreign Nationals, what types of offences were committed by foreign national offenders who have completed their sentence and are living in the community and subject to deportation; and how many and what proportion of these foreign national offenders had previously been imprisoned by each offence group. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under the UK Borders Act 2007, the Home Secretary has a statutory duty to make an automatic deportation order in respect of foreign national offenders sentenced to a prison term of at least twelve months, subject to certain exemptions, and specific rules for EEA nationals. The Hon Member can find further details of the current provisions and their evolution at the House of Commons Library briefing at the link below: CDP-2024-0023.pdf

The specific data requested on different offence groups is not centrally held and could only be collated and verified at disproportionate cost.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will instruct the Metropolitan Police to delay the deletion of its Gangs Violence Matrix. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Gangs Violence Matrix (GVM) was an intelligence tool used by the Metropolitan Police to identify and risk-assess individuals involved with gangs across London.

The police are operationally independent of the government, and the GVM was devised and operated by the Metropolitan Police, independently of the Home Office. The deletion of the data held on the GVM is a matter for the Metropolitan Police as the data controller, and it is their sole responsibility to exercise their retention policies in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and authorised professional practice from the College of Policing.

Following an enforcement notice from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the Metropolitan Police made the decision to discontinue use of the GVM after 13 February 2024. The Metropolitan Police had already previously decided that GVM data would be retained for a period of 12 months, from the date of decommission (13 February 2024), as there was no policing purpose to justify the continued retention of the data. This decision was taken in order to satisfy both Right of Access requests from persons seeking clarity on their inclusion on the GVM and to ensure that any claims under Article 8 Human Rights Act could be answered. Any individual that considers they may have been included on the GVM is therefore entitled to submit a Subject Access Request to the Metropolitan Police by 13 February 2025, and the Metropolitan Police advise the public of this on their website.

Any form of discrimination in policing is unacceptable. The Government is supportive of the NPCC and College of Policing’s Police Race Action Plan which aims to improve policing’s engagement with Black communities. A number of forces have developed their own local plans to address specific needs from their communities, including the MPS.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy is on regulatory alignment with the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/xx-xxxx-xxxx). \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK is committed to establishing a proportionate AI regulatory approach which is grounded in science and supports growth and innovation, in the UK’s national interest. As we develop our approach to regulating AI, we recognise the need to engage with a range of international partners.
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Michelle Welsh:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislation to end male primogeniture for baronetage. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government recognises that baronetcies, like other hereditary titles, can usually only be inherited by male heirs. However, the Government is prioritising on delivering its manifesto commitments, including reform of the House of Lords.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23475 on 10 Downing Street: Shops, which items were manufactured in China; if he will provide a description of each item; and what the retail price is of each items. \p Georgia Gould: Many of the items sold in the 10 Downing Street gift shop are made in the UK. A very small number of items, such as water bottles from a well known British supplier, are made globally, including in China. This was the case under the previous government.
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Uma Kumaran:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) away days and (b) leadership conferences for senior civil servants his Department organised between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and what the cost of these were. \p Georgia Gould: Between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024, the Cabinet Office has not organised any away days for Senior Civil Servants. During the same period, there were a total of seven leadership conferences for Senior Civil Servants.

27 October 2022

£13,170

19 January 2023

£27,750

25 April 2023

£28,245

6 July 2023

£32,141

12 October 2023

£19,705

18 January 2024

£20,725

25 April 2024

£18,710
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Luke Myer:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the suicide rate amongst armed forces veterans in England and Wales for (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022, (e) 2023 and (f) 2024. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 30 January is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 108.6KB)
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26. \p Georgia Gould: The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.
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Uma Kumaran:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 23666 on Cabinet Office: Media, tabled on 13 January 2025. \p Georgia Gould: I apologise to the Honourable Member for the delay in responding to her Parliamentary Question of 13 January. An answer has now been issued, as of 3 February.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade - within our clear red lines - because having a smooth trading relationship with European partners is essential to driving growth at home.

This is one of the options we are open to looking at to reduce barriers, and it’s right and responsible that we are looking at it to determine what is in the UK’s national interest. But we do not currently have any plans to join PEM.
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John Cooper:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued to the Government Property Agency on ensuring that accessible signs with (a) braille and (b) tactile symbols are available in all Government buildings. \p Georgia Gould: As part of the GPA’s Government Workplace Design Guide and Inclusive Design Standards, we are committed to improving the standard of inclusive and accessible signage across our estate including the quality and availability of braille and tactile symbols. Our Inclusive Design Standards state signs should be clear, use simple and concise text, and include raised text, braille, and raised pictograms when appropriate.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to amend the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to include private companies. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Government is committed to Freedom of Information and will keep the coverage of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 under consideration.
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Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will hold discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) civil servants on the potential merits of introducing a scheme to enable (i) cultural exchange by and (ii) increased mobility of young people between the UK and EU. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government set out clear priorities for the reset with the EU in the manifesto. There are no plans for a Youth Mobility Scheme.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy is on dynamic alignment with the European Union. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties to deliver growth and security for the UK. We have been clear that there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the recipients of compensation payments from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority will be subject to any (a) legal conditions and (b) non-disclosure requirements when accepting such payments. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The legal conditions that recipients of compensation will be subject to are to enable the swift and effective delivery of compensation. Regulation 35 of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024 includes a duty on applicants to inform the Authority of any change in circumstances in relation to their application, and Regulation 41 includes powers to enable the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to carry out a review of a decision for the prevention of fraud or correction of error where this may be necessary. Recipients of compensation payments will not be subject to any non-disclosure requirements by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the members of the (a) Nominations Committee, (b) Investment Committee, (c) People and Operations Committee and (d) Resilience and Security Committee. \p Georgia Gould: The Nominations Committee currently has no members. Recruitment for Non-Executive Board Members is currently underway.

Members of the Investment Committee are as follows: Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office, Chief Operating Officer to the Cabinet Office, Chief Financial Officer to the Cabinet Office, Cabinet Office Commercial Director, Cabinet Office Chief Digital and Information Officer, Cabinet Office Chief People Officer and Cabinet Office Strategy Director.

Members of the People & Operations Committee are as follows: Cabinet Office Chief Operating Officer, Government Chief Property Officer, Cabinet Office Chief People Officer, Cabinet Office Chief Digital and Information Officer, Cabinet Office SCS Diversity & Inclusion Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Race Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Gender Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Disability Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Social Mobility Champion, Cabinet Office Strategy Director, National Security Strategy Director, Civil Service Strategy Director, Functional Strategy, Performance and Capability Director, Joint Intelligence Organisation Director.

Members of the Resilience and Security Committee are as follows: Cabinet Office Chief Operating Officer, Director General Propriety and Constitution, Group, Government Chief Security Officer, Cabinet Office Chief Digital and Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer to the Cabinet Office, Government Digital Service Chief Information Security Officer, Government Property Agency Chief Operating Officer, Cabinet Office Commercial Director, Intelligence and Security Director, Propriety and Ethics Director, No10 Corporate Services Deputy Director, Chief Digital Information Officer Crown Commercial Service
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress his Department has made on the review to look at government wide reform at a local level led by the Parliamentary Secretary. \p Georgia Gould: The Government is committed to reforming the state to deliver better public services which revolve around the needs of the users. At the heart of those reforms is a place-based approach. A significant programme of work is underway with departments, local authorities, leaders, frontline staff and others to strengthen and embed this way of working across government.

The work underway includes the £100 million Public Service Reform and Innovation Fund, which will be deploying Test and Learns teams around the country over the next three years to design and test innovative solutions to our biggest public service challenges in partnership with local places – and ensuring that local learning informs national policy decisions.

The Government will also use the significant opportunity presented by the Spending Review to reform our public services.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21399 on Cabinet Office: Staff, how many staff were employed on EU relations before they were transferred to the EU Relations Secretariat. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Around 50 members of staff moved from the FCDO to the Cabinet Office on 6 November 2024 to continue work on EU relations. These officials have come together with the existing EU National Security Secretariat and Windsor Framework teams to form the new European Union Relations Secretariat. The data on this headcount will be published in due course.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Afghans that have come to the UK via the Afghan Resettlement Programme worked directly for the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan. \p Luke Pollard: The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) is a cross-government delivery programme which will bring existing Afghan resettlement routes into onesingle pipeline. The ARP is designed to make the delivery of these resettlement schemes simpler and more cost-effective, to help deliver better outcomes overall.

As stated in my answer to the Hon. Member’s question 26781 of 30 January 2025, over 30,000 eligible Afghans have been relocated to the UK under the resettlement schemes. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of relocation figures by job role, including those who worked directly for British Forces, at this time.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK arms exports to Kosovo on (a) Kosovan security and (b) growth of the UK defence economy. \p Maria Eagle: The UK continues to monitor the security situation in Kosovo closely and UK forces are deployed in country supporting NATO’s KFOR mission to maintain a safe and secure environment. This is consistent with our ongoing commitment to support regional defence and security.

HMG are also currently exploring defence export opportunities to Kosovo. This has the potential to help support jobs throughout the United Kingdom and maintain our world-class defence-industrial base alongside bolstering Kosovo’s security and resilience.

UK export licences would only be granted in accordance with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider the possible impact of providing equipment and capabilities. We do not issue licences where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria including under Criterion 4 where we determine if there is a clear risk that the items would, undermine overall peace and security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_133

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 26778 on Armed Forces: Workplace Pensions, what proportion of GDP is spent on armed forces pensions. \p Al Carns: The Government's spend on Armed Forces Pensions, including Armed Forces Pensions Schemes' Annually Managed Expenditure, equates to around 0.22% of GDP.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_134

John Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much (a) her Department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies has spent on external public relations since 5 July 2024; and which firms that funding went to. \p James Murray: Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held.

The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.

It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_135

Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the new lower employers' National Insurance threshold applies to retained fire crews. \p James Murray: To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.

The rate of employer NICs will increase from 13.8% to 15% and the per-employee threshold at which employers start to pay National Insurance (the Secondary Threshold) will be reduced to £5,000.

At the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, the government announced an additional £515 million of support for local government to manage the impact of changes to employer NICs announced at the Autumn Budget.

Fire and rescue authorities will receive a share of the overall funding provided to local government.

Payments will be unringfenced to allow funding to be used across direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_136

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the revenue from applying business rates to independent schools in Fylde constituency in the next financial year. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government reconfirmed that it is removing private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief under business rates in England from April 2025. This intervention will raise around £140 million per year.

Business rates retention means that local authorities retain a proportion of all business rates revenue. As such, the increase in rates receipts due to the reduction in charitable rate relief for private schools will be shared between central and local government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_137

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the revenue from applying VAT to independent schools in Fylde constituency in the next financial year. \p James Murray: The Government does not have an estimate of the revenue from this measure specifically from the Fylde constituency.

At the Autumn Budget the Government published a detailed response to the consultation conducted between July and September. Annexed to this is the costing methodology used to calculate the total revenue generated by this policy. Included is a breakdown of the exchequer impact by year, including 2025/26. This was published online and can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6734864af6920bfb5abc7a29/Government_Response_to_the_Technical_Note_on_Applying_VAT_to_Private_School_Fees_and_Removing_the_Business_Rates_Charitable_Rate_Relief.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_138

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of retail businesses operating as a front for money laundering. \p Emma Reynolds: The 2020 National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing found that cash-based money laundering risks remain high, often involving cash-intensive businesses such as retail used to mask criminal sources of wealth.

The Treasury collaborates closely with law enforcement to track criminal trends and allocate resources to address the most significant threats. An updated National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, covering cash-based money laundering risks, will be published later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_139

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is taking steps to help protect the interests of shareholders in investment trusts that are subject to hostile takeovers by overseas entities. \p Emma Reynolds: Listed companies such as listed investment trusts are subject to substantial corporate governance and shareholder protection requirements.

This includes fair treatment and orderly takeover requirements under the Takeover Code, which the independent Takeover Panel oversees. The Takeover Code applies where a person or company acquires 30% or more of voting rights in a company and ensures that all shareholders are afforded equivalent treatment.

More broadly, under the Companies Act 2006, shareholders must approve any resolutions circulated by a company, or by any individual shareholder or group of shareholders of that company, including proposed changes to company boards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_140

Edward Morello:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure continued access to in person banking services in West Dorset constituency. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in Dorset and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide local residents and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. Over 100 banking hubs are already open.

FCA guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_141

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the delivery of banking hubs in rural areas. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, high streets and rural areas across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide local residents and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. Over 200 banking hubs have been recommended so far, and over 100 banking hubs are already open.

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks and building societies, FCA guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_142

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the timely release of funds by banks to executors of wills. \p Emma Reynolds: In recent years banks and building societies have sought to make the bereavement process easier by increasing the amount they will release without needing a grant of probate. As such the threshold varies between different firms. The nominal threshold in legislation is to require probate to be obtained for estates above £5000 in value (The Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965), although in practice many financial institutions operate a threshold of £20,000. Banks also differ on issues such as whether they are willing to release funds for funeral and other essential expenses ahead of probate being granted. These are commercial decisions.

UK banks and building societies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA does not have specific rules or guidance regarding probate in its rules. Nonetheless, banks are bound by the FCA’s Consumer Duty which requires firms to act to deliver good outcomes and avoid causing harm to customers. The FCA also provides guidance on firms providing fair treatment for vulnerable customers, which includes those going through a bereavement. If an executor is having a dispute with a bank, then they will be able to raise a formal complaint. The FCA’s rules require firms to properly investigate all complaints, and it continues to monitor firms’ complaint handling processes.

The Government is also supportive of previous industry efforts to improve handling of these sensitive cases, including the Financial Services Death Notification Service developed by UK Finance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_143

Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of lead exposure on trends in the level of gross domestic product. \p Emma Reynolds: The Treasury works closely with other government departments to manage risks to the UK economy and support economic stability, an essential foundation for long-run economic growth. This includes collaboration with colleagues from the Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the UK Health Security Agency.

The UK Health Security Agency supports partners in identifying the pathway and source of lead exposure and implements public health interventions to reduce associated risks. By continuing to address lead exposure through source identification, remediation, and public awareness, efforts are being made to reduce the potential long-term economic impacts, improving public health outcomes and mitigating associated healthcare costs and productivity losses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-06 conversation_144

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26. \p James Murray: The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.